All eyes on longest solar eclipse

The millennium's longest celestial spectacle unfolded today in a narrow strip in peninsular India with enthusiasts flocking sites to observe the annular solar eclipse. The scientific phenomenon began at 11:17 am at Dhanushkodi.

The millennium's longest celestial spectacle unfolded today in a narrow strip in peninsular India with enthusiasts flocking sites to observe the annular solar eclipse.

HT Image

The scientific phenomenon began at 11:17 am at Dhanushkodi.

People at Dhanushkodi, about 18 km from here, touted as the best location to watch the longest eclipse in a
century, were excited as the moon began to cover the sun.

It is from places like Dhanushkodi, Kanyakumari, Varkala that people would be able to see the ring of fire as
the moon tries to block the Solar disc leaving the edges flaring.

"The moon has started covering the sun and by 1:30 pm people will be able to see the 'ring of fire'," SPACE Director
C B Devgun told PTI.

In Kanyakumari, the eclipse was watched by a team of six scientists from Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).

"The eclipse is half-way. The annularity will be at about 1:06 pm which will be for 10.8 minutes," RC Kapoor, a
scientist at IIA, told PTI.