Vadodara gears up for solar eclipse

Many institutions in the city have made elaborate arrangements so that people can watch the solar eclipse on July 22 safely.

Many institutions in the city have made elaborate arrangements so that people can watch the solar eclipse on July 22 safely. Meanwhile,some scientists,amateur astronomers and scientists would conduct experiments across different points in the city and on the outskirts.

Among the important institutions,which would conduct experiments while giving an opportunity to the general public to watch the celestial event safely,includes Gujarat Nature Conservancy Society (GNCS) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Planetarium.

According to Mukesh Pathak,the chief education officer of GNCS and a member of the Department of Science and Technology,Government of India,four points of observation have been selected by the society of which two will be available for general public,while the other two will be for scientists and amateur astronomers. We have selected the premises of Bal Bhawan and Balaji College in Chhani for the general public, added Pathak.

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Meanwhile,scientists from the Physical Research Laboratory,Ahmedabad and some amateur astronomers and students will be conducting studies at Wadwana Lake Bird reserve and Babaria Institute of Technology near Varnama. We will conduct some special experiments including the study of birds and animals. The experiments related to weather and radio telescopes will be used to gather data, said Pathak. He said these locations were chosen as the eclipse would be for about 1 minute and 20 seconds.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Planetarium in association with Urmi School has arranged for big screens so that people can watch the eclipse. We have five telescopes including three big radio telescopes for the event. The school students will welcome the sun with candles,while some of them under the guidance of their science teacher will conduct study on fish behaviour,wind speed and soil temperature, said D D Purohit,a cosmologist from the planetarium.

Dos and Donts
No seeing the eclipse with the naked eye. However,scientists say the diamond ring and corona phases of the eclipse can be watched with the naked eye, said Pathak. It is safe to use special solar filters. Welding glasses of number 14 can also be used.

Special goggles for the event can be purchased from the Gujarat Nature Conservancy Society (GNCS) at Bal Bhawan,behind Sayaji Baug or Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Planetarium,Sayajibaug for Rs 10 to 15.

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Only fully exposed camera films or X-ray films can be used to view the eclipse. GNCS recommends pinhole cameras for projection. Mirrors can be used after pasting a black poster paper on the surface and making a hole,which can be projected on a screen.

For photographers,use of solar filters is a must. However,GNCS says that during diamond ring and corona phases,the camera can be exposed to sun rays.

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