October 3rd Annular Solar Eclipse (2005)

[KeyserXSoze]

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On Monday, October 03, an annular1 eclipse of the Sun will be visible from within a narrow corridor which traverses the Iberian Peninsula and stretches across the African continent. A partial eclipse will be seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes Europe, western Asia, the Middle East, India and most of Africa.

The path of the annular eclipse begins in the North Atlantic at 08:41 UT. Rushing southeast, the antumbra quickly reaches the northern coast of Spain and Portugal (08:51 UT). Bisecting the Iberian Peninsula, the antumbra engulfs Madrid (08:56 UT) which lies near the central line. The annular phase will last 04m 11s from this capital city with 90% of the Sun's surface being obscured by the Moon.

Isla de Ibiza straddles the northern path limit as the shadow crosses the western Mediterranean. Upon reaching the African continent, Algiers lies within the shadow's trajectory (09:05 UT) and will experience an annularity of 03m 51s. Following a southeastern course, the antumbra passes through southern Tunisia and central Libya where the Moon's umbral shadow will return six months later during the total eclipse of 2006 Mar 29. After briefly skirting northern Chad, the antumbra sweeps across central Sudan where greatest eclipse occurs at 10:31:42 UT. The annular duration is 4m 31s, and the Sun is 71° above the desolate desert landscape. The central track runs along the southern Sudanese-Ethiopian border before entering northern Kenya where it engulfs much of Lake Rudolf (11:10 UT). Southernmost Somalia is the antumbra's final landfall (11:30 UT) before heading east across the Indian Ocean where the path ends at local sunset (12:22 UT).

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[KeyserXSoze]

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Eating during eclipses pose no harm: Scientists

Rajkot: When the moon passes in front of the sun tomorrow obscuring it, some scientifically-tempered activists are going to have a feast amid raised eyebrows. The feast, of course, is not in celebration but to dispel the several myths surrounding a solar eclipse.

Superstitions have surrounded eclipses and other solar phenomena since ancient times. In an effort to dispel them, a campaign is being held all over the country tomorrow when a partial solar eclipse will occur.

The programme is being organised by the Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha, an organisation committed to promoting scientific temper in the country.

''Eclipses are normal, cosmic occurences. But astrologers with vested interests, have deftly used them to cheat the common man.

Their prescriptions to shun food and do ''puja-paath'' (prayers) during an eclipse are all bogus. We intend to organise a programme wherein food and snacks will be eaten at that time,'' said Mr Jayantbhai Pandya, the state representative of the Jatha.

For this purpose, he said the Jatha is approaching schools and colleges to create awareness among the youth. ''The response has been very good. We will hold the programme mostly in the campuses of educational institutions,'' he said.

He said the campaign will try to dissuade people from following the astrologers blindly. ''Astrologers try to create fear in the minds of people by saying if they did not follow their instructions, they would suffer from leprosy or go to hell after death. It is all so ridiculous,'' he said.

Superstitions surrounding eclipses are many. According to a well-known superstition, if a pregnant woman goes out during an eclipse, her baby will be born blind or with a cleft lip.

Another one says, all cooked food that stayed unused during an eclipse should be given away in charity, because it is supposed to have become impure. No one should eat or drink during the eclipse, it adds.

''Anyone holding a knife or axe during an eclipse will cut himself'', goes yet another superstition.

Observing that the superstitions do not have any scientific basis, the activist said only education and awareness among people can expose their hollowness.

 

[KeyserXSoze]

Did anyone see it? It was cloudy here, but got a bit darker for a while.

 

[daisys1]

I was in staffordshire...

It went a bit dark, but the thick cloud negated any meaningful observation

 

[ramonmercado]

Tens Of Thousands Flock To Holy Baths During Eclipse

Tens Of Thousands Flock To Holy Baths In India During Solar Eclipse

The solar face was almost completely covered by the moon in India's southern and western parts but was seen only as a 20 percent eclipse in northern parts.
New Delhi (AFP) Oct 03, 2005
Tens of thousands of Hindu pilgrims across India jostled to take holy baths in the sacred River Ganges after performing special prayers for ancestors during a rare solar eclipse on Monday, television networks reported.
Devotees from across the country flocked to public bathing spots on the banks of the Ganges in the ancient Hindu holy towns of Varanasi, Haridwar and Allahabad.

Most offered special prayers to ancestors as the moon started moving across the solar face at 4.20 pm (1050 GMT) and then carried out ritual bathing for the two-hour duration of the annular eclipse, which was also observed in parts of Africa, Europe and other Asian countries.

The television channels showed footage of police struggling to control the surging crowds as they pressed forward to take a dip in the river. Thousands of others took cleansing baths in holy ponds on temple premises.

The solar face was almost completely covered by the moon in India's southern and western parts but was seen only as a 20 percent eclipse in northern parts.

Indian astrologers said the event could spark off disasters, epecially as it is to be followed by a lunar eclipse on October 17.

"It's rare for a solar and lunar eclipse to occur within a fortnight of each other. This will affect the seas, and earthquakes and atmospheric disturbances are likely," astrologer M.Vishwapati was quoted as saying in the Asian Age newspaper.

The astrologers cautioned people to take safety measures because of the rare celestial phenomenon.

"It's difficult to judge the kind of influence it will have on people because it varies according to one's nakshatra (star signs). Depending on these, one should take specific precautions," said Pandit Rama Shastri Joshi, another astrologer.

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/solarscience-05zd.html