Partial Solar Eclipse at Kalpakkam

On the Republic Day 26 th Jan., we witnessed a Partial Solar Eclipse (PSE). Tamil Nadu Science Forum & NESCO had arranged a programme for public to view the phenomenon through a 5' Newtonian Telescope.

The eclipse started around 2.26pm. The disc of the moon moved from SouthEast to NNE over the Sun. i.e., It passed through the ascending node. The maximum occured around 3.18pm (~16%). The phenomenon ended around 4.05pm. Many persons and children witnessed the event.
At Pudupattinam TNSF had arranged for the villagers to view the natural phenomenon through a welding glass.

Partial Solar Eclipse 2009 at Tamilnadu

This year on the Republic Day Tamil Nadu will witness a Partial Solar Eclipse (PSE), while Indonesia and Philippines will have an Annular Eclipse.
1. Why annular eclipse is formed?
The orbit of the moon is eliptical with one near the Earth(perigee) and other point away from the Earth(apogee).Near the perigee position the moon's apparent size will be equal to the apparent size of the Sun while in the apogee position it will be slightly less than the Sun's. On 26th Jan 2009, the moon is near the apogee and the apparent size of the moon is 9% less than that of the Sun. So during the centre of the eclipse the black moon's disk cannot hide the whole disc of the Sun leaving the outer rim of the Sun visible. This make an annular appearance.

2. Where the annular eclipse visbile on Jan26?
The trajectory of the eclipse will start at 11.30 in the atlantic region and passes through the south of the africa continent , the sumatra ilands and finally end in Philiophinnes covering 14,500km in 3hours 46 min. The most of the of the path lie in the sea area.

3. How the eclipse will appear in India?
In India eclipse will appear as a Partial Solar Eclipse and the size if the eclipse will gradually decrease from Kanyakumari. Thus the PSE will be 21.5% in Kanyakumari and 6% in Calcutta. In the northmost region there wont be any ecplise at all.

4. When will the eclipse start in our district?
In kancheepuram district it will starts around 3.26pm and ends around 4.04pm. The maximum will occur around 3.18pm.

The TNSF and NESCO has jointly organised a programme to view the PSE through telescope in the NESCO open theatre ground on this occation from 2.30pm to 4pm. All are welcome.

TNSF Kanchi Dist. launch Universe Awareness programme

The UNESCO has declared the year 2009 as International Year of Astronomy to celebrate the 400th year of the first use of the Telescope for the systematic observation of celestial bodies by Galileo Galilei, in the Year 1609.
Universe Awareness (UNAWE) is one of the activities of IYA2009 and its aim is to propagate astronomy among very young children.
As a part of launching this programme, we conducted district level Colouring Event for 1st standard children(age 6) with the theme 'Appearance of the earth from the Space' on 20th Dec 2008. We provided the picture and crayons for the state govt. primary school children. Around 1000children participated eagerly in the event from various schools of the district.
This programme will be continued throughout the year. The interested schools from the district may contact kalpakkamtnsf@gmail.com.