July 22nd 2009 total solar eclipse!!!

Justboy65 · Nov 15th, 2008, 20:39

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/...2009-fig02.GIF

This is going to be my first chance to see a total solar eclipse and what better place to see it from than India. I hope to battle through the weather and get up to darjeelng or gangtok so the beauty of the himalayas will frame the darkened sky making it all the more spectacular. I am of course blindly assuming (hoping/praying) that it will be a cloudless day but I'm thinking that the chances of that may be pretty slim. Does anyone know where they're going to be viewing it from and does anyone have any experience or knowledge of the weather and general cloud conditions in the northeast mid july?

Sharpened Lyrics · Jan 13th, 2009, 16:01

Hi

after a lot of research and head scratching about the eclipse, my partner and I have decided to try and view it in, or near, Varanasi. We know that it's monsoon season but it would appear that our next choice - The Doars region in West Bengal - is even wetter at that time of year than the Gangetic plain! We thought about Patna but want to see Varanasi instead.

It seems nowhere on the totality path is perfect for viewing, even in China where the duration is close to 6 minutes, but as we want to be in India anyway, why not try and view it at Varanasi? It will be 3 mins 30 secs just outside Varanasi and about 3 mins in Varanasi itself. Apparently the time of totality is at 6.24am so not long after the sun comes up, should be spectacular!

<-don't forget eclipse viewing specs!

Bhaswaran · Jan 13th, 2009, 16:15

Can anyone describe the totality path through India? Will Kolkata be in the totality path? I have learnt that it will be partial from Kolkata but total from North Bengal. Need to go some arid regions for photography. Pray the monsoon clouds did not behave bad that day.

palerider · Jan 13th, 2009, 16:36

There was another thread about this the other day. the best place in India is Varanasi. A few of us are meeting up there to view it.
How could you not?.
On the Ghats at sunrise, prayers water ablutions and a total eclipse.
God, I'm there already.

machadinha · Jan 13th, 2009, 16:46

People might enjoy this NASA page and further links on it, first hit you get: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/...9/TSE2009.html. *

I, too, had heard India isn't really on the main trajectory, but going by this the North may be close enough.

See also this map of theirs (.pdf file): http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/...2009-fig03.pdf. Puts it rather centrally-north really.

* ps Edit, duh, that was close to the link provided above. Well, FYI & all that.

palerider · Jan 13th, 2009, 16:58

Bhopal, Darjeeling, Varanasi, Surat.

Darjeeling would probably be foggy.
All the others would be clear wouldn't they?.
My bet is for Varanasi still.
I've never been to Surat in monsoon, would it be okay?

Sharpened Lyrics · Jan 27th, 2009, 17:02

If you have Google Earth you can download a KMZ file which shows the exact path, times etc. of the Total Solar Eclipse. It's really cool, check it out here:
http://xjubier.free.fr/download/GE_F...z/TSE_2009.kmz

Aredsloth · Feb 7th, 2009, 20:48

Ya, the weather is bugging me too. But rain or not I plan to be outdoors ( in Varanasi ) when that eclipse happens. It's just water, what could possibly go wrong eh ?

machadinha · Feb 7th, 2009, 21:01

Sure. It may obfuscate the sky view somewhat though.

Sophie and Dave · Mar 9th, 2009, 05:29

I will be in Varanasi for the eclipse but am going to try and get just outside Varanasi for the eclipse itself as part of me thinks it would be great to see it in a rural village rather than Varanasi centre but I might be wrong. Any ideas?

RWeHavingFunYet · Mar 9th, 2009, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophie and Dave

I will be in Varanasi for the eclipse ..... it would be great to see it in a rural village rather than Varanasi centre but I might be wrong. Any ideas?

Varanasi is in the path of totality but not really at the center line. You need to head south to Robertsgunj, UP or Sasaram, Bihar, to increase your time of totality viewing. Moreover, one needs to be at a higher elevation to view this eclipse, early in the morning. It happens at eye level, 13degrees above the horizon. The chances of viewing this eclipse are very remote as the mean cloudiness for the month of July is at 75%. Good Luck.

Sophie and Dave · Mar 9th, 2009, 14:34

I saw Robertsgunj but can't find much information on it, Ahraura is just north of Robertsgunj and looks mountainous so that might be better. Thanks for the ideas, I'll research them some more.

Thanks for the link, I knew it was likely that we won't have great visibility but it was still be great to experience it.

rezedew · Apr 20th, 2009, 20:32

What!! Eclipse?

Last total solar eclipse I saw was in the desert in South Australia. Drove for 32 hours to see it, worth every second. If you have anyway of getting under the path of totality, do it. I'm an eclipse nut and and hyped for 2010, Easter Island & 2012, Cairns, Australia.

Sigh..Wish I could stay an extra month and be there in July.

palerider · Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:27

Could we all meet in Benares and get a bus down or something. There are at least ten of us who will be there.

delhiwala · Apr 22nd, 2009, 14:13

May I join you at Banaras ?

Nov 15th, 2008, 20:39	#1
Justboy65 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 33	July 22nd 2009 total solar eclipse!!! http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/...2009-fig02.GIF This is going to be my first chance to see a total solar eclipse and what better place to see it from than India. I hope to battle through the weather and get up to darjeelng or gangtok so the beauty of the himalayas will frame the darkened sky making it all the more spectacular. I am of course blindly assuming (hoping/praying) that it will be a cloudless day but I'm thinking that the chances of that may be pretty slim. Does anyone know where they're going to be viewing it from and does anyone have any experience or knowledge of the weather and general cloud conditions in the northeast mid july?

Jan 13th, 2009, 16:15	#3
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 1,310	Can anyone describe the totality path through India? Will Kolkata be in the totality path? I have learnt that it will be partial from Kolkata but total from North Bengal. Need to go some arid regions for photography. Pray the monsoon clouds did not behave bad that day. __________________ ....life is a journey.....and the journey is more important than the destination........ Photos in Indiamike :http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...0/ppuser/15496 Photos in Flickr :http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhaswaran/ Darjeeling trip Video : "Darjeeling - The Queen of Hills" DVD

Jan 13th, 2009, 16:36	#4
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	There was another thread about this the other day. the best place in India is Varanasi. A few of us are meeting up there to view it. How could you not?. On the Ghats at sunrise, prayers water ablutions and a total eclipse. God, I'm there already. __________________ I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

Jan 13th, 2009, 16:46	#5
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,243	People might enjoy this NASA page and further links on it, first hit you get: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/...9/TSE2009.html. * I, too, had heard India isn't really on the main trajectory, but going by this the North may be close enough. See also this map of theirs (.pdf file): http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/...2009-fig03.pdf. Puts it rather centrally-north really. * ps Edit, duh, that was close to the link provided above. Well, FYI & all that. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Apr 22nd, 2009, 14:13	#15
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 4,719	May I join you at Banaras ? __________________ Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

Jan 13th, 2009, 16:01	#2
Sharpened Lyrics Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK Posts: 29	Hi after a lot of research and head scratching about the eclipse, my partner and I have decided to try and view it in, or near, Varanasi. We know that it's monsoon season but it would appear that our next choice - The Doars region in West Bengal - is even wetter at that time of year than the Gangetic plain! We thought about Patna but want to see Varanasi instead. It seems nowhere on the totality path is perfect for viewing, even in China where the duration is close to 6 minutes, but as we want to be in India anyway, why not try and view it at Varanasi? It will be 3 mins 30 secs just outside Varanasi and about 3 mins in Varanasi itself. Apparently the time of totality is at 6.24am so not long after the sun comes up, should be spectacular! <-don't forget eclipse viewing specs!

Jan 13th, 2009, 16:58	#6
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	Bhopal, Darjeeling, Varanasi, Surat. Darjeeling would probably be foggy. All the others would be clear wouldn't they?. My bet is for Varanasi still. I've never been to Surat in monsoon, would it be okay?

Jan 27th, 2009, 17:02	#7
Sharpened Lyrics Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK Posts: 29	If you have Google Earth you can download a KMZ file which shows the exact path, times etc. of the Total Solar Eclipse. It's really cool, check it out here: http://xjubier.free.fr/download/GE_F...z/TSE_2009.kmz

Feb 7th, 2009, 20:48	#8
Aredsloth Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Muscat ( originally Cape Town ) Posts: 13	Ya, the weather is bugging me too. But rain or not I plan to be outdoors ( in Varanasi ) when that eclipse happens. It's just water, what could possibly go wrong eh ?

Feb 7th, 2009, 21:01	#9
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,243	Sure. It may obfuscate the sky view somewhat though.

Mar 9th, 2009, 05:29	#10
Sophie and Dave Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK Posts: 31	I will be in Varanasi for the eclipse but am going to try and get just outside Varanasi for the eclipse itself as part of me thinks it would be great to see it in a rural village rather than Varanasi centre but I might be wrong. Any ideas?

Mar 9th, 2009, 14:34	#12
Sophie and Dave Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: UK Posts: 31	I saw Robertsgunj but can't find much information on it, Ahraura is just north of Robertsgunj and looks mountainous so that might be better. Thanks for the ideas, I'll research them some more. Thanks for the link, I knew it was likely that we won't have great visibility but it was still be great to experience it.

Apr 20th, 2009, 20:32	#13
rezedew Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sydney Posts: 7	What!! Eclipse? Last total solar eclipse I saw was in the desert in South Australia. Drove for 32 hours to see it, worth every second. If you have anyway of getting under the path of totality, do it. I'm an eclipse nut and and hyped for 2010, Easter Island & 2012, Cairns, Australia. Sigh..Wish I could stay an extra month and be there in July.

Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:27	#14
palerider this is Brad. He's cute Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Armidale, N.S.W., Australia Posts: 2,226	Could we all meet in Benares and get a bus down or something. There are at least ten of us who will be there.

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