Science enthusiasts and nature lovers yesterday witnessed the first annular solar eclipse of the year.
The eclipse started at 10:05:24am and lasted till 4:07:36pm. The highest point of the eclipse was observed at 2:31:37pm at St Martin island. In Dhaka it was seen from 12:44:07pm to 4:58pm.
The full string eclipse was viewed the longest at St Martin’s island and Cox’s Bazar. Hundreds of people gathered there to witness the natural phenomenon. The duration of the eclipse at St Martin’s island was 8:29 minutes while it was 5:29 minutes at Cox’s Bazar.
On July 22 last year, thousands of people thronged Panchagarh town and other places of the northern districts to observe total solar eclipse.
The next total eclipse will be seen from Bangladesh 105 years later, in 2114 while the next annular solar eclipse in 2064.
The people of the capital and adjacent areas observed partial eclipse. Enthusiasts gathered at Dhanmondi playground, Dhaka University (DU) central playground, Mohammadpur Town Hall playground, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology central playground, Jahangirnagar University central playground and other places to have a view of it.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre made arrangements for people to view the annular solar eclipse on large screen.
Anusandhitsu Chakra, a science organisation, set up 20 camps at different places including DU central playground and JU playground. Biggyan Andolan Mancha also made arrangement at different places.
The annular solar eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the outline of the Moon.
People started to gather at Cox’s Bazar beach from 11:00am and almost screamed their heads off when the highest point reached at 2:30pm, reports a correspondent from Cox’s Bazar.
Shahjahan Mridha Benu, president of Anusandhitsu Chakra Astronomy Section, said they had supplied around 15,000 solar filters at Cox’s Bazar beach for the viewers to have safe observance.
Meanwhile, hundreds of indigenous juveniles yesterday gathered in front of Barghi Restaurant under Sadar Upazila in Khagrachhari and witnessed the eclipse, which lasted there for about eight minutes.
Arong Library and Bigyan Andolon Manchha jointly made arrangements for viewing the annular eclipse.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh News, Bangladesh Politics, Daily Bangladesh News, News, Politics
