The moon's bright white glow turned crimson brick red when it delved into the dark centre of the earth's shadow during the century's longest and darkest lunar eclipse on Wednesday night.
The awesome spectacle was visible all over the country, including the national capital.
The full moon appeared much dimmer than usual, but sunlight passing through the earth's atmosphere gave the lunar surface a deep reddish hue.
This was the century's longest and darkest total lunar eclipse as the moon immersed deeply inside the umbral (darker) shadow of the earth, Nehru Planetarium Director N. Rathnasree told PTI.
The total phase lasted 100 minutes. The last eclipse to exceed this duration was in July 2000.
The next such eclipse will only take place in 2141.
The penumbral lunar eclipse began at 22:54:34 IST and will end at 04:30:45 IST (on Thursday), she said.
The total lunar eclipse began at 00:52:30 IST and will end at 02:32:42 IST, while the partial eclipse began at 23:52:56 IST and end at 03:32:15 IST.
As the earth came in between the sun and the moon, its shadow first began sweeping across the moon, blocking out much of its bright light and as the shadow descended gently, the moon's face turned red.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth, in the course of its orbit around the sun, comes between the moon and sun in such a way that the moon is hidden in the shadow cast by the earth.
This can occur only when the sun, earth, and the moon are aligned in a straight line, C.B. Devgun from the Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) sai
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Early partial solar eclipse for 2011
People standing across a great swathe of the Earth's surface saw the Moon take a big bite out of the Sun.
For north Africa and much of Europe, the event began at sunrise, whereas in central Russia and north-west China, the spectacle occurred at sunset.
North-east Sweden had the best sight. From 0850 GMT, near the city of Skelleftea, the Moon covered almost 90% of the Sun's diameter.
To get that view, however, Swedish skywatchers would have needed a high vantage point, as both celestial bodies were skirting the horizon at that time.
Viewing the Sun's harsh light should only be done through protective equipment As is always the case for solar eclipses, the public was warned to take great care.
Viewing the Sun's harsh light should only be done through protective equipment - proper solar glasses and solar telescopes, or through a pinhole projection system.
In many places, professional and amateur astronomy groups set up safe observing systems. In the UK, for example, there were a series of events tied into the BBC's Stargazing Live programmes.
Partial solar eclipses occur when the Sun and Moon do not quite align in the sky as viewed from Earth, and the deep shadow cast by the smaller body passing across the bigger one just misses the planet.
Nonetheless, the phenomenon resulted in a dip in light, depending on how big a chunk of the solar disc the Moon was seen to obscure.
The Moon was seen to take a big bite out of the Sun This effect varied from place to place and in time.
Northern Algeria was the first location to experience the eclipse at 0640 GMT.
In European cities like London and Paris, the eclipse was already under way as the Sun rose, and the Moon covered up almost 70% of our star by 0812 GMT in the British capital, and 65% of the solar disc by 0809 GMT in the French capital.
Gunshots in Islamabad market
Gunfire has been heard at a market popular with foreigners in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.
Police had few immediate details about the apparent shooting, at Kohsar market.
Latest reports say the governor of Pakistan's most politically important province, Punjab , was wounded.
Kohsar market is popular with wealthy Pakistanis and foreigners and has long been seen as a potential target for militants.
Police had few immediate details about the apparent shooting, at Kohsar market.
Latest reports say the governor of Pakistan's most politically important province, Punjab , was wounded.
Kohsar market is popular with wealthy Pakistanis and foreigners and has long been seen as a potential target for militants.
Sachin Steady as Dhoni Departs
India: 247/6 (84.3) RR:2.92 India trail by 115 runs with 4 wicket(s) remaining In the 1st inn.
Sachin 104*
Sachin 104*
United States is Partnering Emerging Powers to Contain China
WASHINGTON: Ahead of the State Visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, an influential American think-tank has said that the United States is partnering with emerging powers like India to contain the Communist nation.
"The United States has already started partnering with an emerging power that shares a long border with China as it moves to open a special relationship with India," said Jessica Mathews, president, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"The biggest motivation for Washington's engagement with New Delhi -- even though it's not talked about -- is the hope that India can help balance China's rising power," she said.
A day earlier, The New York Times reported that China has quietly expanded its area of influence in Central Asia. Several of China's neighbors in recent past have expressed concern over recent aggressiveness in Chinese behavior.
"The ultimate answer of whether the United States will try to contain or cooperate with China is mostly up to Beijing. One year ago, Washington was looking at the Sino-American relationship very differently and more positively," Mathews said.
"In 2010, the world witnessed a series of moves by China that seemed to suggest a 180-degree turn -- certainly in tone, but also in real political choices. China's assertiveness in the South China Sea and its bullying behavior after the Japanese arrested a Chinese trawler captain in disputed waters in the East China Sea were particularly notable," she said.
"Most importantly, China has been totally unwilling to deal with North Korea's provocative behavior. This was clear both after Pyongyang was implicated in the sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean warship, and more recently when tensions flared on the Korean peninsula after North Korea carried out a deadly artillery attack on a South Korean island in November. China is not stepping up to its responsibility," Mathews said.
Despite the assertions made by eminent American experts like Mathews and others, both India and the United States have strongly refuted observations that New Delhi and Washington are joining hands to contain Beijing.
Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have said that there is enough space in the world for a peaceful rise of China and India.
The visit of the Chinese President to Washington comes within two months of India visit of both Obama and Hu Jintao.
Read more: 'US partnering with India to contain China' - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-partnering-with-India-to-contain-China/articleshow/7216229.cms#ixzz1A3tcDCjz
"The United States has already started partnering with an emerging power that shares a long border with China as it moves to open a special relationship with India," said Jessica Mathews, president, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
"The biggest motivation for Washington's engagement with New Delhi -- even though it's not talked about -- is the hope that India can help balance China's rising power," she said.
A day earlier, The New York Times reported that China has quietly expanded its area of influence in Central Asia. Several of China's neighbors in recent past have expressed concern over recent aggressiveness in Chinese behavior.
"The ultimate answer of whether the United States will try to contain or cooperate with China is mostly up to Beijing. One year ago, Washington was looking at the Sino-American relationship very differently and more positively," Mathews said.
"In 2010, the world witnessed a series of moves by China that seemed to suggest a 180-degree turn -- certainly in tone, but also in real political choices. China's assertiveness in the South China Sea and its bullying behavior after the Japanese arrested a Chinese trawler captain in disputed waters in the East China Sea were particularly notable," she said.
"Most importantly, China has been totally unwilling to deal with North Korea's provocative behavior. This was clear both after Pyongyang was implicated in the sinking of the Cheonan, a South Korean warship, and more recently when tensions flared on the Korean peninsula after North Korea carried out a deadly artillery attack on a South Korean island in November. China is not stepping up to its responsibility," Mathews said.
Despite the assertions made by eminent American experts like Mathews and others, both India and the United States have strongly refuted observations that New Delhi and Washington are joining hands to contain Beijing.
Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have said that there is enough space in the world for a peaceful rise of China and India.
The visit of the Chinese President to Washington comes within two months of India visit of both Obama and Hu Jintao.
Read more: 'US partnering with India to contain China' - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/US-partnering-with-India-to-contain-China/articleshow/7216229.cms#ixzz1A3tcDCjz
India Vs South Africa 3rd test
Laxman falls, India four down
India: 235/4 (79.5) RR:2.94 India trail by 127 runs with 6 wicket(s) remaining In the 1st inn.
Sachin 94*
Pujara 0*
India: 235/4 (79.5) RR:2.94 India trail by 127 runs with 6 wicket(s) remaining In the 1st inn.
Sachin 94*
Pujara 0*
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