Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan) In 2024
The year 2024 will see a Solar Eclipse (Surya Grahan)
What is Surya Grahan (Solar Eclipse)
A Surya Grahan or a solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the earth and the sun and blocks the sun’s rays partially or completely from reaching the Earth. There are three aesthetically made sections of solar eclipses: Total, Partial, and annular.
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| Solar Eclipses |
Classification Of Solar Eclipses (Surya Grahan):
1. Total solar eclipse:- The Moon completely blocks the Sun, creating a shadow cast on the earth with most regions darkened and nightly enveloping the area for a short duration.
- Type: Total Solar Eclipse (A Solar eclipse in which the Moon entirely obscures the Sun).
- Date: April 8, 2024.
- Visibility:
- This eclipse is expected to be seen throughout North America, including some regions of Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
- Some areas in Central and South America might also experience it partly.
- Best Viewing Locations: Cities in the U.S. such as Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and even Buffalo lie in the path of totality making the best possible views.
- This type occurs when the moon blocks only a segment of the sun exposing another side and giving the shape of a crescent.
- Partial Solar Eclipse – October 2, 2024
- Type: Partial Solar Eclipse (A solar eclipse in which the Moon covers only a fraction of the sun).
- Date: October 2, 2024.
- Visibility:
- This eclipse will mainly be seen in Antarctica and South America as well as some parts of the southern Atlantic Ocean.
- Best Viewing Locations: Southern parts of the countries of Chile and Argentina will experience high magnitudes of this eclipse.
3. Annular Solar Eclipse:
- In this type of eclipse, the moon hides the midsection of the sun while the outer sides remain uncovered causing a shaped figure like a band around the sun also known as the Vulcan’s ring.
- An annular solar eclipse happens when the Moon obscures the Sun's center while leaving the outer edge visible, forming a “ring of fire” around the Moon itself.
- This is because, during this phase, the Moon is at the apogee of its orbit, making it appear smaller in the sky thereby failing to cover the disc of the sun.
- Characteristics of an Annular Solar Eclipse:
- Ring of fire: The most unique aspect is the bright encircling sun visible all around the black disc of the moon.
- Partial Darkness: About a total solar eclipse where the Sun’s disk is entirely concealed, some portion of the Sun’s rays reaches the surface of the earth making dusk non-existent.
- Visibility:
- Annular eclipses are viewable only from certain areas of the Earth within a long, narrow strip known as the ‘path of annularity’. A partial solar eclipse is also viewed without this path
Scientific Importance:
- Whenever there is a solar eclipse, scientists take advantage of the situation to easily study the solar corona which is the outer region of the sun that is usually hidden because of the sun’s brightness.
- It aids astronomers in the study of celestial mechanics like the Earth, Moon, and Sun in a straight line.
Spiritual and Cultural Beliefs:
As per Indian traditions, Surya Grahan has a lot of purposes relating both to spiritual belonging and astrology:
- Many believe that natural forces become imbalanced causing energetic disturbances in the atmosphere of the earth during a solar eclipse. Thus people indulge in con and other such activities such as not consuming food, reciting mantras, and engaging in meditation.
- The temples are shut, and certain mantras including the Gayatri mantra and MAHA MRITYUNJAYA during the eclipses the negative energies are believed to get pacified.
Health Precautions:
- It is important to watch the solar eclipse with specialized glasses called eclipse glasses as one could suffer from permanent eye damage if they stare at the Sun during the solar eclipse without protection.
- Also, it aids in practical astronomy by facilitating the study of certain positions of the earth, moon, and sun.
Upcoming Total Solar Eclipse:
- Though this eclipse will be a partial one, the next total solar eclipse in the series will occur on April 8, 2024, and will span throughout the North American continent.
- Distinctively, the partial solar eclipse in October of 2024 is a significant occurrence for skywatchers, especially those situated towards the south, as it will showcase the transit of the Moon over the face of the Sun.
Frequently Ask Questions
What do you understand by the term Surya Grahan?
Surya Grahan is popularly known as Solar Eclipse. It happens when the Moon lies between the Sun and the Earth, obstructing one or more rays of light from reaching the Earth. This series out of three, can be a total, partial, or annular eclipse, depending on the amount of the sun that is hidden.
What are the major and minor eclipses of the sun?
There are three types:
- Total: The sun is completely obscured by the moon
- Partial: Only a fraction of the sun is obscured by the moon
- Annular: The moon obscures the central portion of the sun, leaving a luminous ring at the periphery.
How can I safely watch the solar eclipse?
Never look at the sun without safety glasses, such as gradient glasses or solar filters, throughout the lithosphere. Looking at the sun without any protection can result in permanent blindness
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