Century’s longest eclipse sweeps into clouds in Himachal

July 22nd, 2009 TAREGNA - The overcast skies cast a dampener and the rare celestial event unfolded behind rain clouds, disappointing the many thousands from India and the world. But the clouds did part momentarily to let the crowds glimpse the century's longest solar eclipse.

July 22nd, 2009 SHIMLA - A partial solar eclipse was witnessed amidst partly cloudy skies across Himachal Pradesh Wednesday, officials here said. "The partial solar eclipse began at 6.24 a.m.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - As dawn broke Wednesday, the century's longest total solar eclipse began with thousands of sky gazers craning their neck skywards to catch the glimpse of the rare celestial spectacle. The sun rose eclipsed Wednesday morning at 5:28 a.m.

July 22nd, 2009 BHOPAL - As the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century passed through India on Wednesday, wildlife officials of a zoological park in Bhopal said they witnessed a change in the behaviour of zoo tigers. Wildlife officials at the Van Vihar National Park, who for the past seven days were keeping a close watch on the animals to analyse the impact of eclipse on them, said that during the eclipse period, the tigers behaved differently.

July 22nd, 2009 HYDERABAD - A group of rationalists gathered here Wednesday morning to not just watch the longest solar eclipse of the century but also tuck into breakfast in an attempt to remove superstitious beliefs from the minds of people. While the dark clouds blocked the view of the partial eclipse, they went ahead with their meal on the banks of the picturesque Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city to prove a point.

July 22nd, 2009 LHASA - Tibet's Cona county was one of the first places in China to view the solar eclipse, which occurred at 8:01 a.m Wednesday, according to an observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). However, the solar view from Cona was blocked by overcast, according to sources from the CAS Purple Mountain Observatory based in Nanjing, eastern Jiangsu province.

July 22nd, 2009 BANGALORE - Compromising on their daily dose of sleep, hundreds of Bangaloreans woke up early morning to witness the century's longest solar eclipse Wednesday, but clouds played spoilsport during their much awaited adventure. Around 200 scientists, research scholars and other people gathered at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden at 5.30 a.m.

July 22nd, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Those who had hoped to witness the century's longest solar eclipse in Orissa were disappointed Wednesday as the sky remained overcast in most parts of the state. Thousands of people woke up early in the morning and were armed with special glasses to see the phenomenon.

July 22nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Cloudy skies in large parts of northern and western India Wednesday marred a clear view of the century's longest total solar eclipse but the celestial spectacle was clearly visible over Varanasi. Tens of thousands of people across the country rose early to see the eclipse that was to begin at the earliest at 5:29 a.m.

July 22nd, 2009 AGRA/SURAT/GAYA - The longest duration solar eclipse, which was seen in various parts of India on Wednesday, will happen only after 123 years. However, the next solar eclipse - an annual one - will occur next year.

July 22nd, 2009 SURAT - Scientists, tourists and school children in Gujarat were left disappointed Wednesday as heavy clouds blocked the view of the total solar eclipse. "Some darkness was felt in Surat around 6.25 a.m.

July 22nd, 2009 CHONGQING - A total solar eclipse was observed at many places in China Wednesday morning, officials said. At 9.15 a.m., many places in the upper reaches of China's longest river, the Yangtze, were engulfed in total darkness.

July 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Sky gazers are looking forward to watching the total solar eclipse on July 22, even as scientists fear the weather may play spoilsport. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a cloudy sky July 22 with possibility of rain and thundershowers.

June 30th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India will view 21st century's longest solar eclipse July 22 which will provide a life time opportunity to scientists and sky gazers to study this grand spectacle of nature. The total eclipse is expected to last 6 minutes and 44 seconds, making it the longest eclipse till 2132.

January 21st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Sky gazers in some parts of India will get an opportunity to observe a partial solar eclipse Jan 26. The eclipse, first for the year, will start at 2.15 p.m.