Stone inscription mentioning 17th century solar eclipse found in Tamil Nadu

July 22nd, 2009 DHAKA - The long-awaited total solar eclipse was observed Wednesday morning in northwestern Bangladesh that lasted for little more than three minutes. Despite the cloudy weather, tens of thousands of astronomy enthusiasts gathered in the South Asian country's northwestern Panchagarh district, about 440 km from here, observed the greatest celestial spectacle of the century.

July 22nd, 2009 BHIMBETKA - Hundreds of enthusiastic and curious people who had gathered at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday were dejected as bad weather played spoilsport, blocking the view of the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century. Astronomers had reckoned Bhimbetka as one of the best places to view and experience the celestial spectacle.

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 - 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 NEW DELHI - Unable to buy a solar goggle but keen on watching the century's longest solar eclipse, 25-year-old Anurag Gupta caught hold of an old x-ray scan of his chest and went to the Nehru Planetarium to have a glimpse of the celestial spectacle. Gupta was not the only one armed with an x-ray.

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 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 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 TAIPEI - Tens of thousands of people in Taiwan watched Wednesday's partial solar eclipse, but few said they still believe in superstitions that the eclipse could spell disaster. In Taipei, clusters of people gathered in squares, parks and on rooftops to try to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon, which appeared as a total eclipse in parts of India, Nepal, China and Japan and a partial eclipse in other areas of Asia.

July 21st, 2009 SURAT - A seminar on solar eclipse was held here on Monday as the country prepares to witness a total solar eclipse on July 22, the last of the kind to be visible in the country for the next 105 years. In India, Surat, Vadodra, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi and Patna are ideal locations for good views of the total solar eclipse A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the earth, blocking out the sun from the areas in the moon's shadow.

July 21st, 2009 MUMBAI - Did you know animals and birds often prepare for sleep or behave confusedly during total solar eclipse? Well, here are some other little known facts about solar eclipse. - The longest recorded duration for a total solar eclipse is 7.5 minutes.

July 20th, 2009 SURAT - The Gujarat government Monday launched a website dedicated to the total solar eclipse of July 22, an official here said. The state government launched the website solareclipsesurat.in jointly with the Surat Municipal Corporation and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

July 18th, 2009 NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD - Hoping to attract around 5,000 tourists to watch the solar eclipse on July 22 in Surat district, one of the places in India where the total eclipse will be visible, the Gujarat government Saturday announced it would offer free boarding to the first 200 people registering with them. The tourists will be accommodated in the homes of local people in Surat free of charge under a scheme called 'Atithi devo bhava' (the guest is almost akin to god).

January 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The first solar eclipse of the year was partially visible in some parts of India and observed by various people Monday afternoon. The eclipse started at 2.15 p.m.

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.