The Legend
When
the gods and the demons churned the milky ocean in days of yore, nectar came
out of it. Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini, a charming lady, deluded the
demons and distributed the nectar only among the gods. But Rahu had disguised
himself as a god. The sun and the moon pointed this out to Mohini who
immediately slashed off the demon’s head. Since the nectar had by then already
reached up to the neck, he did not die. Thus the head came to be known as Rahu
and the body as Ketu. To avenge this betrayal, Rahu and Ketu periodically
eclipse the sun and the moon.
Astronomically
speaking, when the sun, the moon and the earth are all in line, with the moon
or the earth at the centre, a solar or lunar eclipse takes place respectively.
At the
time of the eclipse, people bathe in the sacred rivers. They do charitable
acts. They give cows, money and gold. The day after the eclipse they feed the
poor, the Brahmins and the Sadhus. After the eclipse they clean their houses,
vessels, etc., and take a bath before they start cooking.
One
should not take food during the eclipse. When the eclipse begins the food
should by then have been digested. One should take food only after seeing the
sun or the moon free from the eclipse. When the clear sun or the moon is not
seen before sunset or sunrise, in the case of the solar and lunar eclipse
respectively, food can be taken only after the sun or the moon is seen the next
day.
Pregnant
women should not see the sun or the moon during the time of the eclipse. If
they do the child born may have some kind of defect. He may be born deaf, dumb
or blind. Householders are forbidden from sexual intercourse on the day of the
eclipse, for the same reason.
At this
time one should take great care in avoiding bleeding, scorpion stings, etc.
These have disastrous results. Even an earthworm has a poisonous effect when it
bites one during an eclipse.
Those
who do Japa at the time of the eclipse derive great benefits. The effect of
Japa and Sankirtan during the eclipse contributes towards relieving the
suffering of humanity and also of the planets. These people receive the
blessings of the gods. They attain perfection quickly. Those who wish to tap
the subtle force locked in the Mantra that will cure scorpion stings should
stand in water and repeat the appropriate Mantra.
The
little intellect cannot understand many things in this universe. Hence, have
faith in the words of sages.
Ignorance
has eclipsed Self-knowledge. However, this eclipse will disappear. You will
shine in your own glory. This is the spiritual significance of the eclipse.
On the
day of the eclipse, what is known as Tabij, can be made from Bhoja Patra. Upon
it words are written using as ink, Ashta-gandha or Kesar or Kasturi. After
folding, it is tied with cotton thread. Using diya and dhoop for puja the Tabij
is powered (made potent) with Mantras. Tabij that is prepared during the actual
time of eclipse is most powerful and potent. Many types of Tabij are used, for
business or profession, health, wealth- prosperity, success in exams, jobs,
marriage, romance, successful outcome of court cases, revenge, etc. Wrap the
Tabij with a red cloth or place in a copper container and keep for two-three
years. Detailed information can be had from learned pundits.
Important Warning
Permanent eye damage can result from staring or
even looking at the disk of the Sun directly, or through a camera viewfinder,
or with binoculars or a telescope even when only a thin crescent of the Sun
remains. The 1 percent of the Sun's surface still visible is about 10,000 times
brighter than the full moon. Staring at the Sun under such circumstances have
the same effect on the retina of your eyes than a magnifying glass to focus
sunlight onto paper, and eventually burning a hole in it! The retina is
delicate and irreplaceable. There is little or nothing a retinal surgeon will
be able to do to help you. Never look at the Sun outside of the total phase of
an eclipse unless you have adequate protection. Remember, your eyes can be
damaged without you feeling any pain.
Once
the Sun is entirely eclipsed, however, its bright surface is hidden from view
and it is completely safe to look directly at the totally eclipsed Sun without
any filters. In fact, it is one of the greatest sights in nature.When selecting a filter with which to view the sun directly, make sure that the filter’s optical thickness is adequate that only a minuscule fraction of the sun’s light is transmitted. You should be able to view the filament of a high-intensity electric lamp comfortably through your filter. Aluminised polyester, fully exposed and developed black-and-white film (i.e. still containing the silver coating) or welder’s glass, will do. The secret is to have metal in your filter absorbing the excess sunlight. An optical thickness of 5.0 (i.e. only allowing 0.01% of the light) is adequate.
When using any kind of filter, however, do not stare for long periods at the Sun. Look through the filter briefly and then look away. Intuitively, one knows that it is possible to glance at the Sun and immediately look away without eye-damage.
Take care, and have enjoyable and safe solar eclipse viewing!
Danie Esterhuyse
South African Weather Service.
Introduction to Lunar Eclipse
By Fred Espenak (c) 2007
An
eclipse of the Moon (or lunar eclipse) can only occur at Full Moon, and only if
the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. The shadow is
actually composed of two cone-shaped components, one nested inside the other.
The outer or penumbral shadow is a zone where the Earth blocks part but not all
of the Sun's rays from reaching the Moon. In contrast, the inner or umbral
shadow is a region where the Earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the
Moon. By Fred Espenak (c) 2007
There are three types of lunar eclipses:
1. Penumbral - The
Moon passes through Earth's penumbral shadow. These pale eclipses are faint and
hard to see.
2. Partial - A
portion of the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow. These are easy to see
with the unaided eye.
3. Total - The
entire Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow. The Moon can turn orange, red
or dark brown.
When
an eclipse of the Moon takes place, everyone on the night side of Earth can see
it. About 35% of all eclipses are of the penumbral type which are very
difficult to detect, even with a telescope. Another 30% are partial eclipses
which are easy to see with the unaided eye. The final 35% or so are total
eclipses, and these are quite extrordinary events to behold.
Eclipses of the Moon
Eclipse Type/ Umbral Magnitude/
Eclipse Duration/Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility.
Geographic abreviations : n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central
Eclipse Duration/Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility.
Geographic abreviations : n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central
|
|
Eclipses of the
Moon: 2010 - 2020 |
||||
|
Date |
Eclipse Type |
Umbral Magnitude |
Duration partial phase |
Duration total phase |
Geographic Region of
Eclipse Visibility |
|
2010 Jun 26 |
Partial |
0.537 |
02h43m |
|
e Asia, Aus., Pacific,
w Americas |
|
2010 Dec 21 |
Total |
1.256 |
03h29m |
01h12m |
e Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas, Europe |
|
2011 Jun 15 |
Total |
1.700 |
03h39m |
01h40m |
S.America, Europe,
Africa, Asia, Aus. |
|
2011 Dec 10 |
Total |
1.106 |
03h32m |
00h51m |
Europe, e
Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific, N.A.
|
|
2012 Jun 04 |
Partial |
0.370 |
02h07m |
|
Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas |
|
2012 Nov 28 |
Penumbral |
-0.187 |
_ |
_ |
Europe, e
Africa, Asia, Aus., Pacific, N.A.
|
|
2013 Apr 25 |
Partial |
0.015 |
00h27m |
|
Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus. |
|
2013 May 25 |
Penumbral |
-0.934 |
_ |
_ |
Americas, Africa |
|
2013 Oct 18 |
Penumbral |
-0.272 |
_ |
_ |
Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
|
2014 Apr 15 |
Total |
1.291 |
03h35m |
01h18m |
Aus., Pacific, Americas |
|
2014 Oct 08 |
Total |
1.166 |
03h20m |
00h59m |
Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas |
|
2015 Apr 04 |
Total |
1.001 |
03h29m |
00h05m |
Asia, Aus., Pacific, Americas |
|
2015 Sep 28 |
Total |
1.276 |
03h20m |
01h12m |
e Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa, w Asia |
|
2016 Mar 23 |
Penumbral |
-0.312 |
_ |
_ |
Asia, Aus., Pacific, w Americas |
|
2016 Sep 16 |
Penumbral |
-0.064 |
_ |
_ |
Aus., Pacific, Americas |
|
2017 Feb 11 |
Penumbral |
-0.035 |
_ |
_ |
Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus., w Pacific |
|
2017 Aug 07 |
Partial |
0.246 |
01h55m |
|
Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
|
2018 Jan 31 |
Total |
1.315 |
03h23m |
01h16m |
Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus. |
|
2018 Jul 27 |
Total |
1.609 |
03h55m |
01h43m |
Asia, Aus., Pacific, w N.America |
|
2019 Jan 21 |
Total |
1.195 |
03h17m |
01h02m |
S.America, Europe,
Africa, Asia, Aus. |
|
2019 Jul 16 |
Partial |
0.653 |
02h58m |
|
c Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa |
|
2020 Jan 10 |
Penumbral |
-0.116 |
_ |
_ |
S.America, Europe,
Africa, Asia, Aus. |
|
2020 Jun 05 |
Penumbral |
-0.405 |
_ |
_ |
Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus. |
|
2020 Jul 05 |
Penumbral |
-0.644 |
_ |
_ |
Europe, Africa, Asia, Aus. |
|
2020 Nov 30 |
Penumbral |
-0.262 |
_ |
_ |
Americas, sw Europe, Africa |
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to Scientists and Hinduism com for the collection)
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