Briefing

A partial solar eclipse would be encountered from 2.03 pm to 4.13 pm local time ( Colombo, SL) on 26 the of January 2009. A maximum of sun will be obscured at 3:12 PM and you will be able to observe 17.1% of the total visible area through the eclipse. Few observation camps have been arranged to capture the eclipse, according to the informed sources. Astronomical Associations of some schools have informed as about their events. Nalanda College, Kingswood College, and De Mazenod College will have their own events to witness the eclipse. There would also be another observation session in Kurunagala, conducted by the Planetarium.

Advice:

It is advised that you should use filters when observing the eclipse together with appropriate professional guidance. Otherwise it will cause irreversible damage to your naked eye.

Scientific Eye:

This type of eclipses are termed as “Saros”. The periodicity and recurrence of solar (and lunar) eclipses is governed by the Saros cycle, a period of approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years 11 days 8 hours). When two eclipses are separated by a period of one Saros, they share a very similar geometry. The two eclipses occur at the same node with the Moon at nearly the same distance from Earth and at the same time of year. Thus, the Saros is useful for organizing eclipses into families or series. Each series typically lasts 12 to 13 centuries and contains 70 or more eclipses. Every saros series begins with a number of partial eclipses near one of Earth’s polar regions. The series will then produce several dozen central before ending with a group of partial eclipses near the opposite pole.


IYA 2009 Event:

Furthermore, especially a public eclipse observation session has been set up by the Astronomical Association of Sri Lanka ( AALK ). This would be held in the Car Park of the Arpico Super Center
in Hyde Park Corner, Colombo, which is accessible from Union Place. This is aimed at making the public aware of IYA 2009, while popularizing astronomy among people, in accordance with the IYA 2009 projects.


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Links:

Following links lead you to more scientific explanations on the eclipse.

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2009-Tab02.pdf
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html#2009Jan26A
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsaros/SEsaros131.html
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHtables/OH2009-Tab02.pdf


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