On Wednesday, 2009 July 22, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan's Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean.Unfortunately the eclipse was only visible in Asia and the Pacific. But the Asians simply loved it. And apparently, what a hoo-hah on the internet to watch live streaming of the celestial spectacle. On Twitter @AstronomyMag kept the viewers updated about each movement of the moon coming in the sun’s way which is a rare sight. The clouds played hide-and-seek but still astro-enthusiasts gathered at several places. They got their prize as they got a glimpse of the sun. Eighty-three per cent of the sun dial was obscured by the moon.The Government of Gujarat explained how beautiful the solar eclipse could look. They also advised the citizens to take precautions before viewing the eclipse. So much that a special website was launched to cover the incredible event. The diamond merchants in Surat were expected to be thrilled to watch the surreal celebrations.
Live webcast from Japan kept a track of the eclipse on their website Live! Eclipse 2009. The diamond ring started to form in Jaipur but wasn’t visible. Later news from Varansi and Delhi stormed the internet. Google Trends can not be forgotten as they presented their version of the coverage all across the globe. Live Surya Grahan also gave importance to the Hindu Mythology and how it relates to the nature’s sight. The Darkness at Dawn certainly surprised the birds was covered by NDTV Live from Varanasi.
