Annular Solar Eclipse or Kankana Surya Grahanam will take place on January 15, 2010, and will be visible in Tamil Nadu towns like Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin districts and Rameswaram. The Surya Grahan will be partially visible in Trichy, Cuddalore and other western and northern districts of Tamil Nadu. The significance of this Kankana Surya Grahanam is that it takes place after 106 years. Annular Solar Eclipse or Kankana Surya Grahanam means around the Sun a ring shaped structure will be formed.
The Hindu reports:
An annular solar eclipse will occur on January 15, 2010 said P. Ayyamperumal, Director, Birla Planetarium, Chennai, here on Friday. Speaking at the inauguration of the district level science exhibition for school students at St. Antonys higher Secondary school, Dr. Ayyamperumal said the eclipse will be totally visible in Thanjavur, Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin districts and Rameswaram. It will be partially visible in Trichy, Cuddalore and other western and northern districts.
Significance of this annular eclipse is that it occurs after 106 long years. Dr. Ayyamperumal said that there are three types of solar eclipse – total eclipse in which the sun will be completely blocked by the moon, annular eclipse in which a ring like structure will be formed around the sun and partial eclipse in which the sun will be partially blocked by the moon.
In Tamil, the annular eclipse is called ‘Kankana Sury Grahanam which means a ring is formed around the sun. Many students are eager to see the annular eclipse on January 15. With a view to help them see the eclipse scientifically, master trainers among teachers are trained by the Birla Planetarium. These teachers will help the students to see the eclipse on January 15. “Birla Planetarium will supply solar goggles and welders glass no four to them to see the eclipse,” Dr. Ayyamperumal said.