GUWAHATI, Oct 7 � People in the eastern half of the North-east will be fortunate to view the total eclipse of the Moon tomorrow, albeit for a very short spell, while in other parts of the region only partial eclipse will be visible.
The Guwahati Planetarium has made arrangement for astronomy enthusiasts to study the celestial phenomenon, which will be the last of 2014.
�People in the eastern part of North-east, including Dibrugarh, Imphal, Itanagar and Kohima will be able to view the total eclipse but only for a brief period. In other parts of the region, the partial eclipse will be visible,� BC Bora, curator of the Guwahati Planetarium, told The Assam Tribune.
He said North America, South America, East Asia and Australia will witness the total eclipse of the Moon throughout the period of occurrence.
�The eclipse will start at 2:45 pm and will be total from 3:55 pm. Totality will end at 4:54 pm and the eclipse will be over at 6:04 pm. In Guwahati, the Moon will rise at 4:59 pm in the East, by which time the phase of totality will be over. However, at Dibrugarh the Moon will rise at 4:45 pm and so for nine minutes it will be total. But the Moon will be near the horizon,� Bora said.
In Guwahati, people will be able to view the partial phase of the eclipse for one hour and five minutes.
�If the eclipse had taken place a few hours later, we would have been able to view the entire phase of totality,� Bora said, adding that Guwahati Planetarium has made arrangements for observing the eclipse and it will be open for all.
Noted astronomer and secretary of the Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers� Association UN Deka also lamented the fact that the eclipse of the Moon will take place at a slightly unfavourable time. �We will be able to view only the last phase of the eclipse of the Moon. If it had taken place a bit early, it would have been better for us,� he said.
