Excitement in Taregna, the Total Solar Eclipse Village

Taregana (or Taregna literally means song of the stars), 35 km off Patna, the capital city of Bihar in India, has overnight turned into a much sought after tourist destination thanks to the total solar eclipse on22 July 2009.

The phenomenon will be best glimpsed from the humble environs of Taregna, which according to NASA is the best place to view the Total Solar Eclipse.

Taregana’s association with astronomy is perhaps as old as astronomy itself. Taregana is one of the two places used by Indian astronomer-mathematician Aryabhata (sometimes spelt as Aryabhatta) for his celestial studies.

It is believed he was the first to state that the earth revolves around the sun after a long research in his observatory tower at Taregnadih, the mound near Taregna.

According to the NASA forecast based on satellite imagery, ‘the sky over the region (Taregna) is likely to be less cloudy than at other places in the 250 km wide path of the total solar eclipse. So it may offer one of the best views of the celestial phenomenon’.

The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has set up a special counter at Taregna to provide all possible facilities to the visitors. All the concerned Government departments have been assigned tasks of setting up temporary public toilets, repairing the road, providing round-the-clock power supply as well as bringing out a pamphlet on the village.

It will be a memorable day for residents of Taregna because many scientists, researchers, observers, journalists from the world over and even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are expected to arrive here to watch the total solar eclipse. The mood is quite upbeat and festive in this Bihar village.

Most school students of the village have been taught about the importance of Taregna in view of the total solar eclipse and its historical connection with astronomy.

There was a total solar eclipse of 4 minute duration, visible from the Mediterranean seaside town Side in Turkey and some other Middle Eastern countries during March, 29 2006.

The 22 July 2009 solar eclipse will be the longest solar eclipse of this century with the maximum phase lasting for 6 minutes 39 seconds. The next total solar eclipse that can be viewed from many parts of India will occur only on June 3, 2114, according to astronomers.

The longest total solar eclipse in this century on Wednesday, as swaths of India and China are plunged into darkness, will be viewed by millions of people in Asia.