Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is upbeat about watching the total solar eclipse on Wednesday along with scientists from across the world at Taregana village, one of the best places in India to view the celestial spectacle.
"I am really upbeat to watch the total solar eclipse along with astro-physicists, scientists and researchers ... a lifetime opportunity," Nitish Kumar said in the city on Monday.
The engineer-turned-politician stressed that the state government would provide all facilities to scientists and others coming to Taregana to study and view the century's longest solar eclipse.
The Chief Minister, along with a team of top officials, visited Taregana, about 35 km from Patna, on Sunday to review the preparations.
The total eclipse, starting a little after sunrise, is expected to last three minutes and 48 seconds at Taregana. According to the NASA forecast based on satellite imagery, the sky over the region is likely to be less cloudy than others along the path of the total solar eclipse. So it may offer one of the best views of the celestial phenomenon.
Taregana already has an ancient connection with astronomy, having been one of the two places used by 6th century Indian astronomer-mathematician Aryabhatta for his celestial studies.
Hundreds of scientists, researchers and astro-tourists from across the world are expected to arrive in the Bihar village ahead of the total solar eclipse. These include scientists from US space agency NASA, Britain, Italy, Germany, France, as well as from the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research and the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation has decided to set up a special counter at Taregana to provide all possible facilities. The departments concerned have been assigned the 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.
The state government is also providing a pair of special goggles at a minimal price to view the eclipse.
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