It is supposed to be the longest solar eclipse of the millennium. The next eclipse of comparable duration is expected in 3043. Wow! Will mankind still be on the earth then? 1000 years is not a very long time for extinction, though.
The interesting part of the solar eclipse is the news item excerpts from the Hindu:
“The longest annular solar eclipse of the millennium took some in Africa by surprise Friday morning as it marched across the continent.”
“The eclipse hit Chad and the Central African Republic, then reached the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia.”
“In Uganda, many woke up on Friday to unusually dull weather, unaware they were witnessing an eclipse.”
““What is happening this morning? Is it going to rain? I do not understand this whole thing,” a young motorcyclist, Tony Kasibante, said as he peered up at the sky in Kampala. Ugandans called radio stations from different parts of the country, the majority asking panelists at the radio talk shows to explain what was happening. One woman in the streets of Kampala said: “The moon is fighting the sun. I saw this many years ago and it is happening now.” Journalist Dennis Ojwee, speaking from the town of Gulu, 360 kilometers north Kampala, said: “People are getting out of their houses to watch this change in the morning light. Children are particularly curious and many are screaming.” By 9:15 am, only a tiny part of the sun was still eclipsed by the moon.”
Wow! Is Africa still so backward? Can’t believe it.