Here comes the sun

KABITA ROY

On August 11, 1999 France issued a special stamp in recognition of a rare astronomical phenomenon, a solar eclipse. Partial solar eclipses take place every year. But total eclipses are rare. If within one generation, people at a particular place on earth can witness three total solar eclipses, they must regard themselves to be extremely fortunate. The stamp design shows a totally blackened sun with the full splendour of its corona.

Total solar eclipses come as great boons to the scientists, because much of our knowledge of the sun and the universe is derived from what is observed during eclipses.

But for the common man too, a total eclipse comes as a wonderful experience, for it presents an aswesome natural spectacle unmatched by any other.

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