19 yrs later, solar eclipse on Diwali

There would be a partial solar eclipse on Diwali (October 23). The last time a solar eclipse took place on Diwali day was the complete solar eclipse on October 24, 1995. The eclipse was visible from parts of India. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between earth and the sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring the image of the sun for a viewer on earth.

According to BG Sidharth, director, BM Birla Science Centre, “A solar eclipse occurs on new moon (amavasya) day when the moon comes in front of the sun, thus blocking it, sometimes fully and at others partially. Another way of saying this is that the shadow of the moon falls on the earth. Also, the Orionid Meteor Shower will peak these days. It derives its name from Orion or Kalpurush. Some meteors can be seen, but all of them would appear to fall from the direction of Orion. The fact that we are near a new moon makes it easier to see them. These meteors are the left over dust and debris left behind by the famous Comet Halley. However this would not be visible from Hyderabad, as it would take place in the very early hours before the sun rises in the sky.”

Unlike a solar eclipse, which is viewed only in a small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the dark side of the earth, and lasts for a few hours, whereas a total solar eclipse lasts for only a few minutes at any given place, this is because the moon's shadow is smaller. Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye.

Lunar eclipse has no effect on the weather. But during a lunar eclipse there are low tides because of the moon's low gravitational force. In a lunar eclipse the moon is covered by the earth's shadow, therefore, the gravitational force is not strong. The opposite happens during a solar eclipse.