Watching the solar eclipse with solar filter googles was a learning experience for Mumbai’s kids

The year’s first solar eclipse also known as ‘surya grahan’ that took place on June 21 was an important celestial event. In Mumbai, the partial phase of the eclipse began around 10 am, and stargazers were thrilled to observe it from their homes. And more than the adults, the children enjoyed viewing the phenomenon with special glasses. Avid astronomer and resident of Bhayandar, Deepti Sutar got a few kids together and handed the special goggles to them, to view the eclipse from her window, “The occurrence was special.We watched it with kids from the building. Initially we had planned to go to Rajasthan to view it, but that plan got cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic. So, we got some kids together for the event and they were extremely excited about this. They also maintained a distance between themselves while doing so.”
‘It was the first time I was watching it’
The youngsters watched the eclipse with the special solar filter goggles. Adds Deepti, “The eclipse started at around 10.17 am and there were clouds in the sky, but we could still see it. The path of the eclipse was Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi and Uttarakhand from where people could see the ring of fire. From Mumbai it was only partial, nevertheless it made for a fabulous learning experience for the kids as well as their parents.”
One of participants, Adit Soni, a student of standard seven, says, “It was such an amazing experience to view the partial solar eclipse, for me, it was the first time that I was watching such a thing. Iskey pehley school books mein hi padhtey they iskey baarey mein. I told my other friends about it,” too.