Article Posted on : - Jan 12, 2010

A file photo

KOCHI (PTI): India's first 'Eclipse Cruise' will leave Kochi port on Wednesday, with about 750 'astro tourists' to view the longest annular solar eclipse of the third millennium from Male in Maldives on January 15.

Space Technology and Education Private Ltd (SPACE), a pioneer organisation working for development of science and astronomy in India, is organising the cruise along with Louis cruises on board M V Aquamarine.

Charges for the four-day-three-night trip would work to between Rs 17,000 to Rs 50,000.

SPACE has launched astro tourism, the perfect mix of travel and astronomy in India for the first time and aims to bring together the exciting sphere of astronomy, space services and unraveling the wonders of the sky, SPACE Chief Executive Officer Amit Verma said.

The last time such an annular solar eclipse was viewed in India was on November 22, 1965 and the phenomenon is not expected to be repeated before June 21, 2020. This will be the longest annular eclipse of the millennium with its duration being 11 minutes and 08 seconds over the Indian Ocean.

The ship would leave Kochi for Maldives tomorrow at around 3 pm and reach Male the next day at around 5 pm.

On January 15, on the day of the eclipse, the annularity (also known as ring of fire) would be visible for 10 min 46 sec. The eclipse will start at 10:15:20 peaking at 12:25:43 and ending at 13:23:14 (all Maldives local time), the organisers said.

"We would be carrying telescopes, binoculars to show deep sky objects, different galaxies, nebulae and star clusters," Verma said.