The eclipse factor

(c) Sanjay Rath, 2003

Published in the Jyotish Digest 2003

ïI k«:[< jgÚaw< nTva sÃy dEv}, k…veRh< ivÊ;a< àITyE Jyaeit; fa@jeSqœ s<¢h<.

I, Sanjay (Rath) Vedic astrologer, prostrate at the lotus feet of Çré Kåsna, the lord of the universe and pray that this compilation (of articles, lessons etc on Jyotish) is liked by (and benefits) the wise and learned (astrologers).

Annular Solar Eclipse of May 31, 2003

Although the Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, yet it is also about 400 times as far from the Earth than the Moon. This situation causes the two luminaries (Sun and Moon) to appear as about the same size in the sky. When the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, it casts a shadow. If this shadow falls on the earth, it causes an eclipse. The Moon passes between the Sun and Earth every month, yet it does not cause an eclipse to occur every month. An eclipse can occur only when the Moon is zero latitude i.e. it is in the plane of the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. The points of intersection of the orbital planes of the Moon (around earth) and the Earth (around Sun) are called Rahu and Ketu. Rahu is the ascending node i.e. the turning point where the Moon begins to gain latitude and Ketu is the descending node of the Moon. Naturally, for an eclipse to occur, the Sun and Moon would appear to conjoin in the skies, and it is necessary for either of the nodes to be in contact for the shadow to fall on Earth. Since the shadow can fall on Earth only when either of the nodes conjoins this conjunction of the luminaries, the nodes are also called shadowy planets or shadow causing by nature. This is referred to a Maya.

The orbits are not circular and instead, are elliptical (egg shaped). Therefore, the distance between the Earth and the Sun changes as the Earth revolves around the Sun, and the same thing happens as the Moon revolves around the Earth. Thus, a number of possible combinations of distances can occur when the eclipse occurs. The shadow of the Moon has a dark portion called the umbra and a lighter shadow called the penumbra. If the umbra does not fall on the Earth, a partial or annular eclipse occurs while if the umbra falls on earth, then the region of the shadow is able to see the total eclipse. The difference between a partial and annular eclipse is that during an annular eclipse, the Moon’s disk appears smaller than the disk of the Sun although it passes directly over the Sun. In a partial eclipse it does not pass directly over the Sun but covers a portion. The annular phase of an eclipse can only be seen from a very narrow track called the path of annularity. The eclipse of 31 May 2003 was an annular eclipse.

Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC writes, "The first solar eclipse of 2003 is a very unusual annular eclipse, which takes place in the Northern Hemisphere. The axis of the Moon’s shadow passes to the far north where it barely grazes Earth’s surface. In fact, the northern edge of the antumbra actually misses our planet so that one path limit is defined by the day/night terminator rather by the shadow’s upper edge. As a result, the track of annularity has a peculiar "D" shape, which is nearly 1200 km wide. Since the eclipse occurs just three weeks prior to the northern summer solstice, Earth’s northern axis is pointed sunwards by 21.8°. As seen from the Sun, the antumbral shadow actually passes between the North Pole and the terminator. As a consequence of this extraordinary geometry, the path of annularity runs from east to west instead of visa versa. As a member of Saros 1471 , this is the first central eclipse of the series."

Fred Espenak adds, "The event transpires near the Moon’s ascending node in central Taurus five degrees north of Aldebaran. Since apogee occurs three days earlier (May 28 at 13 UT), the Moon’s apparent diameter (29.6 arc-minutes) is still too small to completely cover the Sun (31.6 arc-minutes) resulting in an annular eclipse." The star Aldebaran is in Rohini naksatra and the reference to the occurrence of the eclipse in ‘central Taurus’ affirms the use of the sidereal (vedic) zodiac, which is the correct way of looking at the sky. If instead, the tropical (western) zodiac were used, the eclipse would have been said to occur in the beginning of Gemini.

Fred Espenak writes that the central line of the eclipse forms a short C-shaped curve, which begins south of Iceland and crosses the country near Reykjavik. Greatest eclipse occurs at 04:08:18 UT about 200 km northwest of the Scandinavian island nation. At that point, the duration of the annular phase lasts 3 minutes 37 seconds with the Sun 2.9° above the northeastern horizon. The central line ends near Greenland after running its complete course in twelve minutes. A detailed report on this eclipse is available from NASA’s Technical Publication series (see: NASA Solar Eclipse Bulletins). Additional information is also available at the 2003 annular solar eclipse web site: http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/ASE2003/ASE2003.html

The jyotisa perspective

Type of eclipse

Rule 1.:2 There are ten types of eclipses based on the appearance and movement of the shadow on the disc of the Sun (or Moon).

It should be borne in mind that the lunar eclipse is due to the Moon entering the shadow of the earth causing the eclipse to begin in the eastern limb, whereas the solar eclipse is due to the Moon covering the solar disc, which causes the eclipse to begin from the western limb3 . The Moon moves into the solar disc like a cloud from the west. Consequently, the solar eclipse is different in different places based on the visibility of the eclipsed disc4 .

Savya: Partial eclipse of the southern side of the solar disc or the southeastern part of the lunar disc. Such an eclipse causes heavy rains and floods but the people are happy and fearless.
Apasavya: Partial eclipse of the northern side of the solar disc or the northwestern part of the lunar disc. Many deaths occur die to the tyranny of rulers and robbers alike.
Leha: lit. Licking and this is a total eclipse where the tongues of darkness seem to lick the disc or enclose it like a ring. A very benevolent eclipse where there is sufficient rains and water and general happiness is assured.
Grasana: lit. Swallowing. This is a partial solar eclipse where the solar or lunar orb is swallowed (covered by a dark shadow). At least one powerful leader shall die and prosperity shall decline. Even the most powerful nation shall see the troubles of an economy under recession.
Nirodha: lit. Obstruction. This is a total eclipse where the central region/solar or lunar orb is completely dark and opaque. A benevolent omen promising well being and happiness in the region.
Avamardana: lit. Crushing. This is a total eclipse that is long lasting (duration). It causes destruction of world leaders and nations and is considered very inauspicious.
Äroha: lit. Mounting. If after the eclipse, there follows a period where the luminary is again covered by a spell, however brief, of darkness. This is an evil omen and portents war, panic and a lot of fear.
Äghräta: lit. Smelting. The shadow is partially transparent and appears as a layer of dust over the luminary. This is a very good omen and promises good rains, crops and prosperity.
Madhyatamas: lit. Central darkness. This is a clear annular eclipse where the dark central shadow is surrounded by a ring of light. This is an evil omen and will destroy people and afflict humanity with disease.
Tamontya: lit. Edge darkness. This is a total eclipse where the central region seems lighter as the outer part of the shadow is very dark. Food shortages, crop destruction and danger from thieves or great losses are indicated by this eclipse.

It is possible that an eclipse may not be of one of these pure types but a mixture of several of these. The observation and results have to be carefully deciphered. Secondly, this is a very subjective reading and one should not rely totally on it.

Rising and setting

Rule 2.5 : The regions in which the eclipse is visible at the time of rising or setting (sandhyä), would face financial pressures due to poor agriculture and there would be danger or ill-health to the political leaders and government. This rule is applicable only to those regions where the eclipse is visible at sunrise or sunset.

The regions include Arabia, Libya, most of Europe excepting the east and parts of Canada and USA. The financial strain would show in the months to come till November 2003. Moreover, the pressure would increase in the regions from Arabia to West Europe while the pressure will decrease in Canada and the USA indicating some recovery from recession for America. Since this region is outside the main shadow, the financial strain will not be as much as what Scotland, Greenland and Iceland are going to face. Refer to the stereographic projection map of the eclipse path (courtesy Fred Espenak, NASA).




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