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| 'I'll remember eclipse all my life' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| 'The sun transformed into a black orb, crowned in a dazzling white halo' | 'The sun transformed into a black orb, crowned in a dazzling white halo' |
| Passengers on a special chartered flight to view the total eclipse in India saw spectacular sights. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, who was also on board, reports. | |
| "Ladies and gentlemen, 30 seconds to go. Get your cameras ready and enjoy the view." | "Ladies and gentlemen, 30 seconds to go. Get your cameras ready and enjoy the view." |
| Captain Oswal's measured tones were in stark contrast to the frenzy his words unleashed. | Captain Oswal's measured tones were in stark contrast to the frenzy his words unleashed. |
| Bounding with enthusiasm, passengers on board Flight 2279 whooped with delight as the sky slowly darkened. | Bounding with enthusiasm, passengers on board Flight 2279 whooped with delight as the sky slowly darkened. |
| The Boeing-737 had been chartered specially for a flight to view the solar eclipse above India. | |
| It's the monsoon season and many parts of the country are covered with thick clouds. | It's the monsoon season and many parts of the country are covered with thick clouds. |
| So some people chose to fly above the clouds, at 41,000 feet, for a closer look. | So some people chose to fly above the clouds, at 41,000 feet, for a closer look. |
| Before sunrise, they gathered at Delhi airport, sleepy but keen. | Before sunrise, they gathered at Delhi airport, sleepy but keen. |
| 'Magical' | 'Magical' |
| There were veteran "eclipse chasers", first-timers, amateur astronomers, scientists and even young children. | There were veteran "eclipse chasers", first-timers, amateur astronomers, scientists and even young children. |
| For Deepak Bhimani, 70, it was his eighth solar eclipse. | For Deepak Bhimani, 70, it was his eighth solar eclipse. |
| "Each time it's as magical as the previous one," he said smiling, as he fiddled with his camera. | "Each time it's as magical as the previous one," he said smiling, as he fiddled with his camera. |
| "Each time I learn something new." | "Each time I learn something new." |
| 'With the sky pitch black, you could see the galaxy in all its glory' | 'With the sky pitch black, you could see the galaxy in all its glory' |
| As we board the aircraft, special "solar-view goggles" are handed out, to protect the eyes from damage. | As we board the aircraft, special "solar-view goggles" are handed out, to protect the eyes from damage. |
| The best seats were on what was called the sun-side, where passengers would have an unhindered view of totality, the moment when the sun is completely obscured. | The best seats were on what was called the sun-side, where passengers would have an unhindered view of totality, the moment when the sun is completely obscured. |
| The privileged vantage point came at a steep price - $1,600 - while those on the other side of the aisle cost less than half. | The privileged vantage point came at a steep price - $1,600 - while those on the other side of the aisle cost less than half. |
| "It's worth the money, man," grinned Sachin as he positioned his camera against the window. | |
| He's travelled all the way from America to be here. There are others like Gerhard from Germany. | He's travelled all the way from America to be here. There are others like Gerhard from Germany. |
| He was due to witness the eclipse in Shanghai, but was worried about swine flu and decided to come to India instead. | |
| An hour into the flight and the sense of anticipation grew as the crew counted down the minutes. | An hour into the flight and the sense of anticipation grew as the crew counted down the minutes. |
| The cabin lights were dimmed and people geared up for the spectacle. | The cabin lights were dimmed and people geared up for the spectacle. |
| "There it is, there it, is," shouted one man as ever so slowly, a shadow travelled across the face of the moon. | "There it is, there it, is," shouted one man as ever so slowly, a shadow travelled across the face of the moon. |
| With the sky pitch black, you could see the galaxy in all its glory. | With the sky pitch black, you could see the galaxy in all its glory. |
| "Look there's Mercury below us," yelled another. "Jupiter, Saturn," as he counted out the planets. | "Look there's Mercury below us," yelled another. "Jupiter, Saturn," as he counted out the planets. |
| Even the cabin crew joined in, special glasses firmly in place. | Even the cabin crew joined in, special glasses firmly in place. |
| Emotional | Emotional |
| And then we had the magic moment. | And then we had the magic moment. |
| The sun transformed into a black orb, crowned in a dazzling white halo - totality. | The sun transformed into a black orb, crowned in a dazzling white halo - totality. |
| Some cheered, others clapped and a few went quiet. | Some cheered, others clapped and a few went quiet. |
| And then it was over, leaving everyone dazed and lost for words. | And then it was over, leaving everyone dazed and lost for words. |
| Even the veteran, Deepak Bhimani, was emotional. | Even the veteran, Deepak Bhimani, was emotional. |
| "It's so hard to describe this feeling - the sense of awe, nature in all its glory," he said, his eyes misty, his voice shaking. | "It's so hard to describe this feeling - the sense of awe, nature in all its glory," he said, his eyes misty, his voice shaking. |
| A sense that was echoed across the generation. | A sense that was echoed across the generation. |
| "It was amazing, the moment when you saw the diamond ring," said 11-year-old Shreya Sahai, the youngest on board. | "It was amazing, the moment when you saw the diamond ring," said 11-year-old Shreya Sahai, the youngest on board. |
| "I'll remember it for the rest of my life." | "I'll remember it for the rest of my life." |
| The lights sprung back on and the captain announced that we were heading back to Delhi. | The lights sprung back on and the captain announced that we were heading back to Delhi. |
| Flight attendants rolled out breakfast carts. But many on board remained lost in thought as they reflected on the moment when they witnessed one of the world's rarest natural events. | Flight attendants rolled out breakfast carts. But many on board remained lost in thought as they reflected on the moment when they witnessed one of the world's rarest natural events. |
| From 41,000 feet. | From 41,000 feet. |