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Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Solar Eclipse on August 2: The world will go dark for 6 minutes— a sight you won't see again for 100 years
Sometime in the early afternoon of August 2, 2027, the skies will dim unexpectedly over parts of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The Sun will vanish behind the Moon, and for a brief moment, a strange stillness will take over– not because of clouds or storms, but because of a total solar eclipse unlike anything seen in decades. It's already being called one of the most significant celestial events of the century. What sets this eclipse apart isn't just its visibility across multiple regions, but how long it will last. At its peak, the total phase– when the Moon completely covers the Sun– is expected to stretch on for 6 minutes and 23 seconds. That's an unusually long duration. Most total eclipses are over in under three minutes. In fact, this will be the longest total solar eclipse visible from land between 1991 and 2114, according to a report by Space(dot)com. What's causing the extended darkness? So, what makes this eclipse so unusually long? A couple of rare things are happening at once. According to a report by Zee News, Earth will be at aphelion– that's when it's farthest from the Sun. This makes the Sun look a bit smaller than usual. On top of that, the Moon will be at perigee, which is its closest point to us. A bigger-looking Moon + smaller-looking Sun = longer totality. But there's more. The eclipse will pass close to the equator, where the Moon's shadow travels more slowly over the Earth's surface. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Luxury Awaits at Paras Floret | Paras Sector 59 Gurgaon Paras The Florett Book Now Undo That slower movement means more time under the Moon's shadow– literally. Where can you watch it happen? The eclipse will begin somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean and move east. As per the Space(dot)com, the shadow, about 258 km wide, will pass through: Southern Spain Northern parts of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia Sections of Libya and central Egypt The northeastern tip of Sudan Areas of Yemen, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and even northeastern Somalia From there, the eclipse exits over the Indian Ocean, moving past the Chagos Archipelago. Clear skies are likely, which is a bonus Places like Libya and Egypt are known for dry, sunny August weather. That gives a high chance of a clear view, especially if you're planning to travel or observe. What makes it special For people living in or near the path, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime event. It's not just long– it's also rare in every sense. Whether you're an astronomer or just someone curious about the sky, August 2, 2027, is a date worth watching.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Asteroid 2024 YR4 won't hit Earth— So why are scientists still worried?
Asteroids don't always need to head straight for Earth to draw global attention. The case of asteroid 2024 YR4 is proving just that. Once flagged for a potential Earth impact, this 200-foot-wide object has since been ruled out as a threat to our planet. But now, astronomers are monitoring a different possibility– one that puts the Moon in the line of fire. With a projected 4% chance of striking the lunar surface in 2032, the asteroid might not pose any risk to people on Earth, but the consequences of such a collision could still reach closer to home, especially for satellites and orbiting infrastructure. Initial Earth threat ruled out As mentioned in a recent report by Space(dot)com, asteroid 2024 YR4 was initially tracked with a 1 in 43 chance of hitting Earth. That concern has now been cleared with fresh data, confirming there's no risk to our planet. However, the focus has shifted to the Moon, which scientists say could be struck by the asteroid in less than a decade. Astronomer Paul Wiegert from the University of Western Ontario told Space(dot)com, 'A 2024 YR4 impact on the moon would pose no risk to anything on the surface of the Earth: our atmosphere will shield us. But the impact could pose some danger to equipment or astronauts (if any) on the moon, and certainly to satellites and other Earth-orbiting platforms, which are above our atmosphere.' An explosion unseen in Millennia According to the report, if the asteroid does collide with the Moon, the impact is expected to be massive. Scientists estimate it would release energy equivalent to 6 million tons of TNT, making it the most powerful lunar impact in nearly 5,000 years. As per Wiegert and as quoted by Space(dot)com, the collision would create a crater about 1 kilometre wide. While most of the debris from the impact would fall back to the Moon, a small percentage– estimated at between 0.02% and 0.2% – could escape into space. Lunar debris could threaten satellites Though the escaped fraction may seem small, it could translate to 10–100 million kilograms of lunar material. This debris could pose a serious challenge to objects in Earth's orbit. 'The YR4 impact, if it occurs and if it occurs in a favorable location, could produce a flux of meteoroids 10 to 1,000 times higher than the normal background for a few days,' Wiegert said, as quoted by Space(dot)com. As mentioned in the report, the fragments would travel at around 22,400 miles per hour (10 km/s) – slower than regular meteors but still fast enough to damage satellites or space-based assets. Earth's atmosphere offers protection Despite the volume of debris, Earth's surface remains well protected. 'The debris will burn up in Earth's atmosphere. We don't expect there to be many pieces large enough to survive passing through Earth's atmosphere,' Wiegert said. He added, 'A rock would have to be 3.3 feet (1 meter) or more in diameter to survive entry, but we expect most of the debris to be inches or smaller.' While ground-based life is safe, the debris could continue orbiting Earth for years, raising concerns about long-term satellite safety. Does this call for a new risk scale? Given the possibility of indirect space hazards, some have raised questions about the need for a system to evaluate such events. But experts say a new scale isn't necessary. Richard P. Binzel, the planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told Space(dot)com, 'No, the indirect consequences are too varied to compress into a single scale.' He explained further, 'The Torino Scale is all about whether a passing asteroid merits attention in the first place, and of course, most asteroids don't.' Binzel also underlined the importance of tracking asteroids accurately. 'What one can control, by obtaining more telescopic measurements, is determining with certainty whether you have a hit or miss. After all, at the end of the day, an object either hits or misses. The answer is deterministic.' Key updates expected in 2028 Astronomers expect a clearer picture in 2028, when asteroid 2024 YR4 will once again come into view. Until then, the current probability of a lunar impact remains at 4%. 'Now we wait. There is, as of right now, about a 4% chance of asteroid YR4 hitting the moon, and we probably won't get this number updated until the asteroid returns to visibility in 2028,' Wiegert said, as quoted by Space(dot)com. 'At that point, we should know pretty quickly whether or not it will in fact hit the moon. The whole event would be exciting to watch in binoculars or a small telescope.' As per the Space(dot)com report, the study has been submitted to journals of the American Astronomical Society, with a preprint available on the online repository arXiv.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maverick Vinales suffers shocking injury blow after brutal Sachsenring crash ends German MotoGP hopes
Maverick Vinales suffers shocking injury blow after brutal Sachsenring crash ends German MotoGP hopes Maverick Vinales fell right before the main race day; what went incorrect for him? Maverick Vinales fell severely on Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Sachsenring German Grand Prix's Q2 session. It happened in wet conditions only minutes after the qualifying session started. The 29-year-old Spanish biker was booted off his Red Bull KTM Tech3 bike at Turn he rose, he was certainly hurting. Medical teams rushed to him, and within hours, news confirmed what fans feared, Maverick Vinales would not race in Germany this weekend. What happened as Maverick Vinales was ruled out after Sachsenring crash in Q2 During his first flying lap in the second qualifying session at the Sachsenring track in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany, Maverick Vinales had a horrific crash at Turn 4. The collision happened shortly after 3:10 p.m. local time on July 12, 2025. MotoGP's official update and Motorsport. com said he dislocated his left shoulder. Medical staff on site immediately placed it back, but due to the severity of the injury, Maverick Vinales was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in Chemnitz. X-rays revealed a fracture near the joint. MotoGP's official X page also confirmed: 'BREAKING: @maverick12official to sit out of the remainder of the #GermanGP following his Q2 crash. We wish you a speedy recovery, Mav!' Also Read: Aleix Espargaro Confident About Fighting Ducati In 2023: 'We Are Not That Far From The Top' Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini both out leaving Tech3 KTM empty This sudden exit leaves Red Bull KTM Tech3 without any riders for Sunday's race. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Maverick Vinales' teammate, Enea Bastianini, was already ruled out earlier this week due to emergency appendicitis surgery. Now, with Maverick Vinales out too, the team will not field a single bike in the German GP. Speaking to reporters, team boss Nicolas Goyon said: 'It's unfortunate, but rider safety is first. Maverick is in pain and needs rest. We'll see how things go in the next few days.' This is Maverick Vinales' first MotoGP missed race as a result of injury. As The-Race. com reports, his return for the following round in Brno depends on medical tests and his healing path. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'That's simply crazy to me': Suni Lee reveals Simone Biles' routines push gymnasts to their breaking point
'That's simply crazy to me': Suni Lee reveals Simone Biles' routines push gymnasts to their breaking point (Image via Getty) Simone Biles has always stood out in the world of gymnastics, not just for winning medals but for the way she performs. Her routines are often so difficult that even judges find it hard to score them fairly. But Biles' greatness doesn't only affect fans, it also pushes her teammates to do better. One of them once explained how Simone's performances made her work harder than ever. Suni Lee says Simone Biles pushes her to improve by doing harder routines Olympic gymnast Suni Lee discussed in 2020 how Simone Biles inspires her. Talking with the Olympics. com, Lee said that watching Biles perform difficult moves motivated her also to stretch herself. Her fight surpasses that of everyone else. She said, Hence, it mildly inspires me to offer whatever I can. The ranking of the two gymnasts for Team USA at major events including the 2019 World Championships, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2024 Paris Olympics will be decided by their side-by-side battles. Together they assisted the U. S. squad events winning silver medals in Tokyo and gold medals in Paris. Lee also recalled how she came second to Biles during the team selection for the 2019 U. S. Women's World Championships. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fastest Selling Plots of Mysore from 40L | 40+ Amenities PurpleBrick Learn More Undo "I did not believe I could be second to Simone," she said. "That's simply crazy to me." She said that striving to match Biles inspired her daily effort. Simone Biles explains why she does the hardest moves in gymnastics Over the years, Simone Biles has created five original skills in gymnastics, named after her. Among these five, two are on vaults, two on floor, and one on the balance beam. First performed at the U. S. Classic in 2021, her most difficult move is the Yurchenko double pike, which combines a round-off, a back handspring, and a double pike flip on a single vault. It's one of the hardest moves ever done in the sport. Also Read: Simone Biles Drops Jaw-Dropping Rare Olympic Photos And Videos Fans Never Saw Before On Olympic Day Simone Biles once told Teen Vogue in 2021 that people sometimes think her routines are too hard for fair scoring. She said, 'They don't want the field to be too far apart… but that's on them.' When asked why she keeps doing such tough moves, Biles said with confidence, 'Because I can.' Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Optical Illusion Personality Test: What's the first thing you see can reveal your hidden personality trait
Do you know why most people love paintings? It's because everyone sees something different in them. Be it a portrait of a personality or a landscape of a place, every human sees an angle that is just so unique and one that speaks to them because it's their quality and point of view that shapes their perspective. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Optical illusions in a similar way, are less about you being a part of a group that is able to identify a sight and more about how that task of it brings out a certain quality in you and the perception of it reveals something about yourself. According to YourTango,com, the first thing that grabs your attention in this multi-faceted picture, reveals your dominant point of view. This is your dominant point of view on the basis of what you saw first: Dancing couple If a couple dancing together with the man holding the woman from behind is what you saw first, then finding a love that is romantic and deep is a priority of yours. You have an inherent romantic view of the world. The old man sitting up in bed If the old man sitting up in the bed in the corner is what you saw first, then you are naturally worried. For you life is constantly difficult, no matter how much effort you put in and thus you are all ready in a protective mode to save yourself from these problems. While worrying about the problems is humane, don't forget that not everything is under your control. Two knights Just ahead of the man sitting on the bed are two standing knights. A primary view of them is indicative of your emotional intelligence. You rely on the love and support you gain from your friends. While others might prioritise health and career, for you your platonic relations are the world. Try stepping around them to see what's more in the world. Cleaning woman In the right corner of the image is a cleaning woman whose sight signifies your readiness to help those in need, anytime. You are a natural problem-solver but at times it's better to advise help and focus on your own self. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Skull-embroidered drapes In the upper-right corner, there are blue and black skull-embroidered drapes. They show that you welcome change with open arms and are always on the lookout for opportunities that offer a fresh start. But remember, you don't change yourself for anyone. Moustached man The big picture is your first priority. Your big ideas benefit not only you but also those around you. You can think from all angles, but in the process of focusing on the bigger vision, don't forget to brush up on the minute details.
