Total eclipse to pass over China and Siberia

July 24, 2008

Researchers and sky watchers are en route to remote regions of the Earth to catch a glimpse of a total solar eclipse.

On 1 August, a total solar eclipse will be visible from Canada to China. The path is shown in blue
(Map: Fred Espenak/NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center)

On 1 August, the Moon will pass in front of the Sun, casting a shadow across the Earth. Much of the northern hemisphere will see a partial eclipse, but the total eclipse will only be visible in a narrow band as the shadow tracks from Canada to China.

Totality is expected to be relatively short, lasting at most about two and a half minutes. In contrast, a total eclipse in 2009 will last more than six and a half minutes in some places.

Despite the short duration of this year’s event, expeditions are underway to Russia and China to see it. Several aircraft will aim to observe the eclipse from above the clouds, and an icebreaker will bring watchers to the Svalbard Islands in the Arctic.

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Posted in Science and Technology, Space Exploration