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Asia Looks to Sky Wednesday for Solar Eclipse




By VOA News
21 July 2009

The moon cast a shadow at the sun in a partial solar eclipse in Manila, Philippines on 26 Jan 2009
The moon cast a shadow at the sun in a partial solar eclipse in Manila, Philippines on 26 Jan 2009
Millions of people in India and China will be looking to the skies Wednesday as the moon passes between the sun and Earth in what is being described as the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century.

Astronomers say the sun will be completely obscured by the moon for about six minutes and 39 seconds at the peak of the eclipse, which will take place at 01:37 UTC.

The Earth will not experience an eclipse this long again until the year 2132.

Forecasters are predicting stormy weather in parts of China and India. Despite the forecast, people are lining up for special solar viewing glasses and staking claim to wide open spaces to view the event.

The eclipse will pass over India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Japan, Indonesia and the Marshall islands. It begins at 00:25 UTC and ends at 03:03 UTC.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP.











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