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Total Solar Eclipse of July 22, 2009
The new moon Total Solar Eclipse 2009 is only a few hours away and millions of people are on the countdown of its arrival. The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century will pass through India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Marshall Islands on July 22, 2009 (Eastern Hemisphere).
The Significance of the Total Solar Eclipse of July 22, 2009
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth so that the Sun is totally or partially covered.
Total solar eclipses are rare events, averaging their occurrence in the same given area an average of once every 370 years. Totality of longer than 7 minutes is a rare event, fewer than 10 per millenium (a thousand years).
The total solar eclipse of July 22, 2009 has a totality of 6 minutes and 39 seconds. It is the longest solar eclipse our generation will experience. It begins in India and ends in Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It travels the course of 3 hours 25 minutes. The umbra travels along a track approximately 15,150 km long that covers 0.71% of Earth’s surface area. An observer in the umbra experiences total solar eclipse.
The next total solar eclipse longer than 7 minutes will occur in June 25, 2150, two generations away.
General information on travel in Asia during the July 22, 2009 Total Solar Eclipse
1. The exact path is posted in the Total Solar Eclipse - July 22, 2009: Best places on Earth to view, extracted from NASA's report documented by Fred Espernak and Jay Anderson in 2008. The exact times are posted in Universal Time. Verify your local time as it relates to the Universal Time.
2. Follow the exact path visually, with this interactive map of the total solar eclipse on Google.
3. In the Western Hemisphere, the eclipse will occur on July 21. In the Eastern Hemisphere, it will be on July 22. This solar eclipse will occur once on Earth, but the difference in the dates account for the International Date Line.
4. NASA has issued warnings that to prevent eye injury or blindness, people must not view a solar eclipse with the naked eye, particularly a partial solar eclipse when only a portion of the sun is covered. NASA's recommendations for eye protection are posted here: Total Solar Eclipse 2009: Safety Precautions - Eye protection for safe eclipse viewing. Only use eye protections recommended for solar eclipse viewing. Read the information related to using binoculars and telescopes for solar eclipse viewing, whether or not it is advisable. Instructions on how to create a pinhole viewing box is also in the article.
5. For weather concerns, there is a 60% chance of thunderstorm projected for July 22 in Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Forecasted weather for the affected cities can be found here: Total Solar Eclipse 2009: Weather forecast in India, Nepal, China and Japan. For exact weather information, visit Intellicast on the day of the eclipse's arrival.
6. Be advised for travel alert in China regarding swine flu epidemic and travel warning for Nepal for potential terrorist activity. These are issued by the US State Department. For detailed information, see Total Solar Eclipse 2009: Travel alert for China and travel warning for Nepal.
7. Countries affected by the total solar eclipse have been going through massive preparations involving law enforcement and communications agencies, ensuring traffic flow, telecommunications, and other day to day living conditions are not affected whatsoever by total darkness. Other For detailed information, visit local government websites for eclipse related news.
Eclipse maps and data courtesy of Fred Espenak and Jay Anderson, "Total Solar Eclipse of 2009 July 22" (NASA/TP-2008-214169)
If anyone would like to share his or her experiences with the author about witnessing the total solar eclipse first-hand, he or she is invited to do so. The author's email address is on the short bio on the top of this page.
Source:
Total Solar Eclipse of 2009 July 22 (NASA)
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By Gina Alzate, World Tours and Cruises
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Comments
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come to India and see the eclipse
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