2009 Solar eclipse

On July 22nd 2009, there will be a total solar eclipse which will be in the totality stage for over 6mins in some parts of the far east, parts of China and Japan. The greatest solar eclipse i.e. the maximum duration of totality is 06mins and 38secs in parts of the Pacific Ocean, east of Japan. The path of the eclipse starts in the Arabian sea off the western coast of India, south of Rajkot (Gujrat state) and west of Mumbai (Maharashtra state). The eclipse path runs over the cities of Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna, Dibrugarh and the passes into China. The eclipse will be seen from the Chinese cities of Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuham, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai. Shanghai will see the eclipse for 05mins 56secs. The Tokararetto islands in Southern Japan will see the eclipse for about 06mins 20secs and the Iwo Jima and Kititao Jima islands are near the greatest eclipse point i.e. they will see the totality for approx 6mins 38secs. The eclipse path then passes through Marshall islands (05mins 15secs) and Gilbert islands (04mins 45secs). Western China (Wuhan and Shanghai) and Southern Japan (Kagoshima and Chichijima) seem to be the best points as they have the least amount of cloud cover for July.

This is a wonderful opportunity as the next total solar eclipse with 6mins or more is several years away. I am hoping to travel to some place in Asia to see this eclipse (hopefully). Will keep things posted as they happen.