China Media China from the inside

Disclaimer:

This article is translated, edited or re-posted from a third-party source. As such, this article only represents the original author's personal viewpoint and not that of eChinacities.com.

Once in 500 Years: China’s July Solar Eclipse

Jul 01, 2009 eChinacities.com

Share E-mail Save Print Font Size: +-

Mr. Wang Si Chao, an astrologist with the Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory, has informed us that on July 22nd, 2009, China will host a spectacular total solar eclipse, a sight that has not been observed in 500 years.

Path of Total Solar Eclipse of July 22

Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is the authoritative institute for predictions of solar eclipses within China. According to their reports, this upcoming total solar eclipse will be one of the most spectacular observed within China in 500 years (to be fair those 500 years also stretch into the future: 1814 to year 2309), and will last the longest as well, in some regions the total eclipse will be in effect for up to 6 minutes.

According to Mr. Wang, the upcoming spectacular can be observed in regions of the following 11 provinces: Tiben, Sichuan, Yunan, Chongqing, Hubei, Henan, Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Those in Shanghai are luckiest, as the total solar eclipse will be observable throughout most of its regions. The natural spectacular will kick into gear on 9:09AM, Beijing time.

See also: Where to Watch the Shanghai Solar Eclipse

The rest of China will be able to observe a partial solar eclipse, even Beijing, situated the furthest from Changjiang River will still able to glimpse the 'Crescent Sun' phenomenon.

According to the institute’s records, observers of the next total solar eclipse in China, will have to wait until March 20, 2034, and will have to head to Tibet, Qingdao and other limited regions of China in order to experience it. In either terms of how many provinces and cities are able to behold the upcoming eclipse or the time with which it lasts, this upcoming solar eclipse is unrivaled.

A total solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular observations in astronomy. Even though the eclipse usually lasts no more than a few minutes, it is a spectacle that moves the heart. When the moon moves in to overshadow the sun, bright day turns into a dark dark night, and even birds returning to their nests thinking that night had fallen.

Read the original in Chinese here

***