Total Solar Eclipse

Do you know what’s special of this year? 2009 is the year of the telescope in memory of Galileo’s observations of the universe through the astronomical telescope he invented. Furthermore, in honor of Galileo’s discoveries, the United Nations and the International Astronomical Union have declared the year to be the International Year of Astronomy. Then do you know what’s this year have in store for China? 

On July 22,2009, there will be a Total Solar Eclipse that lasts for the longest time and the Northern part of China is the best place to observe it. 

According to the picture on the right，Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai，all are capital cities in China where the transp

ortation is very convenient. 

Places        Begin      Last Time (second)     Angle 

Chengdu  08 07 05       118                            36

Chongqing  08 08 07       295                            39

Ezhou          08 15 25       309                            48

Hangzhou   08 21 27       324                            55

Hefei            08 18 40       113                            51

Jiaxin           08 22 20       352                            56

Jinzhou       08 12 48       306                            45

Ningbo        08 23 09       261                            57

Shanghai    08 23 26       302                            56

Shaoxin      08 21 53       275                            56

Suzhou       08 22 22       294                            55

Tongling     08 18 05       340                            52

Wuhan        08 14 54       324                            48

Wuxi            08 22 04       225                            55

Xiaogan      08 14 41       325                            47

Zhou Shan 08 23 56       309                            58

 

According to the chart above, the Total Solar Eclipse lasts for a long time. It will last for more than 6 minutes in many places. It is good enough for observations when the angle of the sun is more than 30 degrees. The angle of the sun will be more than 50 degrees in many places. Therefore, it is really a wonderful chance for us to experience this rare phenomenon. In addition, considered the last time and the angle of the sun, these places are highly recommended: Hangzhou, Jiaxin, Shanghai, Tongling, Zhou Shan. 

Many people are very curious about how to observe the Total Solar Eclipse. It is very complicated to observe it by taking pictures with a telescope or a camera, so I just introduce some feasible ways for us. 

1. You can wear sunglasses that are dark enough.

2. Subject glass to smoke so that you can use it to reduce the strong light of the sun.

3. Put several films together with which you observe the sun. 

4. Use the eye-protecting glasses used by a welder.

If you go back to China in July and the weather is good, you might as well go to these places to observe the Total Solar Eclipse.