Millions Witness Century's Longest Solar Eclipse -(Total Solar Eclipse - 2009 )

- ( http://www.timesofearth.com ) - The solar eclipse of July 22, 2009 was the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting as much as 6 minutes and 39 seconds in some places. It caused tourist interest in eastern China, Nepal and India.

Millions of Asians have witnessed the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century early Wednesday.

In some parts of the continent, the moon completely blocked out the sun for more than six-and-a-half minutes.

The eclipse - the longest since July 1991 - was visible in India, Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China. There won't be a longer eclipse than today's for another 123 years.

The eclipse first appeared just before 1am GMT at in India's Gulf of Khambhat just north of the metropolis of Mumbai.

It passed across some southern Japanese islands and was last visible from land at Nikumaroro Island in the South Pacific nation of Kiribati at 4.19am GMT. A partial eclipse was visible in much of Asia between midnight and 5am.

Lasting six minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point, it was the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century and will not be surpassed in duration until June 13 2132.

The maximum point occurred in the ocean just after 2.30am GMT about 62miles south of the Bonin Islands, south-east of Japan.

Astronomers travelled across the world for a rare prolonged view of the sun's corona, a white ring 600,000 miles from the sun's surface. According to Nasa, Taregana in the eastern Indian state of Bihar was the best place to witness the event.

A total eclipse can never last more than seven minutes, 40 seconds and is usually much shorter. During each millennium, fewer than 10 total solar eclipses last longer than seven minutes. The last time it happened was in 1973, when the Moon blocked out the Sun for seven minutes and three seconds.

The longest total solar eclipse during the 8,000-year period from 3000 BC to 5000 AD will occur on July 16 2186, when totality will last seven minuntes and 29 seconds.

@ www.timesofearth.com (THE TIMES OF EARTH (TOE)

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News & Politics

Tags:

• Total
• Solar
• Eclipse
• July 22
• 2009