Various parts of the eastern hemisphere are experiencing a rare occurrence of an extremely long solar eclipse. Some cities in northern India and China can expect a complete blackout on the morning of Wednesday, July 22, 2009. This is a fascinating event, and many people will visit the cities that will be strongly affected, just to experience it. There are also cruise tours that will pass through the strong eclipse areas and are booked to capacity with passengers that wish to experience the eclipse from the open water. This could add a romantic element, and what a perfect time for a marriage proposal. Hotels are booked to capacity in the major cities that will be affected, and though Goa will not experience the full eclipse that is will occur on Wednesday, the Goa hotels are almost always full. And this is a major tourist time of year.
In Goa, there was a partial eclipse in the early morning of Monday, March 19, 2007. This was a beautiful event, and many photographers were able to capture the silhouetted image against the moon. The eclipse occurred close to the horizon, which may have made it less visible from specific locations, though it also created a beautiful linear view. There is actually an eclipse season, and it will begin in late August of this year. On August 28 there will be total lunar eclipse followed by a partial solar eclipse in October. With any eclipse, it is important to take precautions when looking at them, as even partial sun directed into ones eyes can cause extreme damage. Many schools have special viewing projects for students and make it a class event to view them through the crudely constructed instruments. This is also a great opportunity for astronomy classes to create an interactive lesson.
