Watch for the "live" telecast at ChnU at 8am on 22-july-09!!

Waiting for the longest total solar eclipse that will occur in the twenty-first century, and will not be surpassed in duration until June 13, 2132. Totality will last for up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds~

View the full article details at the URl below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_July_22%2C_2009

SOLAR ECLIPSES: WHY ECLIPSES HAPPEN

• Solar eclipses happen when the Moon blocks the light from the Sun
• During a total solar eclipse, the sky appears as dark as night, and you can see the Sun's glowing corona

A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, the Moon and the Earth all line up. The Moon blocks the light of the Sun, and casts a shadow on the Earth. To see how an eclipse happens, view the below URL for an animated video and other solar system details.http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/sun/solareclipse.shtml

TYPES OF ECLIPSE

1. Partial --> A partial eclipse happens when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, but does not cover it completely.
2. Total --> A total eclipse occurs when the Moon covers the Sun completely. Only a small region of the Earth will see a total eclipse, but observers in the nearby regions see a partial eclipse.
3. Annular --> If the Moon is further away from the Earth than normal, then it will not appear large enough in the sky to cover the Sun. The Sun appears as a ring with a dark centre.
4. Hybrid --> A hybrid eclipse is one which appears as a total eclipse in some parts of the world, and as an annular eclipse in others.

Watch out for the "live" telecast at ChnU at 8am on 22-july-09!! Meantime, hope to go either science centre or maybe easy coast park with Dar on a early Wed morning to watch sunrise if possible~ Signing off for now.