Feeling Kinda . . . Strange?

Solar Eclipse July 2009 to Be Dramatic, Longest in 21st Century

Updated: Tuesday, 21 Jul 2009, 11:28 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 21 Jul 2009, 11:17 AM EDT

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - The astronomical event of the summer, if not for this entire year, occurs Wednesday—a total eclipse of the sun visible in its entirety in parts of India and China.

It will be the longest eclipse of the 21st century, lasting as much as 6 minutes, 39 seconds in parts of the south Pacific Ocean, making it the longest-lasting one observed in China since 1814. It will not be surpassed in duration until 2309.

According to NASA , the path of the moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China before curving south across the Pacific Ocean ( NASA slideshow of the projected path ). The eclipse begins in India's Gulf of Khambhat (Bay of Cambay) at 00:53 Universal Time (UT). About 20 minutes later at 01:13 UT (9:13 a.m. local time) China will begin to see the event -- allowing more people to experience the spectacle of a total solar eclipse at one moment than at anytime in recorded history.

In the U.S., the only place that it will be visible is Hawaii, which will see a small partial eclipse toward sunset on Tuesday.

Field trip, anyone?

~Rye Bread