Click to enter the Youku live broadcast of the total solar eclipse on July 22.
At 8:00 AM on July 22, 2009, a once-in-a-millennium total solar eclipse will occur in the Yangtze River Basin of China, and it will be the longest-lasting one in this century. For astronomy and photography enthusiasts, watching and photographing this total solar eclipse is undoubtedly the most anticipated event of the year.
The path of totality for the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009, is mostly over the Pacific Ocean, with almost all land portions located within China, passing through densely populated provinces and cities such as Sichuan, Chongqing, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai. Other provinces in China can only observe varying degrees of partial solar eclipses. In Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan, and Shaoxing within the solar eclipse band can witness the total solar eclipse. Other cities can also see different levels of partial solar eclipses; even in the southernmost part of Zhejiang, a partial solar eclipse with an obscuration rate of about 91.4% can be observed. Among these, Zhoushan is the easternmost city in the path of totality. The observable duration across the entire city can last up to 2 hours and 40 minutes; secondly, there are no obstructions on the sea surface, while other cities are mostly situated in basins with more mountain obstructions, which are not conducive to observation; thirdly, during the total solar eclipse, the sun's altitude angle in Zhoushan will be the largest, providing the best observation effect. Through research by international astronomical organizations, Daishan and Shengsi counties in Zhoushan City are very close to the centerline of the total solar eclipse band, so it can be said that they have unique geographical advantages. The next visible total solar eclipse in our country will occur in 2015, but it will be limited to northern regions. For people in Zhejiang Province, the next opportunity to see a total solar eclipse at home will be on June 9, 2309, which means it will never happen in their lifetime, making this total solar eclipse a great opportunity for people in the Zhejiang region, and it should not be missed.
Among the various observation sites in Zhoushan City, "Shengsi Jihu" has the highest latitude and is closest to the centerline of the total solar eclipse band, with the longest duration of totality, making it the best among all observation locations. Note: Generally, do not conduct observations on pedestrian crossings, roads, unguarded riverbanks, or rooftops, as it could lead to unnecessary trouble or even endanger lives!
Youku live broadcast link for the total solar eclipse on July 22: http://www.dvd1990.com/zyp/1720/