Posted 21 Jul 2009

Star-gazers and astronomy enthusiasts may have already booked their tickets for a gap year in Asia, as what Nasa predicts will be an "exceptionally long" solar eclipse is on the horizon.

Richard Binzel, a professor of planetary sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told CNN that the eclipse is such big news that it is likely to be watched by more people than ever before as it darkens the skies over India and China on Wednesday July 22nd.

The eclipse’s path will span from the Bay of Cambay in India to the Himalayas and into China and the islands of south Japan. A full solar eclipse is set to last for up to six minutes in some destinations, the news provider quotes Nasa as stating.

Overall, the moon’s journey across the face of the sun will last for almost three and a half hours, Mr Binzel informs.

One individual to have experienced an eclipse in Asia is BBC presenter Sir Patrick Moore, who told the Telegraph last week that a journey to China to watch one in 1995 was the best trip aboard he has ever had.

Category: Asia