Sky-gazers, stand up and pay attention. Remember this date: on
July 22, 2009 at 10.34 AM, please converge on the Tianhuangping
Pumped Storage Power Plant reservoir in Anji City, Zhejiang Province, for the next total solar
eclipse China will experience. This information was released by
Prof. Jay M. Pasachoff, chairman of the Working Group on Solar
Eclipse of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) while
inspecting Anji a couple of days ago, Beijing-based Guangming
Daily reported on May 9.
Prof. Pasachoff with
students from the Hangzhou High School
Experts have said that total solar eclipses are only visible in a
few select spots at one time and return to the same place only
every two or three centuries. Thus, the chance to see such a
phenomenon comes along very rarely.
The July 2009 eclipse may well be the most magnificent seen in
China throughout the 21st century. Sources at the Chinese Academy
of Sciences' Purple Mountain Observatory estimate it will last five
minutes and four seconds and that Anji will enjoy the longest view
of the rare event.
International astronomers always prepare to study a solar
eclipse, noting every detail of its appearance. Trying to locate
the best observation place, determined to be in Anji, Prof.
Pasachoff also surveyed Jinshan in Shanghai, Deqing County's Mogan
Mountain and the city of Hangzhou. Accompanying him were Dr. Yan
Yihua, chief scientist of the National Astronomical Observatories
and Dr. Zhu Jin, director of the Beijing Planetarium. After careful
calculation, Prof. Pasachoff finally determined that the reservoir
of Tianhuangpin Pumped Storage Power Plant, located at 119°35′east
and 30°27′north and standing at 758 meters, would provide the best
observing site.
"People living in Anji are so lucky since they will see the
total solar eclipse for a long time with their own eyes. I will
bring a research team of more than 20 people and all our equipment
to Anji and share in the spectacle,” said Prof. Pasachoff.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting, May 11, 2007)
