July 2009 Solar Eclipse time | what time is the Total Solar Eclipse?

Excitement is building up all over the world, especially in Asia, over the upcoming eclipse which is going to be the longest of its kind in the 21 century. At its longest duration, the eclipse will last for six minutes and 39 seconds according to NASA and this has caused even more interest. Reports say tourists are now flocking to the major viewing sites in Asia, particularly India and China, in hopes of witnessing this once in a lifetime phenomenon. However, Mother Nature may yet douse cold water on everybody’s spirits as weather forecasters say there is a high percentage of cloudiness and overcast skies in the region.
Nevertheless, all are hoping for the best possible weather to view the eclipse.

This eclipse is the longest total solar eclipse that will occur in the twenty-first century, and, according to NASA, will not be surpassed in duration until June 13, 2132. For many of us, this is the best chance to see such a natural spectacle. Totality will last for up to 6 minutes and 39 seconds, with the maximum eclipse occurring in the ocean at 02:35:21 UTC about 100 km south of the Bonin Islands, southeast of Japan. The North Iwo Jima island is the landmass with totality time closest to maximum.

The eclipse will only be visible in Asia. Europe, Africa and the Americas will not get a chance to see this. However, there are online live streams available to them. These sites are particularly recommended by NASA as the leading websites that will feature the July 22, 2009 solar eclipse online. For the path of the eclipse, here is a rundown of the regions it will cover:

It will be visible from a narrow corridor through nothern Maldives, northern India, eastern Nepal, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, the northern tip of Myanmar, central China and the Pacific Ocean, including the Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands and Kiribati.

Totality will be visible in many large cities, including Surat, Vadodara, Bhopal, Varanasi, Patna, Dinajpur, Chengdu, Nanchong, Chongqing, Yichang, Jingzhou, Wuhan, Huanggang, Hefei, Hangzhou, Wuxi, Huzhou, Suzhou, Jiaxing, Ningbo and Shanghai, as well as over the Three Gorges Dam.[4][5] According to some experts, Taregana in Bihar is the “best” place to view the event.

A partial eclipse will be seen from the much broader path of the Moon’s penumbra, including most of South East Asia (all of India and China) and north-eastern Oceania.

Taregana is treated as one of the best locations to see this solar eclipse.

For the best viewing times, please refer to the table below. You can also refer to the animated map below. (Please take note that times listed are local times in that region):

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