Total solar eclipse to appear in China on July 22

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The solar eclipse on Wednesday will be the longest to occur in China in 500 years. The moon will cover the face of the sun for six minutes. Unfortunately, cloudy weather may prevent many people from seeing it clearly.

Graphics shows five highlights of the total solar eclipse recommended  by the astronomers on July 21, 2009.(Xinhua/Zheng Yue)

Astronomy buffs from home and abroad along with planetariums across China have made full preparations for the spectacle. Beijing Planetarium will provide special equipment to allow everyone to observe it. Chongqing University will join with the National Astronomical Observatories to broadcast the total solar eclipse on the net.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, either fully or partially blocking the sun. This can only happen during a new moon, when the Sun and Moon line up with the Earth. Total eclipses are rare at any location because during each eclipse totality exists only along a narrow corridor in the relatively tiny area of the Moon's umbra.