In China, viewing is expected to be better. In Wuhan, China's fourth-largest city, we expect fine viewing. The weather has been bright and sunny for days. [I've been in China for a month now, and it has rained only once for about half an hour.] Such good July weather in Wuhan is unusual because Wuhan also has a July monsoon season.
What makes this the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century? First, the Sun is at its farthest point from Earth July 4. By July 22, the Sun hasn't come much closer so it appears near its smallest size in our sky. A small Sun means the Moon can cover it longer. Second, the Moon comes closest to Earth for 2009 (and thus appears biggest) less than 5 hours before the eclipse begins. A large Moon covers the Sun longer.
We have been trying to persuade the University administration to let us take our classes outside on the morning of the eclipse. It's been quite a battle, due in part to liability issues. Any activity that is out of the ordinary generates a lot of difficulty in China. With such a large population, they observe a kind of regularity of behavior that would be uncommon in America. It has become clearer to me that some level of uniformity is important here.
What makes this the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century? First, the Sun is at its farthest point from Earth July 4. By July 22, the Sun hasn't come much closer so it appears near its smallest size in our sky. A small Sun means the Moon can cover it longer. Second, the Moon comes closest to Earth for 2009 (and thus appears biggest) less than 5 hours before the eclipse begins. A large Moon covers the Sun longer.
We have been trying to persuade the University administration to let us take our classes outside on the morning of the eclipse. It's been quite a battle, due in part to liability issues. Any activity that is out of the ordinary generates a lot of difficulty in China. With such a large population, they observe a kind of regularity of behavior that would be uncommon in America. It has become clearer to me that some level of uniformity is important here.
During the eclipse's early partial phases, eye safety is a problem. Sunlight can quickly and painlessly damage the eye's retina. We have been studying this safety issue and think we have a solution. My friend Kent, who is very interested in astronomy, located an optical shop that was able to provide him with enough special glasses for his class and mine (5 yuan each). They have a Bausch & Lomb label, and we hope they are genuine. [100,000,000 Chinese are involved in businesses that counterfeit products of all kinds. This is a serious problem in China.] We wonder what the 10,000,000 citizens of Wuhan (some of whom don't know there will be an eclipse) will do without glasses as they walk the streets of the city on July 22.
If all goes well, I'll report on the eclipse next week. Here nothing is guaranteed until it actually occurs.
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