Wednesday, July 22, 2009

皆既日食(kaiki nisshoku): The total eclipse of the sun

So many Japanese people were looking forward to July 22, 2009 because the total eclipse of the sun would happen after 46 years since July 21, 1963.
They say the total eclipse happens once in a year or two somewhere in the world. However it is very rare like once in a hundred years that happens in the same place.
In the southern islands they could see the total eclipse of the sun today for more than 6 minutes. But in the Akuseki island (悪石島) where it was expected to happen for 6 minutes 25 seconds which was supposed to be the longest time in the manned islands of Japan, it rained heavily, and they could not watch.
In the Kanto area 75% of the partial eclipse was expected, however, unfortunately it was also raining or cloudy.
In Japan the next time will be on September 2, 2035 in the Hokuriku (北陸) and Kita Kanto(北関東) area. So there won't happen for the next 26 years in Japan.
I hear there will be in Easter Islands on July 11, next year.

I hope I will witness the total eclipse of the sun, see the black sun and take a picture of the Diamond Ring by myself someday.

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