On August 1, Ukrainians will have opportunity to watch a solar eclipse, which will darken some of Earth`s skies on Friday.
Over the Ukrainian territory, the moon will blot out the sun only by 45%. It will reach its peak at 13.07, and will last for 8 minutes, till 13.15, Liga informs.
The total blotting out of the sun, which occurs when the moon`s dark inner shadow falls on parts of the Earth, will also be seen in the northeastern edge of Canada, the tip of Greenland, parts of Russia, China and Mongolia, including the famed Gobi desert. For those who can`t be there, it will be shown live on the Internet.
Some of the areas where the eclipse will last the longest — including parts of the Arctic — have a 75 percent chance of bad weather that will make it tough to see. This eclipse at its peak will last for 2 minutes and 27 seconds.
Yet eclipse chasers can`t wait for the sky to darken, animals to howl and people to stare in awe.
There is a a cut-rate closer to home option.
Next year`s total solar eclipse — July 22, 2009 — will be more southern and last the longest of the 21st Century: 6 minutes, 39 seconds. But it will be during monsoon season and can be seen, only if the weather cooperates, in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China and the Pacific Ocean.
