Astronomy - USA (2020-01)

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point just north of Kurukshetra will
experience 38 seconds of annularity.
After mideclipse, the center line
tracks through only 30 miles (50 km)
more of India before moving into Tibet
(China). Travelers wishing to view the
eclipse from this region should prepare
for mountainous terrain. The easiest
route to the center line is by driving
about 155 miles (250 km) north of the
largest city in the Tibet Autonomous
Region, Lhasa, along Highway G109. The
same location can be reached by driving
south from Nagqu along the same road.
There, the event will last 40 seconds with
the Sun 71° above the horizon. The best
weather prospects in Tibet are for loca-
tions near Lake Manasarovar, which sits
15,060 feet (4,590 meters) above sea level.
At 7h32m32s UT, the annular phase
of the eclipse begins at the Jinsha River,
which marks the border between
Tibet and China’s Sichuan province.
Annularity there lasts 44 seconds, with
the Sun 61° high at mideclipse. The
antumbra leaves China at 8h11m20s UT
at the port of Xiamen, a city of more

than 3 million people. There, the length

of annularity increases to 58 seconds

while the Sun stands 35° high in the

west. Unfortunately, Beijing sits well out-

side the path; people there will experi-

ence a 59 percent partial eclipse.

Although China, with its lengthy

eclipse track and many wonderful sights,

seems like an ideal place for eclipse

watchers, weather prospects are not

good. Due to the monsoon season, aver-

age cloud cover over much of eastern

China ranges from 70 to 90 percent at

this time of year.

As the eclipse’s path leaves China,

it crosses the South China Sea at the

Taiwan Strait and touches the northern

part of the Penghu Islands. On the

northernmost island, an observer will

experience 59 seconds of annularity.

When the center line hits the

Taiwanese coast just west of Chiayi City

at 8h13m17s UT, observers will witness a

one-minute annular eclipse. The antum-

bra makes its last landfall on the island’s

east coast at 8h15m58s UT. Unfortunately,

with the potential for cloudiness at

94 percent, Taiwan offers the worst

weather prospects for eclipse viewers.

Into the Pacific Ocean

After leaving Taiwan, the Moon’s antum-

bra continues for another 1,900 miles

(3,055 km) over the open waters of the

Pacific Ocean. The closest it gets to

land again occurs less than 230 miles

(370 km) from the end of the antumbral

path, where the southern tip of Guam

lies a scant 8 miles (13 km) from its

northern limit. Closest approach is at

8h31m14s UT with the Sun only 3° above

the horizon. The eclipse officially ends

at sunset at 8h32m20s UT.

Iffy weather prospects along much of

the path and some less-than-welcoming

countries would daunt most travelers.

Eclipse chasers, however, are a different

breed. Their desire to see the “ring of fire”

simply makes the June 21 annular eclipse

another of life’s great adventures.

Michael E. Bakich is a contributing editor

of Astronomy who is writing an eclipse atlas

with famed mapmaker Michael Zeiler.

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