Up in the Sky

Solar Eclipse Wows India

Longest of the 21st century seen only in Asia.

To the dismay of millions, what is said to be the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century could be seen in India and China on Wednesday, but was not visible to most parts of the countries due to thick cloud coverage. The village of Taregna, India, deemed by scientists as the clearest place to watch the eclipse, had been overrun for the past week with scientists and tourists who were hoping to track the bizarre changes in the atmosphere and animal behavior brought on by eclipses, marking a boom in the local economy. The eclipse became visible in the eastern city of Gauhati, and reached its peak Wednesday morning at about 6:20 a.m. local time. Over the course of six minutes and 39 seconds, it moved northeast to Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and China. Unfortunately for almost everyone, there will not be a longer eclipse until 2132.