The total eclipse, the longest to happen this century, will be experienced by swathes of India, China and southern Japanese islands. Streams of amateur stargazers and scientists are travelling long distances to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event.But not all are welcoming the eclipse, with the region's folklore dictating that pregnant women should remain indoors, while astrologers predict outbreaks of civil unrest. The eclipse will first appear at dawn in India's Gulf of Khambhat, just north of the metropolis of Mumbai.
It will move east across India, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China before hitting the Pacific. The eclipse will cross some southern Japanese islands and be last visible from land at Nikumaroro Island in the South Pacific nation of Kiribati. Elsewhere, a partial eclipse will be visible in much of Asia.
For astronomers, it will be a chance for a prolonged view of the sun's corona, a white ring 600,000 miles from the sun's surface.
The previous total eclipse, in August 2008, was two minutes and 27 seconds. This one will last 6 minutes and 39 seconds at its maximum point. (Daily Mail)
