Total Solar Eclipse on 29th March 2006
On March 29 2006, a total solar eclipse will be seen across half the globe. The shadow (total eclipse) of the moon will sweep a band from Brazil, Atlantic Ocean, Gold Coast of Africa, Sahara Desert, Mediterranean Sea, Turkey, Black Sea, Georgia, Russian Federation, Bulgaria, Romania and will end in Mongolia. A partial eclipse of varying extent will be visible across Africa, Europe, Middle East and Western Asia. In Europe nearly 80 per cent coverage will be seen. During the eclipse, the white corona of the sun, the chromosphere and prominences will be seen. Due to the darkness for 20 to 30 minutes, the brighter stars and planets will also be visible. The duration of totality will be less than 2 minutes near the sunrise and sunset limits, but will be as long as 4 minutes and 7 seconds in Libya, at the moment of greatest eclipse. The path of totality will be 180 kilometers wide at that moment.
