Astronomy researcher Debiprosad Duari explains the forthcoming solar eclipse at a citizen awareness camp in Kolkata on July 19. Heavy clouds and rain are likely to ruin the party for millions of people hoping to watch Wednesday's solar eclipse in Shanghai and other parts of eastern China, meteorologists said. (AFP Photo)
Graphic showing the path of Wednesday's total solar eclipse across Asia and the Pacific. Heavy clouds and rain are likely to ruin the party for millions of people hoping to watch Wednesday's solar eclipse in Shanghai and other parts of eastern China, meteorologists said. (AFP Photo)
Visitors relax at a campsite of Tatsugo town on Japan's southern island of Amami Oshima Tuesday, July 21 , 2009. Millions of people across Asia will witness the longest total solar eclipse that will happen this century, as vast swaths of India and China, the entire city of Shanghai and southern Japanese islands are plunged into darkness Wednesday for about five minutes. (AP Photo)
Heavy clouds and rain are likely to ruin the party for millions of people hoping to watch Wednesday's solar eclipse in Shanghai and other parts of eastern China, meteorologists said.
The Shanghai Meteorological Bureau has predicted thunderstorms for when the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century starts at 8:30 am (0030 GMT), according to a forecast released Tuesday evening.
"It will be almost impossible to see the eclipse in Shanghai," Li Jinyu, the bureau's chief service operator, was quoted as telling the Shanghai Daily.
"Even if there is no rain, the heavy clouds will block the view," he said.
However people will still experience the sky changing from bright to dark, the report said.
Eastern China has been regarded as one of the best places in the world to view the total eclipse, which is expected to last about six minutes and reach its midpoint around 9:30 am.
The event is being described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which, due to its trajectory over China and India, could end up being the most watched eclipse in history.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon is caught between the sun and the earth while each of them moves along their fixed orbits.
"This is a very important milestone. None of us will live long enough to see another one like it," said Federico Borgmeyer, the German-based manager of the specialist travel agency Eclipse City, who is in Shanghai for the event.
The travel agency said it would proceed with plans to take eclipse chasers to Shanghai's Yangshan island to experience the event despite the forecast.
Museums, observatories and specialty stores were sold out of solar eclipse glasses to protect eyes from the intense light, the Shanghai Daily reported.
The phenomenon has sparked a mini-tourism boom for Shanghai and other parts of eastern China, such as historic Hangzhou city.
Thousands of tourists from around the world have already descended on Shanghai, with hotels and restaurants in marquee locations such as the Bund being quickly booked out.
Hyatt on the Bund said its eclipse breakfast event remained fully booked and the weather concerns had not led to any cancellations.
"People are just looking for a reason to get together," hotel spokeswoman Meg Zhang said. "You can tell your boss: 'It's only once in 300 years'."
The next total solar eclipse will be on July 11, 2010 but far fewer people are likely to see it as it tracks across the South Pacific over French Polynesia and Easter Island to the southern tip of South America.
(Agencies)
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