Witness 2009 Total Solar Eclipse and tidal bore

April 27, 2009

A big event of year 2009 for astronomers from allover the world is the unique astronomical phenomenon on 22nd July 2009-the longest total solar eclipse of
21st. The duration of totality is 5-6 minutes in China. The maximum duration is viewable from anywhere on mainland China. And the eclipse path goes across
major cities of Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai in southern China.
Why would Hangzhou be the best place to witness the eclipse? According to a climate stats China would have less cloud cover than other countries on the day
of eclipse, and Hangzhou has even less cloud than other cities which stand on the eclipse path, unless you can find a better location on an island or a ship
in the Pacific.

Zoom in to Hangzhou area on the map, besides Hangzhou, Anji Tianhuang Ping, Hangzhou Bay Bridge, Haining Yanguan, and Yuxing Middle school in Jiaxing will also be the best places to view the eclipse. What particularly noteworthy is the largest tidal bore of 2009 probably will occur on the same day as a fallout
a few hours after the sun and moon being in perfect alignment. The coincidence once in hundreds of years is Yanguan in Haining as a perfect place for tidal
bore is also right seated on total eclipse path. So it would be a two birds one stone trip to Yanguan in Haining for the longest total solar eclipse and
largest tidal surge in 2009. Obviously Yanguan is the place where people will be flocking to on 22, July 2009.

How to get to Haining-

From Hangzhou: Haining Yanguan is about 40-50min bus ride from Hangzhou in the northeast. Take bus K523 (3/4RMB) or long distance bus from Hangzhou east bus
station 汽车东站 to Haining Yancang development zone 海宁盐仓开发区, then take local bus No.T106 (<=7RMB, every 30min, 6:30–17:10) to Yanguan 盐官.
Or take 1hour by train to Haining railway station, then take bus T109(6RMB, every 15min, 6:20–17:30) to Yanguan 盐官. It takes 30min from Haining City to
Yanguan by bus.

From Shanghai: Take bus from Shanghai south bus station or Xuhui bus station to Haining(40RMB, takes about 1.5hrs, every 1-1.5hrs a bus), then take T106 to
Yanguan. Take train to Shanghai or Shanghai south railway station to Haining(15-20RMB, takes about 1.5hrs, about every 1hour a train), then take bus T109 to
Yanguan. D-train to Haining only takes 47-67min, schedule:

D653 Shanghai(S)-Haining 07:40-08:32 1st class:40RMB 2nd class:33RMB
D665 Shanghai(S)-Haining 13:12-13:59 1st class:40RMB 2nd class:33RMB
D475 Shanghai-Haining 20:10-21:17 1st class:51RMB 2nd class:43RMB

If you drive(from Hangzhou/Shanghai), take Hangzhou-Pudong expressway and get out at Yanguan exit.

Yanguan Tidal bore viewing Resorts 盐官观潮景区 Joint ticket-80RMB/Person
Haining Taxi: 6RMB for first 2km, but from Haining city to Yanguan Tidal bore viewing resort, they will ask for 40RMB. And not sure if the price of
everything will increase on 22 July 2009.

Predicted time of different phases of the total solar eclipse in Hangzhou on 22nd July 2009
The first contact-8:21:26
Total eclipse begins-9:34:11
The maximum phase-9:36:55
Total eclipse ends-9:39:40
The last contact-10:59:21

A word of warning on eye safety-

As should be commen sense, looking at the sun or its reflection directly for even a few seconds will cause permanent damage to your eyes, esp. without the
proper equipment and techniques. The only time you can look straight to the sun without damage to the eye is total eclipse.

Don’ts:
-Don’t look at a partial or annular eclipse, or the partial phases of a total solar eclipse without any sure protection, even when the sun is 99% obscured;
-Don’t use sunglasses/welders goggles as eye protection to observe eclipse, they’re not safe;
-If you observe with binoculars or telescope, don’t remove the solar filter from the lenses anytime during the eclipse except the totality;
-Don’t watch the sun continuously over 1 min.

Do’s:
-View the total phase of an eclipse with your naked eyes;
-Use proper equipment and techniques at other phases of eclipse:
-Eclipse viewing glasses must be in perfect condition and should be certified as passing relevant safety standards;
-Pinhole Projection Method
-Solar filters (you can DIY with Fully Exposed and Developed Black-and-White Film)

The surgy tide can be dangerous, if you’r in a tour group please follow advice of local guide, if you’re on your own, make sure your own safety and security.