Eclipse - the view from Shanghai

[Paul]

Normally with the Total Solar Eclipse the focus is on the Corona, and indeed it will be so on 22nd July 2009. However, out of interest I put the time and location into Stellarium to see what else is likely to be visible during the totality which will be circa 5 1/2 mins in Shanghai. The answer is rather interesting - perhaps the best possible area of sky to have an eclipse in with Mercury and Venus close to the Sun/Moon, and Sirius, Orion, Mars, Taurus, Capella and M45 all within striking distance!

Should be a good one! Would a bright comet be too muchy to hope for?

http://www.pevans.me.uk/images/shanghai%20eclipse.jpg

P. 

[Roman White]

Everything looks excellent if only no tropical cyclones will appear in Shanghai in July. 

[brianb]

if only no tropical cyclones will appear in Shanghai in July.

Which unfortunately is just the right time & place for cyclones (or typhoons as I believe they're known locally).

Read somewhere that the best bet was to book on an eclipse cruise, at least that way the ship can be steered in the direction of any holes in the cloud ... apparently the risk of cloud in Shanghai is somewhere around 85%, still around 75% at Okinawa.