Total Eclipse of the Sun Expected in March

A total solar eclipse, one of the earth's mostinhospitable terrain, the most probable venues
unique phenomena is when the Moon passesbeing vast tracts of ocean or barren icy wastes.
between the Earth and the Sun, its shadow hittingAlso whilst the Moon casts a huge shadow over
the Earth and blocking out the Sun. If you're luckythe face of the Earth sometimes as wide as
enough to be in the path taken by the centre of10,000 miles, the central umbral cone is only a
that shadow, the Moon will align itself exactly withfraction of this, sometimes as narrow as 100
the sun, blocking it entirely and you'll see a totalmiles or so.
eclipse.But here's the good news because the next total
Outside of the path of totality, although asolar eclipse is nearly upon us, due on 29 March
staggering 95% of the Sun is still obscured, the2006. And, as the Moon's shadow sweeps across
effect of the eclipse is not nearly so vivid - just aAfrica and the Mediterranean at 1,500 to 2,000
quiet, still, evening dusk-like effect. These weremiles per hour, the umbral cone will cross an area
the conditions most of us experienced during ourfavoured by many of us in our annual quest for a
'once in a lifetime' eclipse over the UK mainland onquick week away in guaranteed sunshine.
11 August 1999, with the next not now forecastThe Turkish Mediterranean coast already caters
until 2090.to thousands of holiday sun seekers: with plenty
Huge cosmic coincidence is at work during a totalof hotels, and a strong chance of cloudless skies,
eclipse; the Moon is 400 times smaller than theplaces such as Dalaman are just around a 4 hour
Sun and the Sun is 400 times further from theflight away from the UK, with airlines such as XL
Earth so, quite extraordinarily, from our viewpointoffering cheap flights [
here on Earth the size of these two celestialAnd once you're in Turkey you can take to the
objects appears to be exactly the same.sea and celebrate the event with a gulet flotilla
Whilst this coincidence is in the hands of greaterholiday or if you want to mark the more cosmic
forces than us, getting ourselves into the rightsignificance of the day there's a trance festival
place at the right time is not. These days it iswhere eclipsaholics can chill together: have a look
easily within our power to move swiftly aroundat for more details.
the planet.So are you ready for another bite at your once
There are some qualifications here. Total eclipsesin a lifetime opportunity?
roll by every 18 months or so but nature throwsOh...and don't forget your sun glasses!
out a much higher chance of incidence over