page_title: Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009
section_title: Observations
hierarchical_section_title: Solar eclipse of July 22, 2009 / Observations
caption_attribution_description: English: This picture was taken from a boat during the eclipse
context_page_description: A total solar eclipse occurred at the Moon's descending node of the orbit on July 22, 2009 with a magnitude of 1.0799. It was the longest total solar eclipse during the 21st century, the longest total solar eclipse during the 3rd millennium will be on 16 July 2186. It lasted a maximum of 6 minutes and 38.86 seconds off the coast of Southeast Asia, causing tourist interest in eastern China, Pakistan, Japan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Its greatest magnitude was 1.07991, occurring only 6 hours, 18 minutes after perigee, with greatest eclipse totality lasting 6 minutes, 38.86 seconds during the Total Solar Eclipse of July 22, 2009.
  Lasting 6 minutes and 38.86 seconds, and eclipse magnitude of 1.07991, this was the longest and largest total solar eclipse of the 21st century.
context_section_description: Thousands of pilgrims gathered on the banks of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India to experience the eclipse as a religious or spiritual event.  Some people expected that there would be a relationship, either positive or negative, between their health and the occurrence of the eclipse.
  Indian scientists observed the solar eclipse from an Indian Air Force plane.
  The Chinese government used the opportunity to provide scientific education and to dispel any superstition. A flight by China Eastern Airlines from Wuhan to Shanghai took a slight detour and followed the course of the eclipse to allow longer observation time for the scientists on board.
  Observers in Japan were excited by the prospect of experiencing the first eclipse in 46 years, but found the experience dampened by cloudy skies obscuring the view.
  In Bangladesh, where the eclipse lasted approximately 3 minutes and 44 seconds, thousands of people were able to witness the eclipse despite rain and overcast skies.
caption: View from a boat in Ganges
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