SOLAR ECLIPSE

A Solar Eclipse willl only be observed during a New Moon .As the Moon becomes aligned between the Earth and the Sun,it is capable of blocking the Sun's rays and casting a shadow on the Earth. When the photosphere of the Sun is completely covered by the Moon, then "totality" begins. Just before totality, the last flash of sunlight occurs, what is called the diamond ring effect.During a totality, the corona, chromosphere, solar prominences, and maybe even a solar flare can possibly be seen, when using proper equipment.For any given location on Earth, a total solar eclipse happens about once every 375 years.
The total solar eclipse on August 1, 2008, classified as a magnitude of 1.039, has a maximum width of about 150 miles (240 kilometers).After beginning in the far northern reaches of Canada, the total solar eclipse will go northeast across northern Greenland and the Arctic, followed by a southeastern passage through the middle of Russia, Mongolia, and China.
The people in India will witness a partial solar eclipse on Aug 1. The eclipse in Delhi begins at 16:03:03 and ends at 17:56:07. The maximum of eclipse occurs at 17:02:05, when the sun is eclipsed by about 62.4 percent in diameter. A partial solar eclipse will be seen across most of northeastern North America, most of Europe and much of Asia. Partial solar eclipses happen about seven times per decade, on average, for any geographical location on Earth.
The safest way of viewing a partial solar eclipse is through the method of projection. The Sun can be viewed directly only when using filters specifically designed for this purpose. Such filters usually have a thin layer of aluminum, chromium or silver deposited on their surfaces that attenuates ultraviolet, visible, and infrared energy. One of the most widely available filters for safe solar viewing is a number 14 welder's glass, available through welding supply outlets. More recently, aluminized mylar has become a popular, inexpensive alternative.