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Getting best view from above clouds

By Wang Hongyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-22 06:58

SHANGHAI: With a forecast of rain and cloud threatening to block today's eclipse, some enthusiasts are thinking of taking flight.

"Being high above the clouds, the 'eclipse flight' can offer people almost perfect viewing. It cannot be affected even if there is rain or heavy clouds," one enthusiast wrote on a bulletin board.

Recently, an Indian airline company offered a flight that will provide the closest seat people could possibly get to the rare astronomical event, stating it will have astronomers and enthusiasts on board with a sure view of nature's best show.

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While eclipses on land last only a few minutes, viewers on a high-speed flight along the same path can watch the eclipse for much longer.

"It may be feasible theoretically. But it only can be fulfilled after a precise calculation of latitude, longitude, height and flying angle," an expert said.

Indeed, it is not the first time an eclipse has been seen on a flight. In 1973 a Concord flying over Africa offered a 74-minute view.

"It's amazing that people can have such a long time to view the eclipse at an altitude of 40,000 feet (12,200 m). Perhaps we can do the same in China," one amateur hoping to prolong the once-in-a-lifetime event wrote on a bulletin board.

So far, no airline companies in the country offer such special flights.