TOTAL ECLIPSE | June 3rd 2008

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Eclipse chasers are expected to collect along the Chinese Mongolian border this summer, writes Caroline Carter. The rest of us should be able to catch a glimpse of this penumbral phenomenon from our own back gardens ...

As millions of sun worshippers flock south this summer, another breed of solar fanatics will be heading the other way, lured north by the opportunity to witness the total eclipse of the sun on Friday, August 1st. Throughout the morning, beginning in north-east Canada, the moon will cast its umbral shadow in a band 250km wide across the Arctic, northern Russia and Siberia, over the Altai mountains and into China near the Mongolian border, ending in the northern province of Henan.

Eclipse chasers may shell out for a spot on the deck of an arctic icebreaker or a polar "flightseeing" tour above cloud level. On land, the best spots for observation are expected to be along the Chinese-Mongolian border and south of Novosibirsk, Siberia. That is also where the eclipse will take place for the longest duration: more than two minutes. Those who choose to stay at home may not miss out completely, as the moon's wider penumbral shadow will produce a lengthy partial eclipse across much of Europe and Asia. Click here for an interactive map showing details of when to view the eclipse from the comfort of your own back garden.

(Caroline Carter is an editorial assistant at Intelligent Life and The Economist)