Southern Turkey gets ready for total solar eclipse

Antalya province along the coastal Mediterranean Sea in southern Turkey gets ready for a total solar eclipse on March 29, semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday.

Millions of people in many parts of the world from the United States to Europe, from Egypt to Japan will watch the eclipse through live webcast from Antalya, said the report.

The Explorotorium team of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will broadcast the solar eclipse live from the ancient theater in Side in Antalya on March 29, said the report, adding that the theater will be equipped with telescopes and cameras.

Meanwhile, a program titled "Earth Day 2006" to be prepared by the NASA team will be watched in European countries and Egypt as well as the United States.

Antalya Governor Alaaddin Yuksel was quoted as saying that three centers will be established in Antalya to watch the eclipse.

He said that tight security measures would be put in place to prevent any undesired event.

On March 29, a total solar eclipse will occur when the new moon moves directly between the sun and the earth. The moon's shadow will fall on the eastern tip of Brazil, speed eastward across the Atlantic through northern Africa across the Mediterranean and into Turkey.

In Side of Turkey, there is a 60 percent chance of sunshine and a 48 percent overall probability of seeing the eclipse. Totality will last for three minutes and 41 seconds.

Source: Xinhua