Thousands Go to Siberia to Watch Eclipse

Thousands of people from all over the world were gathering yesterday in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk before a rare total solar eclipse today.

The eclipse - the moon passing between the Earth and the sun - begins in northern Canada at 9.45am GMT. It will then sweep across Greenland, western Siberia and Mongolia. It will reach northern China an hour and a half later - then disappear.

Officials said 15,000 amateur and professional astronomers had descended on Novosibirsk, Russia's third largest city, which lies directly under the eclipse's path. In theory, Novosibirsk will be blanketed in darkness for two minutes and 20 seconds - at 5.45pm local time (10.45am GMT). Yesterday, however, officials admitted that there was a strong possibility it would rain.

"If it does rain it will be dark like at night," said Sergei Neshumov, a spokesman for Novosibirsk's mayor. "Despite the forecast the mood is good. People are excited. After all, our last solar eclipse happened 300 years ago."

Eclipse-chasers from across Europe and the US had flown in for the occasion, he said. The city has organized 16 special viewing areas, equipped with telescopes. Hotels - fully booked - have been doling out eclipse glasses.

The eclipse will be partially visible from other parts of Europe and Asia, and the eastern part of north America, with a 58% eclipse predicted for Moscow. The forecast for northern China is sunshine.

Video of the eclipse will be carried live on a number of websites, with Siberia's at novosibirskguide.com/eclipse-2008/live-broadcasting and north-west China's on the Nasa site at sunearthday.gsfc.nasa.gov/2008eclipse.