Two total lunar eclipses and two partial solar eclipses are expected in 2007

 The year 2007 does not contain any news for eclipse hunters, except for one lunar eclipse that will be seen in our area on March 3

Solar eclipse enthusiasts can rest this year and save money for future years, when they will have to travel far to watch the eclipse.

  There is of course no need to travel to a white eclipse, they are seen from half the Earth. And one such is expected for viewers in Europe, Africa and the Middle East on March 3. Viewers in North America will be able to see the end of the eclipse when the moon rises above them. Another total lunar eclipse will occur on August 28, but it will be best seen by observers in the Pacific Basin area. Residents of western and central North America will be able to see most of it before moonset, while viewers in the eastern US will be interrupted in the middle due to moonset.

 And as mentioned this year, only two partial solar eclipses are expected - one in the Alaska and East Asia region on March 19. The odd thing is that some viewers will see the first stages as the sun sets on September 18th. But that's because it crosses the date line on its way, not exactly a problem when it comes to high latitudes. On September 11, a partial solar eclipse is expected in the southern parts of South America and Antarctica. Partial eclipses are created when the moon's shadow misses the Earth and leaves only the larger cone, the one where a partial eclipse is seen.

The solar eclipse on March 29, 2006, as photographed from Antalya. Photo: Avi Blizovsky