Just a week before the 2008 China Olympics, there will be a total solar eclipse occurring on the first of August which crosses China, Mongolia and central Russia. The best web resource I’ve found on eclipses (solar and lunar) is by Xavier Jubier. Here is his web page with all the details on the 2008 August 1 Total Eclipse including links to his Google Earth KML file of the total eclipse path
. Much of Europe will also see most of the sun covered on this day. Xavier also has a Google Maps version of the map, and his web site is also available in French.
See the earlier GEB story on visualizing Solar Eclipses. Xavier also has a page showing Google Earth files of total eclipses from 1961 through the rest of this century.
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
I’ve posted a simulation of the eclipse at its maximum in Siberia at http://www.heywhatsthat.com/august-solar-eclipse-at-maximum.kmz
Visit http://www.heywhatsthat.com/planisphere.html to generate a simulation for your own location.
MK