People in some regions of China may be able to witness a total solar eclipse in August, Xinhua news agency reported today.

The solar eclipse, predicted to take place about 6:20 PM on August 1 Beijing time, will be visible in Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi and Henan, the report said, citing two astronomy associations in Jiangsu and Tianjin.

Total solar eclipses usually occur only once every 200 to 300 years in the same place, the report said.

Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Canada are also among the locations to be able to watch the spectacle, the report said.

A partial lunar eclipse is also expected from 2:23 AM to 7:58 AM Beijing Time on August 17, the report said. But it will only be visible in the regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, it added.

Meanwhile, a Perseid meteor shower may take place in August, followed by Geminid shower in November and Leonids in December, the report added.

(Shanghai Daily February 14, 2008)