India will view 21st century's longest solar eclipse on July 22 which will provide a life time opportunity to scientists and sky gazers to study this grand spectacle of nature.

The total period of eclipse: 6 minutes and44 seconds

"The eclipse begins at 5.28 a.m. (IST) when the shadow of the moon touchesthe earth at local sunrise point in the Arabian Sea, close to the western coastof India. The eclipse ends at 10.42 a.m. (IST) when the moon's shadow finallyleaves the earth at local sunset point in the South Pacific Ocean," saidan official at the Ministry of Science and Technology here Tuesday.

N. Rathnasree, director, Nehru Planetarium said: "This eclipse is ofspecial interest for the scientists and general public of India as its path oftotality passes through thickly populated regions of west, central, east andnorth-east India."

People in parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar andnortheastern state will be able to watch the total eclipse while other parts ofthe country will witness a partial eclipse.