Science: Solar Eclipse 科学：日全食
[audio]http://file.24en.com/bbc/tae/furniture_838814/bbc_tae_222_solar_eclipse.mp3[/audio][color=#3f3f3f][font=Verdana, 宋体, helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=12px]Across Asia many people have just witnessed the [b]natural wonder[/b] that is a [b]total solar eclipse[/b].
[p=21, 2, left]A total solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth align in such a way that our view of the Sun is totally[b]obscured[/b] by the Moon.[/p][p=21, 2, left]This week's total eclipse could be seen in eastern India before slowly moving across Burma, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Japan, and the Pacific Ocean.[/p][p=21, 2, left]Yesterday, when it reached eastern China, people [b]flocked[/b] into the streets to witness the [b]astronomical[/b] wonder.[/p][p=21, 2, left]As daylight disappeared and the sky quickly darkened, those watching were left [b]far from disappointed[/b]. Cities such as Shanghai were [b]plunged into darkness[/b] during what is thought be the longest total eclipse of the 21st century. It lasted 6 minutes and 39 seconds.[/p][p=21, 2, left]Total solar eclipses of such a long duration are very [b]rare[/b] events, they happen [b]but once in a lifetime[/b]. Shao Zhenyi, an astronomer at the Shanghai Astronomical [b]Observatory[/b] in China explained:[/p][p=21, 2, left]"We'll have to wait a few hundred years for another opportunity to observe a solar eclipse that lasts this long, so it's a very special opportunity."[/p][p=21, 2, left]But while millions [url=http://d.24en.com/s/?wd=celebrate]celebrate[/url] this [b]phenomenon[/b], it should be remembered that total eclipses have not always been such treasured events.[/p][p=21, 2, left]Many cultures traditionally believed that a total eclipse was a [b]bad omen[/b]or a [b]supernatural[/b] event. Some believed that [b]evil[/b] gods were eating the Sun. Others believed that the eclipse signified [b]oncoming[/b] disasters.[/p][p=21, 2, left]Nowadays it appears that these [b]fears and superstitions[/b] are long forgotten. As daylight once again [b]flooded[/b] Asian cities such as Shanghai,[b]whoops and cheers[/b] could be heard among the gathered crowds.[/p][p=21, 2, left]Reflecting on what had just happened, one Shanghai resident described the eclipse as "[b]eerie[/b]", whilst another said "It's like magic, the day turns into night in such a short period of time. I have no idea where I am right now. It feels like a different world."[/p][/size][/font][/color]
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