Kolkata : The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century on July 22 will provide a rare opportunity to witness the grand cosmic spectacle for the people in west, central, east and north-east India.

The partial phase of the eclipse will be visible throughout the country, according to M P Birla Planetarium Director D P Duari.

Considering the Earth as a whole, the eclipse will begin at 5h 28m IST when the shadow of the Moon will touch the earth at local sunrise at a point in the Arabian sea close to the western coast at Gulf of Cambay, Mr. Duari told PTI.

The eclipse will end at 10h 42m IST when the Moon's shadow finally will leave the Earth at local sunset at a point in south Pacific Ocean. At about 6h 23m IST, the central path of the eclipse will touch the Earth at sunrise at a point in the Gulf of Khmbhat in the Arabian sea near the southern coast of Gujarat, he said.

At this time, the duration of totality will be about 3m 30s.

The shadow will cross over central India, pass through south-east Nepal, cross North Bengal, southern part of Sikkim, Bhutan and northwestern tip of Bangladesh.

After touching Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the shadow will touch Myanmar and then enter China.

The maximum duration of totality of 6m 44s occurs at 8h 05m IST in the north Pacific ocean where the width of the path is about 258 km.

The next solar eclipse -- an annular one -- will occur on January 15, 2010.