Dielle D'Souza After 20 years of research Nasa has declared a small town in India as one of the best locations from which to observe the century's longest solar eclipse next week.

Dielle D'Souza

After 20 years of research Nasa has declared a small town in India as one of the best locations from which to observe the century's longest solar eclipse next week.

Taregana, located just over 15 miles from the capital of the north Indian state of Bihar, was also listed by the United States space programme as an ideal location from which to observe stars.

The eclipse next Wednesday will be the longest one this century - lasting 6 minutes 39 seconds - and will not be surpassed for another 123 years.

India's most famous astronomer and mathematician Aryabhatta built an observatory in Taregana's Sun Temple in the 6th century.

Tourists, scientists and enthusiasts from around the world are now set to arrive at the town to witness the phenomenon.

A spokeswoman for the Space Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (Space) organisation said: "Taregana is the best place in India to witness the July 22 eclipse.

"But we are sending teams to China as well as to three locations in India to observe the eclipse and conduct experiments," she said.

Space is also chartering a flight for those who wish to watch the eclipse from the sky. "The plane will leave New Delhi at 4.55am (local time) and those aboard will be able to watch the eclipse from 41,000 ft.

"The plane will be in position for about 17-20 minutes and will return to New Delhi. The entire flight will take about three-and-a-half hours," the spokeswoman added.

Window seats in the plane are being sold for £1013 and earthside seats will cost £375. Aisle and middle seats are going for £712 and £862 respectively.

The shadow of the eclipse will cover a 124-mile-wide area and will be also be seen in China and Japan. It will be most intense around Taregana's Sun Temple, a Space astronomer said.

Scientists from Nasa, India's Tata Institute for Fundamental Research, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the Indian Space Research Organisation are expected to start arriving in Taregana from tomorrow.