Several unique astronomical phenomena will be seen in the skies over China this year, forecast Chinese astronomers with the Astronomy Society of Jiangsu Province in east China.

The orbit of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann is expected to pass closest to the earth on May 18, said astronomers with the society.The tail of the comet will be brighter than Polaris or the North Star on that date.

Sky watchers in most parts of China can also expect to see a black spot moving from east to west across the surface of the sun on November 9. At around sunrise on that date the planet Mercury comes into eclipse with the sun.

This will be the last time Mercury's eclipse of the sun will be seen in China until 2032. People in other parts of earth will be able to see it happen in 2016 and 2019, Chinese astronomers said.

Stargazers in China will also be able to see a partial solar eclipse on September 8, the experts said.

Other astronomical phenomena forecast for this year include: a total solar eclipse on March 29, a solar annular eclipse in the skies over the western hemisphere on September 22, Venus following Mercury in the eastern sky in early August, and just before sunrise on August 27 Venus will partially eclipse Saturn. 

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)