A partial solar eclipse observed in Egypt on March 29, 2006 /Courtesy of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute

A near-total solar eclipse will take place on July 22. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) on Thursday said the partial eclipse will last two-and-a-half hours from 9.34 a.m. on July 22. Blocking out 80 percent of the sun, it will be visible over the whole of Korea.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and earth. It is total or partial depending on whether the moon completely covers the sun. The July eclipse is expected to be spectacular because it will almost cover the sun. More of the sun will be blocked the further south it is observed, with 93 percent cloaked from Seogwipo, Jeju Island. Some parts of the Asia Pacific regions will get a full eclipse.

KASI plans to organize observation events in the nation's major cities. The next partial eclipse occurs on Jan. 15, 2010, and a total eclipse can be seen near Pyongyang on Sep. 2, 2035.