A partial solar eclipse next week will end the day before it begins. The eclipse will first be visible, weather permitting, from Japan, Mongolia, China and Siberia on Thursday, October 14. Skywatchers in western Alaska should be able to see the final moments of the eclipse when it is expected to reach a spectacular peak as the Sun sets. But because Alaska is on the other side of the International Date Line, there it will still be Wednesday, October 13. It is the second partial solar eclipse of 2004. Part of Africa saw the new Moon partially eclipse the Sun on April 19.