Find Out If You Can See Wednesday’s Upcoming Solar Eclipse


From 5:30am (AEST, add 1-hour forward for daylight time) on Wednesday, the Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun, causing a solar eclipse. Not everyone will be able to see the phenomenon, so it’s best we tell you where you can find it.

The best seats in the house for Wednesday’s eclipse will be in Cairns. Those viewing the eclipse up north will be able to see the Sun fully eclipsed by the Moon which would be awesome. The only risk for Cairns is the forecast for cloud and showers.

Starting at 5:45am (AEST), the Moon will begin its move in front of the Sun, and by 6:39am (AEST) the Sun will be fully eclipsed. Two minutes later, the full eclipse will end and the Moon will be out of the path of the sun by 7:41am (AEST)

As you head progressively south, however, the angle of view to the Sun will mean only partial eclipse will be visible.

Brisbane

Brisbane is arguably the second best place to view the eclipse from. While it’s still only a partial eclipse, the Moon will predominately cover the Sun by 6:55am (AEST). The action starts at 5:56am (AEST) before concluding at 7:59am (AEST). Brisbane is expecting clear skies.

Sydney

In Sydney, viewers will be able to see the partial eclipse from 7:07am (AEDT), and over the following hour, the moon will move across the Sun, with the partial eclipse set to end at 9:04am (AEDT). The weather forecast for Wednesday morning at this stage is partially cloudy with a chance of showers.

Canberra

Canberrans get the partial eclipse three minutes later than Sydney, with the action kicking off at 7:07am (AEDT) and concluding at 9:04am (AEDT). The Moon will be closest to the centre of the sun by 8:04am (AEDT). The weather forecast for Wednesday morning at this stage is partially cloudy with a chance of showers.

Melbourne

Melbourne’s partial eclipse will begin at 7:16am (AEDT) and is set to conclude at 9:01am (AEDT). The Moon will be closest to the centre of the sun by 8:06am (AEDT). The weather forecast for Wednesday morning at this stage is partially cloudy.

Hobart

Hobart viewers will be able to see the eclipse from 7:26am (AEDT) before the event concludes at 9:08am (AEDT). The Moon will be closest to the centre by 8:15am (AEDT). Hobart will be partially cloudy on Wednesday morning.

Darwin

Darwin viewers by in large will miss out on the eclipse, catching only a glimpse of the end of it as the sun peeks over the horizon at 6:10am (CST). Darwin is in for a chance of thunderstorm on Wednesday morning.

Adelaide

Adelaide viewers will be slightly luckier when it comes to spotting the partial eclipse, with the event visible from 6:43am (CDT). Adelaide is forecast for partial cloud on Wednesday morning.

Perth

Perth will be the only capital city to miss out on this eclipse entirely. The next eclipse visible from Perth will be the partial eclipse in May 2013 and the annular eclipse in April 2014.

Image: Shehal Joseph/flickr


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