Bathurst total solar eclipse, 22 July 2028

Bathurst eclipse times (AEST)

Bathurst CBD: eclipse begins 12:37:20 pm · totality 1:57:36 pm to 2:00:38 pm (3 min 02 s) · eclipse ends 3:13:14 pm. The table below has times for every town nearby.

Why north of Bathurst is better

The southern edge of the path runs south-west of Bathurst, through the country between Blayney and Oberon. That is why the city gets about three minutes while towns along the Turon River, an hour north, get nearly four. Kelso (3 min 05 s) and Raglan (3 min 09 s) gain a few seconds on the CBD; Perthville (2 min 45 s) loses some.

If you can travel, the drive north on the Sofala Road to Wattle Flat and Sofala is the simplest way to add most of a minute. Hill End (3 min 36 s) is another good choice, with its heritage village as a bonus.

A cold afternoon

Bathurst sits about 700 m above sea level, and July afternoons only reach about 12°C. Totality brings a further drop. Bring layers for a long wait, especially on Mount Panorama, where the wind can be sharp.

Getting there

Bathurst is about three hours from Sydney on the Great Western Highway, and the Bathurst Bullet train runs from Sydney. Expect heavy traffic through the Blue Mountains on Friday night and Saturday morning; if you are coming from Sydney, travel on Friday.

What you'll see in Bathurst, minute by minute

Times are AEST for Bathurst CBD.

1. 12:37:20 pmfirst contact. From Machattie Park or the top of Mount Panorama, the Moon takes its first small bite. Glasses on.
2. About 1:25 pmabout 50% covered. The winter light goes flat and the plains below Mount Panorama lose their colour. Under the park's trees, the dappled shadows become small crescents.
3. About 1:41 pmabout 75% covered. With July afternoons around 12°C, the drop in temperature is easy to feel. Birds in Machattie Park may go quiet.
4. About 1:51 pmabout 91% covered. Watch the sky to the north-west, towards Hill End. It darkens first as the Moon's shadow sweeps in.
5. 1:57:36 pmthe diamond ring, then totality over Bathurst. Glasses stay on. The sky goes dark and the horizon all around the plains turns sunset colours.
6. 2:00:38 pmthe second diamond ring and totality ends in the CBD. Glasses stay on. At Sofala it is still dark.
7. 3:13:14 pmlast contact. The Moon moves clear and the eclipse over Bathurst is over.

Where to look

At totality the eclipse sits 30° up in the north-north-west (bearing 330° true). From Mount Panorama that is out over the city and the plains, a clear view. In town, check what is close to you on that side: a tree or building blocks the eclipse if you are closer to it than about 1.8 times its height. Allow 18 m from a 10 m tree; the old elms and oaks in Machattie Park are taller, so pick an open lawn.

Eclipse times near Bathurst

Times AEST, computed from the JPL DE421 lunar ephemeris with NASA/Espenak Besselian elements. Near the edge of the path, durations can shift by several seconds, so treat edge figures as approximate.

July weather in Bathurst

Bathurst averages only about 6.6 clear days in July, fewer than Dubbo or Mudgee, and about 11 days with rain. Winter cloud tends to sit on the ranges and the tablelands. Watch the forecast from five days out: if Bathurst looks grey, Mudgee and Dubbo, to the north-west, are drier and both get longer totality.

Where to watch in Bathurst

Quick answers

Keeping your eyes safe

Every second of the eclipse, totality included, needs ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, from Mount Panorama to Sofala. Sunglasses, smoked glass and homemade filters are never safe, and a camera, binoculars or a telescope must have a proper solar filter on the front.

For schools, clubs and venues

The eclipse is on a Saturday, so Bathurst schools will need to hand out glasses and run safety lessons by Friday 21 July 2028. Bathurst Regional Council, Charles Sturt University, clubs and accommodation hosts running viewing events should allow one certified pair per person and order early. We supply bulk cartons, fundraising boxes of 20 to 250 pairs, and custom-branded glasses.

• Eclipse glasses for councils and events
• Custom-branded glasses
• Eclipse glasses for schools
• Eclipse safety plan for schools

Guides for nearby towns

• Orange eclipse guide
• Mudgee eclipse guide
• Lithgow eclipse guide
• Dubbo eclipse guide
• NSW eclipse guide
• 2028 eclipse times across Australia
• Interactive eclipse map

← Back to the 2028 eclipse guide