Orange total solar eclipse, 22 July 2028

Orange eclipse times (AEST)

Eclipse begins 12:36:23 pm · Totality 1:57:18 pm to 1:59:32 pm (2 min 14 s) · Eclipse ends 3:12:53 pm.

Why Orange gets less than Dubbo

Orange is about 17 km inside the southern edge of the path, so totality is about 2 min 14 s, against nearly 4 minutes along the centre line. The edge lies south-west of town, so heading towards Mount Canobolas or Lake Canobolas shortens totality. Heading north-east lengthens it.

Where to drive for longer totality

Ophir Reserve (about 30 minutes north-east) gets about 3 min 06 s. Hill End (about 3 min 35 s) and Sofala (about 3 min 46 s) are further but longer still. Bathurst gets about 3 min 01 s, Wellington about 3 min 46 s and Mudgee about 3 min 54 s. Going north to Molong only adds a few seconds.

Weather plan

Orange is the cloudiest major town in the path in winter, with about 7 clear and 16 cloudy days in an average July. Watch the forecast from five days out. If cloud is likely, the country to the north-west (Wellington, Dubbo) is drier and only an hour or two away.

What you'll see in Orange, minute by minute

Times are AEST for Orange CBD.

1. 12:36:23 pmfirst contact. Seen from the Botanic Gardens or the Showground, the Moon begins to cut into the right-hand edge of the Sun. Glasses on.
2. About 1:27 pmthe Sun is about 54% covered. The winter light goes flat, with a slight metallic tinge. Under the trees in the Botanic Gardens, sunlight coming through the leaves makes small crescents on the ground.
3. About 1:42 pmabout 78% covered. Orange afternoons in July only average 8.2°C at 3 pm, so the drop in temperature now is easy to feel. Birds may stop calling.
4. About 1:52 pmabout 94% covered. Look north-west, towards Wellington and Dubbo. The sky darkens there first as the Moon's shadow comes in at more than 4,000 km/h.
5. 1:57:18 pmthe diamond ring, then totality. Glasses stay on. In the CBD you have 2 min 14 s. The sky goes dark, the air cools and low sky in every direction turns sunset colours.
6. 1:59:32 pmthe second diamond ring flashes on the opposite edge of the Moon and totality ends. Glasses are still on. At Ophir, totality continues until 2:00:08 pm.
7. 3:12:53 pmlast contact. The last of the Moon moves off the Sun and the eclipse is over in Orange.

Which way to drive

The path runs north-west to south-east, so the edge lies south-west of Orange. Moving north-east (towards Ophir, Hill End, Sofala or Bathurst-Mudgee) adds time; moving south-west (Canobolas) costs time. Going north to Molong adds only a few seconds.

Where to look

From Orange, the Sun at totality is about 31° up in the north-north-west (bearing 330° true), roughly a third of the way from the horizon to overhead. Direction matters more than height here. At the Botanic Gardens, pick a patch of lawn with no tall trees to the NNW: a tree or building in that direction blocks the Sun if you are closer to it than about 1.8 times its height, so stand at least 18 m from a 10 m tree and at least 110 m from a 20-storey (60 m) building. The Showground's flat arenas and the open water at Lake Canobolas give a clear view. Mount Canobolas has an all-round view, but much shorter totality.

At the Botanic Gardens or anywhere in town, keep trees and buildings to your NNW at least 1.8× their own height away: 18 m from a 10 m tree, 110 m from a 20-storey tower.

Weather

Orange is the cloudiest major town in the path in winter. Check the forecast from about five days out, and if it looks poor, the drier country towards Wellington (3 min 46 s) and Dubbo is 1 to 2 hours away.

How long totality lasts around Orange

Times AEST, computed from JPL DE421 lunar ephemeris and cross-checked against NASA/Espenak Besselian elements. Orange is close to the southern edge, so the figures for Mount Canobolas, Lake Canobolas and Borenore in particular could be out by 10 s or more.

Where to watch in Orange

Glasses on for the whole eclipse

Put ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses on at first contact, 12:36:23 pm, and keep them on for the whole eclipse, from first contact to last contact at 3:12:53 pm, including the minutes of totality. In Orange CBD totality runs from 1:57:18 pm to 1:59:32 pm, and the glasses stay on throughout. At Ophir or on Mount Canobolas, totality starts and ends at different times, but the rule is the same: glasses on the whole time. Sunglasses, smoked glass and homemade filters are not safe, and no camera, binoculars or telescope should be pointed at the Sun without a proper solar filter on the front.

Will it be clear?

Orange is the cloudiest major town in the NSW path in winter: 7.0 clear vs 15.6 cloudy July days, and a mean 3 pm temperature of only 8°C. Snow and fog are possible on Mount Canobolas. North-west towards Wellington and Dubbo is drier (Dubbo 11.5 clear days), so watch the forecast and be ready to move. (Mean 3 pm temperature in July: 8.2°C.)

Orange will draw visitors for its food, wine and accommodation, but locals who know the numbers will drive north-east for longer totality. Mount Canobolas will attract crowds despite its short totality.

Common questions

Schools, councils and events

With the eclipse on Saturday 22 July 2028, Orange schools need to hand out glasses and run safety lessons by Friday 21 July 2028, and the same goes for schools in surrounding towns such as Molong and Cumnock. Anyone planning a viewing, whether at the Showground, a winery, a club or an accommodation venue, should allow one certified pair per person. Orange has 43,512 residents before any visitors arrive, so expect stock to be tight in the final weeks. For groups we supply bulk cartons, fundraising boxes of 20 to 250 pairs for schools and clubs, and custom-branded glasses from 500 units, with an artwork proof before printing.

• Bulk & wholesale
• Custom-branded glasses
• School & club fundraising
• Eclipse safety plan for schools

Nearby guides

• Dubbo eclipse guide
• The whole NSW path eclipse guide
• Blue Mountains eclipse guide
• Katoomba eclipse guide
• 2028 eclipse times across Australia
• Interactive eclipse map

← Back to the 2028 eclipse guide