Total solar eclipse, 22 July 2028: path, times and how long totality lasts in Australia

Key facts

The path of totality across Australia

The Moon's shadow reaches the Kimberley coast of Western Australia mid-morning local time. It passes over Wyndham and Kununurra, where the point of greatest eclipse falls in the central Kimberley with 5 minutes 10 seconds of totality. It then crosses the Tanami Desert and the Northern Territory over Tennant Creek, and the far south-west corner of Queensland near Thargomindah.

In New South Wales the centre line runs from Bourke through Nyngan, Warren, Gilgandra, Dubbo, Wellington and Mudgee, across the Blue Mountains, over the Hawkesbury and the northern suburbs of Sydney, and out to sea south of the Heads. Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong, Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo are all inside the path. Newcastle, Maitland and Cessnock sit just outside the northern edge. Canberra, Goulburn and Nowra are outside the southern edge.

Outside the path the Sun is never fully covered. Darwin sees 88% of the Sun covered, Brisbane and Melbourne about 81%, Adelaide 76%, Hobart 73% and Perth about half.

Is my city in the path of totality?

Eclipse times by city

Times are local civil time on 22 July 2028: AWST in Western Australia, ACST in the Northern Territory and South Australia, AEST everywhere else. Totality begins, maximum and totality ends are given to the second. Rows marked partial are outside the path, with the share of the Sun covered at maximum.

Western Australia (AWST)

Northern Territory (ACST)

Queensland (AEST)

New South Wales and ACT (AEST)

South Australia (ACST), Victoria and Tasmania (AEST)

Calculated from NASA's Besselian elements for the eclipse of 22 July 2028. The point of greatest eclipse matches NASA's published 5m 10s. Times shift by a few seconds across a city, so check your own suburb or town closer to the day.

Where totality lasts longest

The closer you are to the centre line, the longer totality lasts. The maximum is 5 minutes 10 seconds in the central Kimberley. In the more accessible towns, Thargomindah gets 4m 15s, Bourke 4m 05s, Dubbo 3m 50s and Sydney 3m 48s. Near the edges of the path totality drops quickly: Orange gets 2m 10s and Swansea, on the northern edge at Lake Macquarie, only about 11 seconds.

Where to watch

What matters most is a clear view of the Sun at the time of totality. In the Kimberley and the Northern Territory the Sun is high in the northern sky, about 50 degrees up. By the time the shadow reaches Sydney it is lower, about 29 degrees above the horizon to the north-west, so trees, buildings and ridges can block it. In Sydney, headlands and open water facing north-west work best: see the 10 best places in Sydney to watch the 2028 eclipse.

Weather and clear skies

July is the dry season in the Kimberley and the Top End, which is why many eclipse travellers plan to watch from northern Western Australia or the Northern Territory. Sydney and the NSW coast are in winter, when a clear day is likely but not guaranteed. Inland NSW, west of the Blue Mountains, can also be clear, although winter fog and frost are common early in the morning. Whatever the location, keep your plans flexible in the final few days and follow the Bureau of Meteorology forecast.

Watching it safely

Inside the path, certified eclipse glasses go on before the partial eclipse begins and come off only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered. Put them back on as soon as the first bright point of sunlight reappears. Outside the path the Sun is never fully covered, so the glasses stay on for the whole eclipse.

Use only glasses or viewers that meet ISO 12312-2. Sunglasses, welding glass below shade 14, smoked glass and camera filters are not safe. Never look through binoculars, a telescope or a camera lens while wearing eclipse glasses: optics need their own solar filter on the front. See how to check your eclipse glasses are safe, and for schools, our eclipse safety plan for schools.

The gear you need

For your eyes

One pair of ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses per person, worn for the whole partial eclipse. Paper eclipse glasses are sold by the pair. The family eclipse kit has four pairs and a printed viewing guide.

For phones, cameras and binoculars

Never point binoculars, a telescope or a camera at the Sun while wearing eclipse glasses. Optics need their own solar filter fitted over the front. For a phone, hold a solar filter over the lens.

For a group

Schools, councils, clubs and venues can order bulk cartons or glasses printed with their own logo from 500 units. See the full range.

What to bring

• A pair of certified eclipse glasses for each person, plus a spare or two
• A solar filter for any camera, binoculars or telescope
• Warm clothes: it is winter, and the temperature drops during totality
• Water, food and a chair or rug if you are arriving early
• A printed copy of your local eclipse times

Questions

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