Skywatchers are in for a spectacular sight this week, with a total solar eclipse set to sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere on Wednesday, August 12. As the moon moves directly between Earth and the sun, locations along the path of totality will briefly be plunged into darkness, with the spectacle visible across parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and Portugal. Unfortunately, Australia won’t get a glimpse of this week’s celestial event, but we won’t be left waiting for long. A rare series of total solar eclipses is heading our way over the next decade, including one that will pass directly over Sydney. Here’s when and where you can see the next total solar eclipses in Australia.
When is the next total solar eclipse in Australia
Australia’s next chance to experience totality will come on July 22, 2028, and this one is particularly exciting for NSW. The path of the eclipse will travel across the country from the Kimberley in Western Australia, through the Northern Territory and southwest Queensland, before crossing NSW and passing directly over Sydney. Locations including Bourke and Dubbo will also sit within the path of totality.
For Sydney, the spectacle will be especially rare. The entire Greater Sydney region, stretching roughly from Lake Macquarie to Kiama, will fall within the path, with totality lasting up to around three minutes and 45 seconds depending on where you’re watching from. During those few minutes, the moon will completely cover the sun, revealing its corona and dramatically darkening the daytime sky. Elsewhere around the country, people outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial solar eclipse.
Four total solar eclipses are coming to Australia
And 2028 is only the beginning. Australia is in for an unusually good run of eclipses soon after. After 2028, Australia will experience another total solar eclipse on November 25, 2030, with the path of totality crossing parts of South Australia, northwest NSW and southern Queensland. Another follows on July 13, 2037, when locations including Byron Bay, Lord Howe Island, the Gold Coast, Uluru and Geraldton will be among the places to experience totality.
Australians won’t have to wait long for another, with the next arriving on December 26, 2038. Its path will cross parts of Western Australia and South Australia before reaching the NSW-Victoria border region.
In the meantime, you can watch the August 12 total solar eclipse live online via NASA.
