A celestial event so rare it’s being dubbed the ‘Eclipse of the Century’ is set to sweep across the globe, bringing an unusually long stretch of midday darkness. On August 2, 2027, the Moon will perfectly align with the Sun for a staggering 6 minutes and 23 seconds, creating the longest total solar eclipse visible from land until the year 2114. That’s nearly three times longer than the highly publicised American eclipse of 2024.
Naturally, any news of the “longest” anything in the universe tends to spark a flurry of excitement with a dash of confusion. While the sheer length of this cosmic blackout is genuinely historic, most of the world will be left watching the spectacle online.
So, is it time for Australians to book tickets to Cairo, or can we just watch from the back garden? We break down the details on this astronomical marvel and reveal exactly what the show looks like from the Southern Hemisphere.
Why is This Eclipse So Long? The Science of the Six-Minute Blackout
When the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, it casts a shadow that races across the planet’s surface. To achieve a totality lasting over six minutes, three key factors need to align perfectly:
- A Large Moon: The Moon needs to be near perigee (its closest point to Earth) so it appears larger in the sky, maximising the time it takes to fully obscure the Sun.
- A Small Sun: The Earth needs to be near aphelion (its farthest point from the Sun) so the Sun appears slightly smaller.
- An Equatorial Path: The shadow’s path needs to run close to the equator. Since the Earth rotates fastest here, it effectively slows the shadow’s apparent speed across the ground, stretching the duration of totality.
The culmination of these factors creates the spectacular show that will be witnessed along the narrow path of totality in 2027.
The lucky landlocked path begins in southern Spain, tracks through North Africa, and culminates in the Middle East. Astronomy fans are already circling locations like Luxor, Egypt, which is predicted to enjoy nearly six and a half minutes of glorious, life-changing darkness, making it the must-see destination for serious eclipse chasers.
@elle.cordova Total solar eclipse (artist’s rendering) #eclipse #solareclipse #astronomy ♬ original sound – Elle Cordova
How Does This Affect Us in Australia?
This is where the excitement comes crashing back down to Earth.
The path of totality for the August 2, 2027, total solar eclipse passes thousands of kilometres away from the Australian mainland. The show is very much focused on the Northern Hemisphere.
The maximum eclipse occurs globally around 10:06 AM UTC (Universal Coordinated Time) on August 2, 2027.
- In Sydney (AEST/UTC+10), this corresponds to 8:06 PM.
- In Perth (AWST/UTC+8), this corresponds to 6:06 PM.
Since the Sun is already well and truly below the horizon in Australia by the time the big event is happening in North Africa, the mainland will experience no visible effect whatsoever. It’s a spectacular show, but one that Australians will be viewing via livestream, perhaps with a schooner in hand.
What’s Next for Down Under?
If you feel you’ve missed out, don’t fret! Australia is actually set to be the star of its own show just one year later.
Pop on your calendars for the Total Solar Eclipse of July 22, 2028. This eclipse will deliver totality right across the country, starting in the Kimberley, crossing through the Northern Territory and Queensland, and passing directly over the heart of Sydney, New South Wales. This is the one where you’ll definitely want to buy the official certified eclipse glasses and take the day off.
Until then, enjoy the spectacle of the ‘Eclipse of the Century’ from a distance, secure in the knowledge that our own turn to bask in cosmic darkness is just around the corner.
