PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSECape Town, South AfricaSaturday 24 July 2055 · times in UTC+2
99.2%
OF THE SUN COVERED
Almost all of the Sun goes. The light weakens and cools noticeably, shadows sharpen, and the temperature drops — but it does not get dark, and the remaining sliver is still blinding.
The filter stays on the whole time →02 · TIMING
When does it happen?
The whole eclipse runs 2h 59m. All times are local, in UTC+2.
10:11 MAX 11:38 13:11
| Phase | LOCAL TIME | SUN |
|---|---|---|
| First contactthe Moon touches the Sun's edge | 10:11 | 24° NE |
| Maximumthe deepest point | 11:38 | 33° NNE |
| Last contactthe Sun is whole again | 13:11 | 36° N |
03 · DIRECTION
Where do I look?
At maximum the Sun is only 33° above the horizon to the north, so you will want an open view in that direction.
The Sun's height and bearing at maximum, from Cape Town. The horizon is at 0°.
THE EXPERIENCE
What it will actually be like
With 99.2% of the Sun covered the light noticeably weakens and cools, shadows grow sharp-edged, and the temperature drops. Gaps between leaves project rows of crescents onto the ground. The Sun remains dangerous to look at throughout.
SAFETY
Looking at it without hurting yourself
A certified solar filter stays on for the whole eclipse. The Sun is never completely covered here, and what remains is as dangerous to look at as an uneclipsed Sun. Sunglasses are not a filter.
Sunglasses, smoked glass, exposed film and phone screens are not filters. If you can see anything else through it, it is not dark enough.
04 · POSITION
Should I travel?
Cape Town falls just outside the path, which passes 161 km to the north and is 201 km wide. A short journey in that direction would reach it.
THE DAY
- SUNRISE
- 07:44
- SUNSET
- 18:01
- DAY LENGTH
- 10h 17m
- CIVIL DUSK
- 18:28
REFERENCE FIGURES
- OBSCURATION
- 99.2%
- COORDINATES
- 33.925° S, 18.424° E
- PATH WIDTH
- 201 km
- SHADOW SPEED
- 2,210 km/h
- SAROS
- 127 · no. 54
- MAGNITUDE
- 0.9897
- GAMMA
- -0.8011
Contact times are accurate to a couple of seconds at the coordinates above. Altitudes are geometric — unrefracted, on the WGS 84 ellipsoid.
NEXT FROM CAPE TOWN
What else is coming here?
The rest of what the sky over Cape Town has coming, soonest first.