PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSECotonou, BeninMonday 31 May 2049 · times in UTC+1
90.5%
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 3h 01m. All times are local, in UTC+1.
14:54 MAX 16:35 17:55
| Phase | LOCAL TIME | SUN |
|---|---|---|
| First contactthe Moon touches the Sun's edge | 14:54 | 56° WNW |
| Maximumthe deepest point | 16:35 | 33° WNW |
| Last contactthe Sun is whole again | 17:55 | 15° WNW |
03 · DIRECTION
Where do I look?
At maximum the Sun is only 33° above the horizon to the west, so you will want an open view in that direction.
The Sun's height and bearing at maximum, from Cotonou. The horizon is at 0°.
THE EXPERIENCE
What it will actually be like
With 90.5% 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?
Cotonou falls just outside the path, which passes 125 km to the north and is 162 km wide. A short journey in that direction would reach it.
THE DAY
- SUNRISE
- 06:34
- SUNSET
- 19:02
- DAY LENGTH
- 12h 28m
- CIVIL DUSK
- 19:24
REFERENCE FIGURES
- OBSCURATION
- 90.5%
- COORDINATES
- 6.366° N, 2.418° E
- PATH WIDTH
- 162 km
- SHADOW SPEED
- 1,681 km/h
- SAROS
- 138 · no. 36
- MAGNITUDE
- 0.9438
- GAMMA
- -0.1188
Contact times are accurate to a couple of seconds at the coordinates above. Altitudes are geometric — unrefracted, on the WGS 84 ellipsoid.
NEXT FROM COTONOU
What else is coming here?
The rest of what the sky over Cotonou has coming, soonest first.