PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSEFreetown, Sierra LeoneTuesday 5 January 2038 · times in UTC+0
83.2%
OF THE SUN COVERED
A clear bite is taken out of the Sun. Daylight barely changes, so this is an eclipse you have to know about to notice.
The filter stays on the whole time →02 · TIMING
When does it happen?
The whole eclipse runs 3h 35m. All times are local, in UTC+0.
12:34 MAX 14:31 16:10
| Phase | LOCAL TIME | SUN |
|---|---|---|
| First contactthe Moon touches the Sun's edge | 12:34 | 58° S |
| Maximumthe deepest point | 14:31 | 52° SW |
| Last contactthe Sun is whole again | 16:10 | 34° SW |
03 · DIRECTION
Where do I look?
At maximum the Sun stands 52° above the horizon to the south-west — high enough to clear most buildings and trees.
The Sun's height and bearing at maximum, from Freetown. The horizon is at 0°.
THE EXPERIENCE
What it will actually be like
A distinct bite is taken out of the Sun, reaching 83.2% at maximum. Daylight barely changes — the eye adapts far too well for that — so this is an eclipse you have to know about to notice. Use a filter; the remaining Sun is as dangerous as an uneclipsed one.
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?
The path passes 430 km to the south of Freetown and is 113 km wide. Only inside it is the Sun covered completely.
THE DAY
- SUNRISE
- 07:08
- SUNSET
- 18:47
- DAY LENGTH
- 11h 39m
- CIVIL DUSK
- 19:10
REFERENCE FIGURES
- OBSCURATION
- 83.2%
- COORDINATES
- 8.484° N, 13.229° W
- PATH WIDTH
- 113 km
- SHADOW SPEED
- 1,765 km/h
- SAROS
- 132 · no. 45
- MAGNITUDE
- 0.8752
- GAMMA
- 0.4169
Contact times are accurate to a couple of seconds at the coordinates above. Altitudes are geometric — unrefracted, on the WGS 84 ellipsoid.
NEXT FROM FREETOWN
What else is coming here?
The rest of what the sky over Freetown has coming, soonest first.