PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE · SUN SETS DURINGQueenstown, New ZealandThursday 31 May 2068 · times in UTC+12
99.6%
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 SUN SETS PART-WAY THROUGH
Sunset is at 17:13, with the Sun still 99.6% covered. Everything after that happens below your horizon.02 · TIMING
When does it happen?
The whole eclipse runs 2h 20m. All times are local, in UTC+12.
15:46 MAX 17:00 18:06
| Phase | LOCAL TIME | SUN |
|---|---|---|
| First contactthe Moon touches the Sun's edge | 15:46 | 11° NW |
| Maximumthe deepest point | 17:00 | 1° WNW |
| SUNSET 17:13 NOTHING BELOW THIS LINE IS VISIBLE | ||
| Last contacthappens after the Sun has set | 18:06 | BELOW HORIZON9° under |
Times for the hidden phases are given because they are real — they are simply not observable from here.
03 · DIRECTION
Where do I look?
At maximum the Sun is just 1° above the horizon to the north-west. You will need a clear, flat horizon — over water, or from high ground.
The Sun's height and bearing at maximum, from Queenstown. The horizon is at 0°.
THE EXPERIENCE
What it will actually be like
With 99.6% 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?
Queenstown falls just outside the path, which passes 20 km to the south-west and is 3 km wide. A short journey in that direction would reach it.
THE DAY
- SUNRISE
- 08:12
- SUNSET
- 17:13
- DAY LENGTH
- 9h 00m
- CIVIL DUSK
- 17:46
REFERENCE FIGURES
- OBSCURATION
- 99.6%
- COORDINATES
- 45.031° S, 168.663° E
- PATH WIDTH
- 3 km
- SHADOW SPEED
- 2,066 km/h
- SAROS
- 148 · no. 21
- MAGNITUDE
- 0.9970
- GAMMA
- -0.7970
Contact times are accurate to a couple of seconds at the coordinates above. Altitudes are geometric — unrefracted, on the WGS 84 ellipsoid.