Solar eclipse to be visible from most of Australia

This week most of Australia will see a partial eclipse -- the first significant solar eclipse since 2002. Check what time you'll be able to see it from where.

By Ian Musgrave, University of Adelaide

There's one more sleep to go until the Solar Eclipse on Wednesday 14 November 2012. This is the first significant solar eclipse since 2002. If you want to make a last minute dash to north Queensland to get in the path of totality, you are probably out of luck. Flights and accommodation will be hard to get (and quite expensive), and there are no hire cars to be had for love nor money.

Eclipse sequence as seen from Adelaide, 6:50-8:10 am ACDST Ian Musgrave

I'm heading up to Cairns myself, but if you are staying home, then most of Australia will see a very nice partial eclipse. There is still plenty of time to organise safe solar projection devices, but if you want to buy eclipse glasses or solar filter material then you will have to get a move on.

I have a reasonably comprehensive web page for eclipse viewing, as well I have a handy, printable PDF page that lists a whole bunch of eclipse times which you can carry around with you. It also has a bunch of things for kids to do.

The eclipse starts shortly after sunrise. Here's a quick table of eclipse times to whet you appetite for the upcoming event.

City	State	Time Zone	First Contact	Mid Eclipse	% Sun Covered	Last Contact
Adelaide	SA	ACDST	6.42	7.33	52%	8:22
Alice Springs	NT	ACST	5:27	6:16	73%	7:10
Brisbane	QLD	AEST	5:56	6:54	83%	7:58
Cairns	QLD	AEST	5.45	6.38	100% (total eclipse)	7.40
Canberra	ACT	AEDST	7:10	8:03	62%	9.02
Darwin	NT	ACST	5:17 (below horizon)	6:06 (just below horizon)	98%	7:00
Hobart	TAS	AEDST	6:55	7:44	45%	8:36
Melbourne	VIC	AEDST	7:15	8:05	53%	8:59
Mossman	QLD	AEST	5.44	6.38	100% (total eclipse)	7.40
Perth	WA	WADST	5:21 (below horizon)	6:00 (just below horizon)	40%	6:41
Port Douglas	QLD	AEST	5.44	6.37	100% (total eclipse)	7.39
Rockhampton	QLD	AEST	5:51	6:48	90%	7:52
Townsville	QLD	AEST	5:47	6:42	96%	7:43
Sydney	NSW	AEDST	7:06	8:01	68%	9:02

Ian Musgrave does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations.