This eclipse begins its path in the Indian Ocean, crossing the Australian territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island before reaching mainland Australia in the Kimberley region, the northernmost part of Western Australia. The eclipse path then runs southeastwards across the continent, passing directly over Sydney, and then across the Tasman Sea to the southern end of New Zealand's South Island before ending in the south Pacific Ocean. The entire ~3400 kilometre long path of total eclipse through mainland Australia is traversed by the Moon's shadow, northwest to southeast, in about 75 minutes.

This is Australia's longest-duration total solar eclipse during the 21st century. Its maximum duration of about 308 seconds occurs in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, decreasing to about 290 seconds as it crosses the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory outback, to about 255 seconds near Thargomindah (Queensland) and then to about 224 seconds through Sydney (New South Wales). The duration is still about 167 seconds when it crosses Dunedin in New Zealand.

Two weeks before this eclipse, on the morning of 7 July 2028, a partial lunar eclipse is visible from Australia.

If there are no drastic changes in Australia's population distribution, 22 July 2028 will also be the total eclipse whose path covers the most Australian homes during the 21st century. Places within the path include:

• In Western Australia (WA): Kununurra, Durack, Ngallagunda, Warmun, Wyndham, Mitchell River National Park, Purnululu National Park and the Lake Argyle reservoir.
  
  
• In Northern Territory (NT): Ali Curung, Irrultja, Kalkarindji, Karlu Karlu (Devil's Marbles), Lajamanu, Tennant Creek and Wutunugurra.
  
  
• In northeastern South Australia (SA): Cordillo Downs station (which hosted an expedition to test General Relativity during its previous total solar eclipse on 21 Sep 1922).
  
  
• In Queensland (QLD): Ballera gas plant, Bedourie (which also sees the 2037 total eclipse), Eromanga, Eulo (which also sees the 2030 total eclipse), Hungerford (which also sees the 2030 total eclipse) and Thargomindah.
  Birdsville is just outside this total eclipse path.
  
  
• In New South Wales (NSW): Barrigun, Bathurst, Bourke, Brewarrina, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Katoomba, Lithgow, Mittagong, Mudgee, Nyngan, Oberon, Orange, Peak Hill, Siding Spring Observatory (but not Coonabarabran), the entire Sydney and Wollongong metropolitan areas, and all of the coastal towns between Gerringong and Caves Beach.
  Wanaaring is just outside this total eclipse path, but just inside the 2030 total eclipse. The Newcastle metropolitan area is outside this total eclipse path.
  
  

See our eclipse maps and times (below) for more details.

Places within the path through the southern end of New Zealand's South Island include Balclutha, Dunedin, Lake Hawea, Lumsden, Milford Sound, Palmerston, Queenstown and Wanaka. But note that:

• This eclipse will be low in a late afternoon sky for New Zealand.
  
  
• The southwestern coast of South Island (Southland region) measures its annual rainfall in metres. Away from the coast a lot of this rain becomes snow, falling onto magnificent alpine peaks 2000-3000 metres high. And July is mid-winter.
  
  
• The southeastern side of South Island (Otago region) is much drier and less mountainous. Both factors would improve your chances of seeing this eclipse from New Zealand...BUT...
  
  
• Australia is even less mountainous than Otago region and the eclipse happens much higher in the sky too. And most of the total eclipse path in Australia goes through regions experiencing their Dry Season.
  
  

Eclipse viewing in Australia on 22 July 2028

Locations that see this total eclipse will also see partial eclipses beforehand and afterwards. The durations of these partial eclipses will depend on where you are; for example:

• For the Cocos Islands there will be about 69 minutes of partial eclipse beforehand, and about 70 minutes of partial eclipse afterwards.
• For Christmas Island there will be about 75 minutes of partial eclipse beforehand, and about 88 minutes of partial eclipse afterwards.
• Near Durack, in Western Australia, there will be about 91 minutes of partial eclipse beforehand, and about 90 minutes of partial eclipse afterwards.
• Near Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles, in Northern Territory, there will be about 90 minutes of partial eclipse beforehand, and about 87 minutes of partial eclipse afterwards.
• Near Thargomindah, in Queensland, there will be about 85 minutes of partial eclipse beforehand, and about 80 minutes of partial eclipse afterwards.
• For the Sydney metropolitan area there will be about 80 minutes of partial eclipse beforehand, and about 71 minutes of partial eclipse afterwards.

Outside of the total eclipse path the rest of Australia will only see a partial solar eclipse.

We've done some simulated views of this eclipse using Stellarium:

• A wide view of the total eclipse at Durack, Western Australia, showing all five of the naked-eye planets plus some of the bright stars you might see. Venus will be the brightest planet and should become visible several minutes before the total eclipse. On eclipse day Mercury will be showing us its entire daytime side from behind the Sun, which will make it appear as bright as Jupiter. The next brightest object will be the star Sirius. Saturn and Mars and the other stars should also be visible if the air is clear.
  If you look away from the eclipse you should also see the Southern Cross and the Pointers high in the southern sky.
  
  
  
  
  
• Close-up view of the total eclipse at Durack. The stars Castor and Pollux are the two "heads" of the constellation Gemini.
  
  
  
  
  
• A wide view of the total eclipse at Sydney. Saturn and some other objects have already set. Venus is about to set and may be hidden behind buildings or terrain. Mercury and Jupiter and the star Sirius should all be visible. Sydney is afflicted by light pollution and airborne urban crud, which may prevent you from eyeballing Mars and the other stars. Also see Nick Eggleston's simulated image below.
  
  
  
  
  
• Close-up view of the total eclipse at Sydney. The stars Castor and Pollux are now "under" the eclipse -- compare with the Durack view above.
  
  
  
  
  

Nick Eggleston created this simulated image of the 2028 total eclipse over Sydney; based on the iconic view of the Harbour Bridge + Opera House from Mrs Macquarie's Chair in the botanic gardens. See Nick's website for the details of how he created this image (and a much higher resolution version of it).








The five eclipses: 20 Apr 2023 -- 22 Jul 2028 -- 25 Nov 2030 -- 13 Jul 2037 -- 26 Dec 2038