Forthcoming Eclipses/11 July 2010

The Greatest Spectacle in the Whole of Nature

Total Solar Eclipse - 11 July 2010 in the South Pacific Ocean

and South America

If the 2009 total eclipse was witnessed by the greatest number of people ever then this eclipse may well compensate by being experienced by remarkably few! The track seems to have an aversion to land as it spends almost all of its time crossing the remote Southern Pacific Ocean. There is a brief landfall in South America but the sun is setting fast by this time.

The track of the 11 July 2010 total eclipse across the South Pacific Ocean to South America

The track of the 11 July 2010 total eclipse across the South Pacific Ocean to South America.

The eclipse starts at 18h 16.8m UT in the southern Pacific Ocean but it is doubtful that anyone will be there to see it! The first piece of land encountered is Mangaia in the Cook Islands. Then it’s more ocean until Easter Island is favoured where the duration will be over four and a half minutes.

The track of the 11 July 2010 total eclipse showing the location of Easter Island

Location

1^st Contact

(UT)

Time of

Mid-Eclipse

(UT)

Duration

Of

Totality

Elevation

of Sun at

Maximum

4^th Contact

(UT)

Mangaia

Cook Islands

17h 15.1m

18h 21.1m

3m 19s

13.7°

19h 36.8m

Mataveri

Easter Island

18h 40.6m

20h 10.8m

4m 41s

39.5°

21h 34.2m

North Cape

Easter Island

18h 40.6m

20h 10.9m

4m 47s

39.6°

21h 34.3m

Cape Cumming

Easter Island

18h 41.1m

20h 11.2m

4m 48s

39.5°

21h 34.5m

Timings for places experiencing a total eclipse

By the time that the track has reached the coast of Chile, the sun will be setting fast and clouds on the horizon are likely to interfere with viewing. Argentina experiences totality, just, before the eclipse ends at 20h 50.0m UT.

A partial eclipse will again be visible over a large area but, on this occasion, will be experienced by remarkably few people!

Location

1^st

Contact

(UT)

Mid-

Eclipse

(UT)

Maximum

Area of

Sun

Eclipsed

Elevation

of Sun at

Maximum

4^th

Contact

(UT)

Rarotonga

Cook Islands

Before sunrise

18h 18.6m

99.6%

12.0°

19h 32.8m

Papeete

French Polynesia

17h 16.0m

18h 27.3m

98.7%

23.9°

19h 50.0m

Santiago

Chile

20h 00.4m

21h 00.8m

49.1%

8.2°

After sunset

Lima

Peru

20h 24.4m

20h 52.2m

2.7%

26.5°

21h 18.8m

La Paz

Bolivia

20h 39.2m

21h 01.3m

1.8%

14.9°

21h 22.7m

Buenos Aires

Argentina

20h 13.7m

After sunset

33.5%

0.0°

After sunset