The next total solar eclipse is coming to Australia
And we have our secondary radio telescope sitting right smack bang in the path of totality. The people to see for full detail of this are the Astronomical Society of South Australia, from whom I took this map of the path, and marked on the Ceduna Radio Telescope. Due west of the telescope it all scrub, but it maybe possible to follow the line of the old dog fence to the centre of the totality.



World map of Solar Eclipse

Ceduna is not going to be the best place to observe this, it'll occur just before sunset (Ceduna 20:28). But unless you've got a yacht it'll be the best place to be and keep your feet dry.

This information is from ASSA again.

All times in hh:mm:ss
Australian Central Summer Time (UT + 10.5h)

Notes on the table.

  1. Magnitude = how much of the Sun's diameter is eclipsed.
    A magnitude greater than one indicates a total eclipse.
  2. 1st contact = when the eclipse begins.
  3. 2nd contact = when totality begins.
  4. Maximum eclipse = when the most Sun is eclipsed.
  5. 3rd contact = when totality ends.
  6. 4th contact = when the eclipse ends (not visible at any of these locations).
  7. The bright star Antares will be about 5 degrees "left" of the eclipsed Sun, and may be visible if the sky is clear.
Location 1st contact 2nd contact Maximum 3rd contact Magnitude
Ceduna 18:40:11 19:40:06 19:40:22 19:40:38 1.004

The way I see it -- if you have helped us out observing, then I'm for helping you. (And that goes for you too, Johnny Boy). Next observing run (i.e. not the remote observing) April 20th to April 27th. Be queuing at the gate.