TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Australia is preparing for one of its most significant astronomical events in decades as a total solar eclipse crosses the country on July 22, 2028, briefly turning day into night for millions of people.
The eclipse will be visible across a broad stretch of Australia, with Sydney among the major cities expected to experience totality. Astronomers describe the event as exceptionally rare because a total solar eclipse is typically visible from the same location only once every 375 to 400 years, according to Timeout.
The 2028 eclipse will travel from the Kimberley region in Western Australia across the Northern Territory, southwest Queensland, inland New South Wales, and finally Sydney, making it accessible to more than a quarter of Australia's population.
What Is a Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, completely blocking the Sun's visible surface for observers located within the eclipse's path of totality.
During totality, daylight briefly fades into darkness, temperatures may drop, and the Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, becomes visible as a glowing halo surrounding the Moon.
Unlike a partial solar eclipse, totality allows observers to witness the full eclipse experience, although it lasts only a few minutes before sunlight returns.
When Will Sydney Experience the Eclipse?
The total solar eclipse will take place on Saturday, July 22, 2028.
Sydney is expected to enter totality at approximately 1:59 p.m. local time, while inland New South Wales will experience the eclipse slightly earlier, around 1:50 p.m.
The 2028 event is considered particularly notable because it combines broad visibility with an unusually long period of darkness in some locations.
In the Kimberley region, observers could experience up to five minutes and 10 seconds of totality, making it one of the longest total solar eclipses visible anywhere in the world during this century.
Best Places to Watch the Eclipse
Western Australia's East Kimberley region is expected to provide the best viewing conditions.
Locations including Wyndham, Kununurra, Lake Argyle, and Purnululu (Bungle Bungle) National Park lie near the center of the eclipse path, offering the longest duration of totality along with typically clear, dry-season skies.
The eclipse will then move across the Northern Territory, southwest Queensland, inland New South Wales, and finally Sydney.
Inland New South Wales is forecast to experience around four minutes of totality before the shadow reaches Australia's largest city.
What About Other Australian Cities?
Not every major city will experience complete darkness.
People in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, and Canberra are expected to see only a partial solar eclipse, where the Moon covers part—but not all—of the Sun.
Although still impressive, a partial eclipse does not produce the dramatic daytime darkness associated with totality.
How to Watch the Eclipse Safely
Viewing the eclipse safely is essential.
Observers should wear ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses whenever any part of the Sun remains visible. Ordinary sunglasses do not provide adequate protection and should never be used for direct solar viewing.
Only during the brief period of complete totality—when the Moon entirely covers the Sun—is it safe to look directly at the eclipse without eye protection. Eclipse glasses should be put back on immediately once sunlight begins to reappear.
Why the 2028 Eclipse Is Significant
Australia will experience five total solar eclipses between 2023 and 2038, an unusually frequent series by global standards.
The remaining total solar eclipses visible from Australia are expected on:
- July 22, 2028 – Western Australia, Northern Territory, southwest Queensland, New South Wales, including Sydney.
- November 25, 2030 – South Australia, northwest New South Wales, and southern Queensland.
- July 13, 2037 – Southern Western Australia, southern Northern Territory, western Queensland, including Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
- December 26, 2038 – Central Western Australia, South Australia, the New South Wales–Victoria border, and Canberra.
Among these events, the 2028 eclipse stands out because of its combination of long totality, broad visibility, and its passage over Sydney, making it one of Australia's most anticipated astronomical spectacles in generations. If you want to know more about other astronomical phenomena events that will happen this year, check out August 2026 Skywatch: Total Solar Eclipse, Blue Moon, and More.
Read: Which US States Can See the August 12, 2026 Solar Eclipse?
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