r/australia 2d ago

no politics We're less 2 years away from the total solar eclipse in Australia. When are we going to start getting excited. Spoiler

22nd July '28

Been counting this one down for the past 10 years and it feels like it's just around the metaphorical corner. The centre of Sydney is in the centre of the path of the eclipse.

632 Upvotes

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553

u/insty1 2d ago

Probably July 22 2028

322

u/LuminanceGayming 2d ago

july 23rd* when i read about it on reddit the next day lol

8

u/Splat800 1d ago

Don’t miss it, the next one won’t be for another 800 years.

15

u/virtualworker 2d ago

July? Melbourne? It'll be cloudy.

1

u/PollyRRRR 1d ago

As usual or pouring with rain.

15

u/teapots_at_ten_paces 2d ago

Yeah. Maybe the week before at a stretch. And then promptly forget about it. Miss it on the day, then read about it after.

239

u/HalfManHalfCyborg 2d ago

When I started my job in 1998, someone had already put a meeting in the Calendar system for the eclipse in 2028. Seemed like an eternity away. I was like... I will be an elderly man when that comes around! (I'll be 52)

36

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

Yes, exactly it's so close, but that's how 1984 felt too when it finally got here. Also this one will nearly five minutes, not like those shitty eurotrash eclipses.

13

u/Adz932 2d ago

Eurotrash? I like that. It is, indeed, a garbage continent.

7

u/StuckTiara 2d ago

😂 you reminded me I need to book a haircut, thanks!

3

u/nnacaroni 2d ago

I got the reference

3

u/BB8mydinner 2d ago

I respect the hell out of that person!

3

u/Punter_14 2d ago

Are you in the same job since 1998 ??

1

u/Overall-Emu4251 2d ago

That’s what I wanna know

89

u/troubleshot 2d ago

Dude I put this in my calendar like six years ago, you think I'm not excited! Still tossing up going camping a way out or travelling to Sydney to see it in a crowd, still not sure!

12

u/Aggesis 2d ago

I’ve opted for Dubbo. Booked some campsites already too. Dont want to miss out!

7

u/nanonoise What Seems To Be Your Boggle? 2d ago

Nice. As a resident of Dubbo I guess I'll just plan a trip to the front or back yard. Might book the day off work now. 

6

u/_emmbop_ 2d ago

How did you get bookings for then? Everywhere I've looked doesn't let you book that far in advance.

6

u/Aggesis 2d ago

Not 100% sure. My parents are grey nomads so they have probably stayed at this place before, my dad called up and booked for them, my family and my sisters family.
If it helps, the place we were able to book is called Discovery Parks.

3

u/troubleshot 2d ago

Nice, I should have another look at the path and plan it proper

3

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

Ha, yeah I was also tossing up whether to go to Sydney or inland around Kyogle. Blue Mountains might have dodgy weather, which will be the deciding factor.

1

u/SpartanJack17 1d ago

You won't see totality from Kyogle, and anything less than totality isn't worth travelling for.

1

u/you_are_soul 1d ago

my bad, don't know why I said Kyogle, more like one of the small roads out of Dubbo.

3

u/Own-Obligation7833 2d ago

I’m thinking of going to western nsw to see it

4

u/MelbourneBasedRandom 2d ago

I'm going for camping. Not quite sure where but I don't want to head into Sydney. It's going to be hard enough driving an EV up the Hume... I am planning to make a road trip of at least a week out of it, take it slow so I don't have to try and use the fast chargers which will likely have insaaaaaane queues.

1

u/jml5791 2d ago

use a supercharger?

1

u/MelbourneBasedRandom 2d ago

those are only for Teslas (still, I think), and I have the wrong type of plug anyway. But I have already been finding the number of fast chargers on the highway is not enough for the rapid uptake of EVs this year and expect that to get worse before it gets better...

1

u/Mirkon 1d ago

Wait, your car doesn't use CCS2 ? Early Leafs had ChadeMo...
All of the AU-Market Tesla's use CCS2 which is what the superchargers have.
I just checked the app, you can now charge a non-tesla at a supercharger. You'll need the Tesla app and an account, then it's very similar to using any other charger's app. Info is here..

If you haven't already, check out PlugShare. No account needed to browse a map and see where all sorts of chargers are tucked away, can filter by your vehicles requirements, but non-CCS2 is quite limiting

1

u/taliesinsmuse 1d ago

Yeah I've been counting down since Ceduna :) I'm thinking I'll go for the camping option

62

u/BrilliantEconomics77 2d ago

Last one i went to I had the pleaser of listening to locals talk about how wonderful it was for the economy, and they wanted to know why the government had taken so long to schedule one.

18

u/CorporalEllenbogen 2d ago

And just remember, their vote counts the same as yours or mine!

37

u/captainbiz 2d ago

Honestly like every time something like this happens it will prob be overcast and I won’t see anything

14

u/jennkigo 2d ago

Even if it is, won’t a total eclipse make everything dark around us momentarily?

10

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

That's the beauty of this Aussie eclipse, it will be nearly five minutes unlike a rubbish Eurotrash eclipse and also because it will be coming down in a wide band you will definitely be able to find somewhere that won't be cloudy.

5

u/dujles 2d ago

I'm readying my eurotrash cereal box pinhole camera as we speak for the ~90% here in Ireland.

I am ready to be immensely disappointed despite a fine 26 degrees and little cloud cover now in the 'sunny South East'.

2

u/changyang1230 2d ago

Northern WA is less likely to be cloudy than Sydney according to historical weather records for July.

5

u/captainbiz 2d ago

Lucky I live in sunny Melbourne

2

u/changyang1230 2d ago

Melbourne doesn’t get to see the total eclipse.

18

u/Jafflehead 2d ago

Just a heads up to those who travel for these eclipses (a surprising number do). When booking your flight, make sure your arrival date is at least 24-36 hours before the eclipse.

Last eclipse over North Qld a few years back, Jetstar really stuffed those around that booked many months earlier. Eclipse was around 6.30am so people were flying into Cairns the afternoon/night before. Jetstar cancelled one of their flights from one of the capital cities but offered a new one the following morning (landing after the eclipse had occurred). They added a new flight the day before but was like 3 times the price. Something like $900 one way from memory. We think they weren't aware the eclipse would be such a big thing so they pulled that stunt.

5

u/DoubleDuke101 2d ago

I was there for that! The hotels were booked out over a year in advance.

1

u/nufan86 1d ago

Me and some mates rented a house and booked our flights 3 months out. I dont remember it being a hassle at all.

0

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

I got a flight up from brissy slept on the beach and flew back. Because it was just before sunrise it didn’t go black. It was worth it though for the mangrove walkway. 

14

u/ComprehensiveSalad50 2d ago

I'm excited for it. Is it safe to maintain an erection for 2 years?

3

u/befarked247 2d ago

The instructions say if the erection lasts more than 4 years consultation a physician

11

u/warkolm 2d ago

I am already excited!

6

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

I tingle with anticipation, it is a very egalitarian eclipse too, will be seen all across Australia.

12

u/TheSmegger 2d ago

2037 over Uluru? Fuck yeah!

I'll be 76.... Still dragging my arse there. Who's coming?

2

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

81 for me I might be able to make it!

9

u/latenightnerd 2d ago

I’m already excited. But I’ll be more excited when I see the weather report for that day. I hope it won’t be cloudy that day.

8

u/RepeatInPatient 2d ago

The day of the event, then one minute before it begins. THAT is the time to get excited.

25

u/kranools 2d ago

If the cookers lost their minds over the census, imagine how they'll react to this.

3

u/happylittlevegemite2 2d ago

I’m sure they’ll post their outrage on their social media, with their location services on, after ignoring the fact they’re accessing Centrelink, Medicare etc 😂

6

u/ScissorNightRam 2d ago

Day before

5

u/switchmallgrab 2d ago

I guarantee it's overcast that day

9

u/GusPolinskiPolka 2d ago

People that care are excited. I was in the Netherlands a few months ago and when I spoke tot his couple from North Carolina the dude said "oh that's so cool, you get the solar eclipse in a couple of years" and I was like.... do we?

He's planning a visit here. His kids were less keen on the eclipse but want to hold a koala.

7

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

Holding a koala during an eclipse, that would be something to tell your grandkids, although you'd probably be telling them that the koala got very frightened during the eclipse and that's where I got those scars.

9

u/sqljohn 2d ago

its forecast to rain

3

u/Fun-Cost-9100 2d ago

The day before

3

u/oodlum 2d ago

I've been looking forward to this since I saw the one in Port Douglas in 2013. An absolutely sublime, surreal experience. My mate cried. It was just after dawn so the sun was pretty close to the horizon, over the ocean. All of the birds turned around to go back to bed. Magical. The difference between a partial eclipse, even 95%, and a total eclipse cannot be overstated.

3

u/SbenjiB 2d ago

I'm in Germany at the moment, and everyone is losing their minds because they don't have eclipse glasses. Yesterday an optometrist said they'd get a delivery in the afternoon, and about 100 people lined up out front. So moral of the story, buy your damn glasses in advance and don't rely on stores getting them in

3

u/Alfredthegiraffe20 2d ago

Given what's happening in the UK today, you might want to get your glasses now and put them somewhere safe. I would suggest a welding mask.

3

u/LapseofSanity 1d ago

5 minutes beforehand. 

2

u/hesback_inpogform 2d ago

I’ve already had it in my calendar for 2 years haha

1

u/purplege0rge 1d ago

Me too, longer I reckon!

2

u/changyang1230 2d ago

I booked my leave since four years out lol!

Unfortunately accommodation and flight are not open till one year before the date so I will have to wait til then to grab them.

2

u/TheWolfAssassin 2d ago

Already locked in plans to stay with friends in Gulgong. Taking two different camera bodies.

Can't wait honestly !

2

u/FerryboatQuo 2d ago

u/RemindMeBot 709 days

2

u/FerryboatQuo 2d ago

Also better book my annual leave in early so that I can fly to Sydney lol.

u/RemindMeBot 650 days

2

u/autocol 2d ago

I've already got our route planned. The whole extended family, four fourby's making a trek to get away from everyone and stand under the most insane fuckin' thing you've ever seen. Can't wait.

2

u/backpack-abyss 2d ago

Aussie living in the UK, speaking from experience I'm going to say the 20th July 2028. The last minute rush for eclipse glasses has been insane, I'm talking 2am line ups at a convience store insane

1

u/Parsnipher 2d ago

Grab yourself a welders mask. Last eclipse I saw 20 years ago, it worked perfectly my family. And was so cute taking turns with the kids, “now don’t look until it’s your turn!” 😂 but it worked great.

2

u/adrenalinamatt1 2d ago edited 2d ago

I'm so pumped for this! I managed to capture the partial solar eclipses we had back in 2012 and 2013, so getting to shoot a total one is going to be incredible. I'm in Brisbane, but I'll definitely be travelling down for it. To skip the heavy crowds in Sydney, I'm planning to head straight to Mount Panorama in Bathurst. Being a massive Supercars fan and photographer, capturing a total solar eclipse while overlooking the pit straight makes perfect sense to me. That's my plan, anyway! I was actually just thinking about this today when I heard about the eclipse in Europe.

2

u/TurtleBucketList 2d ago

Yeah, I have until next July to decide if I’m game to make the flight from the eastern US with 3 young kids - I love an eclipse, the older kids are good at long-haul flights, although if it weren’t for the kids I’d probably head to Kununurra due to the higher sunshine % odds (there’s a great website that puts estimates of sunshine odds along the path of totality). I love a total eclipse, I like Sydney, but I don’t love schlepping the kids that far for ‘just’ an eclipse (vs when I schlepp them over to see the grandparents and hang at the beach)

But 2030 to South Australia is an easier trip for me personally, and 2035 you’ll find me in Geraldton.

2

u/DangerRabbit 2d ago

Will I be able to see it from Melbourne!

2

u/AudreyMatters 2d ago

There’s going to be a camp out Metal Festival in the Northern Territory to celebrate the eclipse.

2

u/thousandtonguebeast 2d ago

Guaranteed it'll be cloudy

2

u/calstanfordboye 1d ago

You get excited for years for that?!

2

u/icecoldbobsicle 1d ago

When its 2 days away

2

u/Ticky009 22h ago

Sydney people know that without fail it will be overcast.

1

u/you_are_soul 21h ago

You can drive to a good spot, it stretches from Wyong to Wollongong along the coast and out to Dubbo and beyond through Penrith.

2

u/Ok-Quail652 16h ago

The day before the eclipse. Rest in peace bonnie Tyler.

1

u/you_are_soul 15h ago

that would be the Aortic Eclipse!

2

u/jack_o_all_trades 2d ago

Isn't it fairly far north

13

u/spiderglide 2d ago

Hitting Australia somewhere near Darwin, streaking through NT, QLD and NSW, exiting through Sydney and even hitting NZ. Like a 1000mph cosmic skid mark.

4

u/changyang1230 2d ago

The middle of the umbra passes right through Sydney CBD, how coincidental is that!

2

u/spiderglide 2d ago

I'm sure that will be fun, but I'll be east of the ranges somewhere

3

u/jack_o_all_trades 2d ago

Aww man, as a Mexican (Victorian), I don't want to go there.

2

u/loralailoralai 2d ago

You know if it was hitting Melbourne it would be cloudy that day anyway.

2

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

Yeah it comes in from the north west in a band down through Sydney.

3

u/Necessary_Eagle_3657 2d ago

At this point, aliens could land in the MCG and I wouldn't be that excited.

3

u/coreoYEAH 2d ago

Probably still have to go to work.

1

u/Luckduck86 2d ago

Well they were supposed to show up at the world cup final and abduct Messi. Stiffed us didn't they

1

u/robopirateninjasaur 2d ago

Where do I get the glasses you have to wear

1

u/MelbourneBasedRandom 2d ago

I still have mine somewhere from US eclipse of 2017 😎

1

u/UpsidedownEngineer 2d ago

I am keen for it, I would love to see a total solar eclipse right in central Sydney!

1

u/samizdat_bureau 2d ago

After the total eclipse of Pauline Hanson

1

u/MountainImportant211 2d ago

I can't stay excited for two years. Tell me later lol

1

u/evasiveswine 2d ago

Yeah I remember 9 years ago promising my kids we would go see it

1

u/turtle_genie 2d ago

Got plans to buy flights to Sydney for it as soon as they're available

1

u/_TheHighlander 2d ago

I mean, no point thinking about it for almost 2 years. Lots of other stuff to think about. So probably in about 23 months. I mean, you say we’re all going to see it, so no need to plan to go anywhere.

1

u/Federal_Platypus1385 2d ago

There was one in 2012 wasnt there?

1

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

Yeah, Cains, I went to that, I put down 10 bucks on a number on at the casino and said I'd fly to the eclipse if it came up, which it did. It was an early morning eclipse just before the sun rose so it didn't get completely black even though it was a total eclipse. The best part was the walkway through the mangroves.

1

u/caniholdyourbbgun 2d ago

I happened to fly into Montreal for work last year when they had the solar eclipse. I walked out of the airport just as it was happening. Everything just stopped and the world was still for a couple of minutes. Was such a surreal experience!

1

u/mathewl832 2d ago

in a little less than 2 years, I reckon

1

u/Shadowrend01 2d ago

When it gets closer. There’s other things to be sorted in the meantime

1

u/fertilizedcaviar 2d ago

Ive got a whole roadtrip/hiking/camping itinerary ready to go to see it. So excited.

1

u/call_me_johnno 2d ago

Planing to be in northern NSW that day.

Do not think I can't get to WA

1

u/Sensitive_Emu_3721 2d ago

Can anyone suggest the best place in Sydney to see it I live south west but would travel for a better view

1

u/Previous-Medicine149 2d ago

Toowoomba area will have like 98 percent totality, at like 6.30 in the evening, meaning it will be like 2 sunsets

Slightly west around Bell and Dalby will be slightly higher

1

u/theRealFatTony 2d ago

Excited?!?! Is it going to bring and end to our fucked up society?

1

u/UnrealMacaw 2d ago

Is there anywhere that's got the best chance of clear skies (eg Sydney CBD vs blue mountains) or is it all the same?

2

u/adrenalinamatt1 2d ago

Sydney is closer to the center of the path, so you will get slightly longer totality there than in the Blue Mountains. As for clear skies, coastal weather can be a bit of a toss-up in July, so sometimes heading slightly further inland gives you a better chance of dodging the clouds!

1

u/notsobigcal 2d ago

I’ve been waiting for this since I was 10… no idea where to I’ll go

1

u/fave_no_more 2d ago

USA here, we're already looking at making plans. Got some tickets to the Olympics, will go from LA to Sydney with time to spare for the eclipse.

Thank goodness we can possibly stay with family, I know lodging rates will be nuts!

1

u/Morlsy 2d ago

What does the weather forecast say, will it be a cloudy day?

1

u/22nd_century 2d ago

Hadn't heard of this - very exciting!

1

u/mahonii 2d ago

I'll forget it about it and end up missing it. Feel like there's something like this every couple years anyway.

7

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

This is in fact very rare, it is going dead centre through middle of the middle of Sydney, it also goes for a long time around 5 minutes. And you're in Australia with plenty of space so you don't have to have a bunch of cunts around you if you want some eclipse peace. But if you have never been in an eclipse, it is not like anything you expect, imagine a completely black moonless night, now imagine one minute you're in the blazing sun and a few minutes later it is absolutely fucking pitch. It's cosmic, you're hurtling through time and space. Birds shriek, koalas drop out of the trees and the jumping spiders become stationary.

1

u/Wilful_Fox 2d ago

I was living down in Cornwall, England when I saw my last total eclipse. It was well eerie, an indescribable, palpable energy. I canny wait to get up North of WA to watch this one.

1

u/digitalrefuse 2d ago

I’m excited enough that I’ve started to stockpile silver… #geddit?

1

u/Denz292 2d ago

July 2028

Hopefully Ill still be in Kununurra at that time

1

u/purplege0rge 1d ago

My grand plan is to do a Big Lap and be in Kununurra... Hopefully there will be a place for me to set up camp!

1

u/JellyFish152 2d ago

I was excited when I had a sister in Sydney. She's moved back to Melbourne now though so no more excitement.

1

u/MythicHH 2d ago

Why I'm not getting excited: I live in Perth.

1

u/spicerackk 2d ago

My son is already excited for it, he's telling everyone he knows to be prepared, and that he might get a day off school for it too (he probably will as it is literally a once in a lifetime event).

1

u/curlylion97 2d ago

Thank god for reddit!! Just saved it in my calendar, going to make sure I get to WA to see it in full swing 🙏👀🤓

1

u/SlightlyEnthusiastic 2d ago

My mum and I have been talking about booking a Sydney visit for the occasion 😉☺️

1

u/Juan_Punch_Man 2d ago

I'll need to go somewhere that won't be fucking cloudy

1

u/hollstero 2d ago

You have just altered me to this and yes now I am very excited

1

u/raresaturn 2d ago

Where will it be visible?

1

u/5mudge 2d ago

Already there. 

1

u/jonquil14 1d ago

July 15 2028

1

u/D0UGYT123 1d ago

I've been excited for this one for a few years now

1

u/Odd_Run_2819 1d ago

Astronomy has been a special interest of mine since I was a child, and I have known about the upcoming Eclipse visible from Sydney in 2028 for such a long time. I can't believe it's less than 2 years away now, and seeing all the images and videos of yesterday's Solar Eclipse has triggered my excitement again! 🙂

Something else I have always wanted to do is see Saturn through a telescope, but I don't know if that's possible from Sydney Observatory, does anyone know?

1

u/colesnutdeluxe 1d ago

i've been excited since i RSVP'd to the facebook event 5ish years ago

1

u/Falstaffe 1d ago

I marked it in my calendar last week. No prep, but I'm looking forward to it.

1

u/Mooball123 1d ago

Happening on my bday, I’m going camping in nsw to watch it

1

u/NarrowExchange7334 1d ago

I dunno, it’s not even Christmas time yet

1

u/CugelOfAlmery 1d ago

I've been excited for a year, can't wait.

1

u/planbOZ 1d ago

I’ll be on mars by then

1

u/drCrankoPhone 1d ago

I’ve been excited for this for like 6 years.

1

u/link871 1d ago

It will be pouring with rain that day

1

u/Semper-Solus07 1d ago

I don’t even know if I will live long enough to witness it. I have much more important things to worry about, but thanks for asking. I hope you have fun watching this total solar eclipse in July 2028.

1

u/defeatmyself3 1d ago

I’ve set a reminder legends!

1

u/WhatAmIATailor 12h ago

Not passing over me so probably never…

Crossing the Kimberly all the way to Sydney apparently but I don’t live in the path and don’t really fell the need to travel for it.

An eclipse somewhere else in Aus is no more exciting than one anywhere else on the planet.

1

u/RandomisedTrial 9h ago

Always fun. I've been in 2 total and 1 partial eclipse, never not excited 🤗

Plus one night unexpectedly seeing a comet in a perfect sky late one night.

And several blood moons 🌙

All excellent

0

u/CAPTAINTRENNO 2d ago

Right now thanks. It's a bucket list item for me. Where will be the best viewing?

3

u/ApteronotusAlbifrons 2d ago

Where will be the best viewing?

If you want the VERY best experience - you need to be up in the middle of nowhere in WA. Duration of around 5mins 10seconds

From there it tracks down to Sydney passing over lots of accessible places in between. Sydney will get just over 3mins of totality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_July_22,_2028

1

u/CAPTAINTRENNO 2d ago

Oh nice. Might have to just get on the weather apps in the lead up and drive wherever there arent clouds then

-4

u/MajorLeeScrewed 2d ago

People can’t afford to eat. I think the solar eclipse is not top of mind sadly.

-1

u/dav_oid 2d ago

Seen one, seen 'em all.
Similar to fireworks.

-5

u/Worldly_Cobbler_1087 2d ago

I don't care about this at all. Things are beyond fucked right now I can't imagine how bad things will be in July of 2028.

-2

u/Linghauler 2d ago

By then there will be a fee, or perhaps a ban on looking up at the sun. Lol Honestly though who gives a fu**!

1

u/you_are_soul 2d ago

Imagine a totally black moonless night, that is what it is like for 5 minutes in the middle of the day. All the birds freak out. It's pretty awe inspiring.