Total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006

Total eclipse

Key facts

Date
March 29, 2006
Type
Total eclipse
Duration of totality at eclipse maximum
4 min 07 s
Global eclipse maximum
at 10:11 UTC UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): the worldwide time standard, independent of local time zones and daylight saving time.
Coordinates of greatest eclipse
23.2° N – 16.7° E
Path width at maximum
about 183 km
Saros series Number of the Saros series to which the eclipse belongs: similar eclipses recur about every 18 years and 11 days, with a comparable type and path, though not over the same locations each time.
139
Visibility map — Total eclipse on March 29, 2006

Choose a location anywhere on Earth to see if the eclipse will be visible, check local times, and watch it unfold in an animation.

Explore the eclipse

The path of totality begins in Brazil, crosses West and North Africa, and continues through Turkey and the Caucasus into Russia and Kazakhstan. Inside the path, the Moon completely covers the Sun for about 4 minutes 7 seconds at maximum. A partial solar eclipse reaches broader areas of South America, Africa, and Europe.

Path of totality

Regions
Brazil, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Libya, Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan
Example destinations
BrazilGhanaTogoNigerLibyaTurkeyGeorgiaRussiaKazakhstan
Example locations
NatalCape CoastLomeZinderJaluSidePotiAstrakhanAtyrau

To look at the Sun: eclipse glasses, except during totality at your location.

NatalBrazil

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
Sun not yet risen
Sunrise
Wed, Mar 29
Sun’s centre on the horizon
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

Cape CoastGhana

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

LomeTogo

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

ZinderNiger

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

JaluLibya

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

SideTurkey

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

PotiGeorgia

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

AstrakhanRussia

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

AtyrauKazakhstan

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Wed, Mar 29
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

Areas with a partial eclipse

Regions
Brazil, Ivory Coast, Benin, Nigeria, Libya, Turkey, Georgia, Egypt, France
Example destinations
BrazilIvory CoastBeninNigeriaLibyaTurkeyGeorgiaEgyptFranceMalta
Example locations
FortalezaAbidjanCotonouLagosTobrukSamsunBatumiCairoParisValletta

To look at the Sun: eclipse glasses for the whole eclipse.

FortalezaBrazil

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
Sun not yet risen
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Sun not yet risen
Sunrise
Wed, Mar 29
Sun’s centre on the horizon
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

AbidjanIvory Coast

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

CotonouBenin

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

LagosNigeria

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

TobrukLibya

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

SamsunTurkey

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

BatumiGeorgia

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

CairoEgypt

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

ParisFrance

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

VallettaMalta

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Wed, Mar 29
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Wed, Mar 29
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

Watch a solar eclipse safely

To look directly at the Sun, use eclipse glasses that conform to ISO 12312-2 and are in good condition. Ordinary sunglasses do not provide enough protection.

You may look at the Sun without glasses only during totality at your observing location, when its disc is completely covered by the Moon. Put them back on as soon as the Sun begins to reappear. During a partial or annular eclipse, eclipse glasses remain necessary for any direct viewing.

Do not use binoculars, a telescope, a camera, or any other optical instrument unless it is fitted with a suitable solar filter placed in front of the optics. Eclipse glasses are not sufficient in this case.

The information and times shown are provided for guidance only. Each observer must check local conditions and follow the applicable safety guidelines.

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