Total solar eclipse of August 1, 2008

Total eclipse

Key facts

Date
August 1, 2008
Type
Total eclipse
Duration of totality at eclipse maximum
2 min 27 s
Global eclipse maximum
at 10:21 UTC UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): the worldwide time standard, independent of local time zones and daylight saving time.
Coordinates of greatest eclipse
65.7° N – 72.3° E
Path width at maximum
about 237 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.
126
Visibility map — Total eclipse on August 1, 2008

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 of this solar eclipse runs from Canada across Russia and Mongolia to China. Within it, the Sun is completely hidden for about 2 minutes 27 seconds at maximum. Partial phases spread from Greenland and parts of Europe across Russia and Central and East Asia.

Path of totality

Regions
Canada, Russia, Mongolia, China
Example destinations
CanadaRussiaMongoliaChina
Example locations
Grise FiordNovosibirskÖlgiiJiayuguanXi’anZhangye

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

Grise FiordCanada

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

NovosibirskRussia

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

ÖlgiiMongolia

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

JiayuguanChina

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun
Sunset
Fri, Aug 1
Sun’s centre on the horizon

Xi’anChina

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Sunset
Fri, Aug 1
Sun’s centre on the horizon
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
Sun has set

ZhangyeChina

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Aug 1
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun
Sunset
Fri, Aug 1
Sun’s centre on the horizon

Areas with a partial eclipse

Regions
Greenland, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, China, Germany
Example destinations
GreenlandRussiaMongoliaKazakhstanChinaGermany
Example locations
QaanaaqTomskUlaanbaatarAstanaBeijingÜrümqiBerlin

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

QaanaaqGreenland

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

TomskRussia

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

UlaanbaatarMongolia

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

AstanaKazakhstan

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

BeijingChina

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
Sunset
Fri, Aug 1
Sun’s centre on the horizon
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
Sun has set

ÜrümqiChina

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

BerlinGermany

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Aug 1
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Aug 1
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Aug 1
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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Calculations and simulation based on the Besselian elements of Fred Espenak (NASA/GSFC)

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