Total solar eclipse of March 20, 2015

Total eclipse

Key facts

Date
March 20, 2015
Type
Total eclipse
Duration of totality at eclipse maximum
2 min 47 s
Global eclipse maximum
at 09:45 UTC UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): the worldwide time standard, independent of local time zones and daylight saving time.
Coordinates of greatest eclipse
64.4° N – 6.6° W
Path width at maximum
about 465 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.
120
Visibility map — Total eclipse on March 20, 2015

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 crosses Svalbard and the Faroe Islands. Within it, the Moon completely covers the Sun for about 2 minutes 47 seconds at maximum. A partial solar eclipse spreads across a wider part of northwestern Europe.

Path of totality

Regions
Svalbard, Faroe Islands
Example destinations
SvalbardFaroe Islands
Example locations
BarentsburgTórshavn

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

BarentsburgSvalbard

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Mar 20
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Mar 20
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

TórshavnFaroe Islands

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Start of totality
Fri, Mar 20
The solar disc is completely covered by the Moon
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
End of totality
Fri, Mar 20
The Sun reappears — eclipse glasses required
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

Areas with a partial eclipse

Regions
United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, France, Netherlands
Example destinations
United KingdomIrelandNorwayFranceNetherlandsMaltaCorsica
Example locations
InvernessDublinBergenBrestAmsterdamVallettaAjaccio

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

InvernessUnited Kingdom

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

DublinIreland

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

BergenNorway

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

BrestFrance

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

AmsterdamNetherlands

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

VallettaMalta

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon no longer covers the Sun

AjaccioCorsica

View the eclipse
Key moment Local time Obscuration Comment
Partial — start
Fri, Mar 20
The Moon starts covering the Sun
Maximum
Fri, Mar 20
Maximum obscuration
Partial — end
Fri, Mar 20
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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