Don’t Miss the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse: Exact Time, Path Map & Best Viewing Spots

Dateline—21 September 2025 A RARE DAWN SHOW FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC Sky-watchers from New Zealand, eastern Australia, numerous Pacific islands and parts of Antarctica are waking up to a dramatic partial solar eclipse this Sunday–Monday local time. At maximum, the Moon will cover up to 85 percent of the Sun just after 07:40 NZST, turning the rising star into a glowing crescent for several minutes. KEY TIMES BY REGION • Auckland: first bite 05:41 NZST, maximum 07:40, last contact 08:36 • Sydney: 06:13 AEST to 07:36, peak coverage ~11 % • Suva, Fiji: 05:42 FJT to 07:27, peak ~43 % All times are local; adjust for your zone by subtracting your UTC offset. HOW TO WATCH LIVE—EVEN IF YOU’RE OUTSIDE THE PATH NASA and several observatories will stream real-time telescope views beginning 18:00 UTC (14:00 EDT) on YouTube and on Space.com’s webcast hub. Mobile users can also tap the free “Eclipse 2025” app for interactive maps and context. EYE SAFETY FIRST Looking directly at the Sun will cause permanent eye damage. Use ISO-12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, a handheld solar viewer, or project the Sun through a pinhole. Standard sunglasses, exposed film or smoked glass are not safe. WHAT MAKES THIS ECLIPSE SPECIAL • Deep partial: with magnitude 0.855, New Zealanders will see one of the deepest partials of the decade. • Low-Sun geometry: the eclipse unfolds near sunrise, making photographs that include landmarks or seascapes particularly striking. • Eclipse season finale: two weeks ago a total lunar eclipse set the stage; today’s solar event closes the pair. TRAVEL AND WEATHER TIPS Spring weather in the South Pacific can be changeable. Coastal cloud often burns off after sunrise; head to east-facing beaches or hilltops for a clear horizon. In New Zealand’s South Island, Christchurch and Dunedin offer good odds with historical September cloud cover below 45 percent. NEXT CHANCE IF YOU MISS IT The next solar eclipse visible from Australasia is an annular event on 17 February 2026, followed by a total eclipse sweeping across Spain on 12 August 2026. North American observers must wait until 14 January 2029 for their next partial. PHOTOGRAPHY QUICK GUIDE 1. Fit a certified solar filter over lens. 2. Use a telephoto of 300 mm or more to capture detail. 3. Bracket exposures (1/1000 s to 1/30 s at ISO 100, f/8) to reveal both crescent and foreground. 4. Remove the filter only during landscape shots when the Sun is below the horizon or fully blocked—never during direct viewing. Whether you’re on a Pacific island beach or streaming from home, today’s partial solar eclipse offers a memorable preview of the even bigger sky spectacles coming in 2026.