Map and Calculator TSE2012>

Special Note: This eclipse crosses the International Dateline and although it is listed to start on the 13th it actually begins in NE Australia at dawn on the 14th. As the path progresses eastward it crosses the International Dateline moving back to the 13th as it moves towards sunset to the west of Chile.

The majority of this total solar eclipse takes place over the South Pacific Ocean. Even though a low altitude eclipse can be a gamble, the best weather prospects for land based observing appear to be along the coast, north of Cairns in Australia towards Port Douglas. Do beware of the tides which can vary by almost 3 meters in that area. If setting up on the beach, note where the high tide mark is located and be ready to move if needed. The best weather potentials are at sea northwest of New Zealand. The maximum eclipse occurs far to the east of New Zealand and is just over four minutes.

In Cairns-Port Douglas area the eclipse starts right after sunrise (on the 14th) with first contact. This means that the weather must be clear well to the east from the observation site. The sun will only be about 14 degrees above the horizon at totality.

The area of the Southern Pacific Ocean that this eclipse covers has little to no land masses. Only a cruise ship (with several "at sea" days), or an aircraft, present an opportunity to view the eclipse. Cruising from New Zealand or Fiji will mean several days at sea on the ship to arrive and return to land. From Auckland NZ, the eclipse path is 360 miles to the NNE. The eclipse passes about 250 miles south of New Caledonia. (Click here to view the map.)

It may be possible to charter an air craft out of Australia for a morning eclipse (while the sun is below 20 degrees allowing for an easy view out the passenger windows) or out of Chile for an evening eclipse (just before sunset, out at sea). With the exception of Cairns Australia (and lucky weather) this eclipse presents real difficulty in viewing.

Climate: The best chance for avoiding clouds is in the green zone (see map and key below) around NE Australia and the seas to the east of the continent. When dealing with lower altitude eclipses of this nature, mobility can be an important factor for success. This is the region of the Great Barrier Reef.

Percent Cloud Cover and Eclipse Track

The map above is based on data from Jay Anderson, a primary resource for eclipse chasers interested in the weather. The colors represent the average cloud cover during the month of November. Some days may be completely clear and others completely cloudy - these numbers are averages giving us insight into possible locations to consider. The higher the associated number the higher the chance of encountering clouds. The green zone around the Great Barrier Reef and east is where the eclipse will be starting in the morning hours. It is also the best average cloud cover location and the only land fall for the eclipse. There should be plenty of eclipse chasers converging on the area. Even though the average value is about 40 percent the chances are actually better for the morning hours. During the past three years (2006,2007,2008) the morning hours have experienced partly cloudy conditions two out of three November 13ths. The other day (2007), it was raining. For more details about past weather in the Cairns Australia region >

Legends, Lore, and a Reason to party?: The prophesies of Nostradamus and the Mayan astronomers have been used to point to an end of the world in 2012 at the Winter Solstice. The eclipse occures just over a month before the Solstice and there may be many that believe it represents the end of the world. Whether they really believe the end is coming or not, several gatherings and festivals are already scheduled to be going on in the Cairns Australia region with the eclipse as the kick off (see list at right).