Where to see the rare solar eclipse

Scientists from around the world have joined thousands of tourists in descending on the remote WA town of Exmouth ahead of Thursday’s total solar eclipse. Here’s where to see it.

Perth residents Georgia, 12, Mia, 8, and Annabel, 10, with parents Jane and Peter Tresise, are ready for the big day.

Scientists from around the world have joined thousands of tourists in descending on the remote WA town of Exmouth ahead of Thursday’s total solar eclipse.

Exmouth is one of the only places on earth where people will be able to experience the 62 seconds of totality when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun.

It is a marvel made possible by the quirk of the moon being both 400 times smaller than the sun, and 400 times closer to the earth.

Some 20,000 people are expected to descend on the town, which normally boasts a population of 2800 people.

Astronomers have flocked to the area, better known for whale sharks and the world heritage-listed Ningaloo Reef, to take advantage of the rare opportunity to study the sun’s corona – the super-hot layer of gases surrounding the sun that are usually impossible to see outside an eclipse.

Those scientists will be standing alongside thousands of tourists – ranging from first-timers on family vacations through to veteran eclipse-chasers who travel the world seeking such moments.

When can we see the total solar eclipse in each major city?

Darwin is the capital city that will come closest to totality, reaching maximum eclipse at 1.52pm. Perth will reach maximum eclipse at 11.21am local time, Melbourne at 2.09pm and Sydney at 2.29pm. Below is a breakdown of eclipse times in all Australian capital cities, from when the partial eclipse begins, to maximum eclipse and when the partial eclipse ends:

How will the weather impact eclipse visibility?

According to Miriam Bradbury, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, residents in Melbourne, Hobart, and Sydney should anticipate low visibility during the eclipse due to the mostly cloudy forecast. This is especially true “given how partial it will appear in these areas”. Conversely, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Darwin will experience partly cloudy conditions. Western Australia’s Exmouth and Perth will be fortunate to enjoy sunny and optimal conditions.

How rare is the total solar eclipse?

Total solar eclipses are rare and if you remain in a single location, you could be waiting 360 years for a second one. The next total solar eclipse to be observed in Australia will be on July 22, 2028, which will cross from the Kimberley to Sydney.

Cruise ships and charter vessels have also moved into prime viewing positions just off the ­Exmouth coast.

Mark Cheung, the deputy space director at CSIRO, is among those who have travelled to Exmouth for the event. “In that brief moment, we’ll be able to see the corona and scientists from around the world have brought the scientific equipment to be able to observe that,” he said.

Among specially designed tele­scopes brought to Exmouth are models that will eventually be sent on space missions. One telescope from the University of Hawaii will be making observations from a flying kite.

The CSIRO, meanwhile, will be using the opportunity to try to gain a better understanding of the solar flares that can have a meaningful impact on Earth’s outer atmosphere and can impact satel­lites and communications.

Studying the twinkling of stars at the time of the eclipse, Dr Cheung said, would give clues on how the solar winds that result from those flares impact on weather conditions.

Beyond the science opportunities, he said a total eclipse was something that could never be forgotten: “It is an ethereal, ephemeral, life-changing experience to be able to see the sky go dark in the middle of the day.”

Among those witnessing their first total eclipse will be Perth schoolteachers Peter and Jane Tresise and their three daughters.

Peter and Jane became astronomy fans while living in Broome years ago, and were quick to act when they learned this eclipse would coincide with their 15th wedding anniversary.

Partial eclipses will be observable across most of Western Australia. Those on the east coast who miss out will be able to experience an eclipse expected to occur over Sydney in 2028.