The Eclipse

A total solar eclipse is arguably the most beautiful natural phenomenon in the sky. Occurring on average every 14 months, it gives an immediate view of the mysterious-looking shape of the Sun’s upper atmosphere, known as the corona, and many other wonderful, but often hidden solar features.

An eclipse happens due to the precise sizes and distances of our Moon and the Sun, and their periodic dance with the Earth. The tilt of the lunar orbit with respect to the apparent path of the Sun during a year only allows the Moon to align directly in line with the Earth and the Sun every six lunar cycles, and fully block the disk of the Sun from Earth’s perspective every fourteen lunar cycles. Among the many types of solar eclipses, total eclipses are the most dramatic and beautiful.

The type of eclipse and its duration also depend on the precision of the alignment and distances of the Sun and the Moon relative to the Earth. More information about the geometry of the solar eclipses can be found here.

The 2019 total solar eclipse will last about 1 minute and 52 seconds from the La Silla summit. The Sun will be setting just as the entire eclipse ends and the peak of totality will happen when the Sun is a mere 13 degrees above the horizon from the view of La Silla Observatory. In addition to the beautiful colours in the sky that accompany the time before sunset, the Sun’s low angle means the lunar shadow could create a unique “U-shape” in the atmosphere. This shape only happens when the eclipse happens low to the horizon.

Event 02.07.2019

Local Time Chile CLT

Time UT

Time CEST

Alt

Az

LC (s)

Start of partial eclipse (C1)

15:23:50.8

19:23:50.8

21:23:50.8

25.5°

319.8°

Start of total eclipse (C2)

16:39:23.6

20:39:23.6

22:39:23.6

13.5°

306.5°

-0.5

Maximum eclipse

16:40:19.6

20:40:19.6

22:40:19.6

13.3°

306.4°

End of total eclipse (C3)

16:41:15.3

20:41:15.3

22:41:15.3

13.2°

306.2°

-5.7

End of partial eclipse (C4)

17:47:16.1

21:47:16.1

23:47:16.1

00.9°

297.2°

Sunset

18:04:00.0

22:04:00.0

00:04:00.0 + 1d

00.0

296.5°

Duration, totality

01:51.7

01:46.5

The 2019 total solar eclipse will also be visible from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and the Cerro Pachón Observatory. In addition, Las Campanas Observatory which lies just outside the path of totality, will see a partial solar eclipse.

Solar eclipses are more than a breathtaking show of nature, as they also provide opportunities for scientific experiments. A total solar eclipse allowed Sir Frank Watson Dyson and Sir Arthur Eddington to prove that massive objects bend light according to Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This event, known as the Eddington Expedition, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019. Today, researchers can study the physics of the upper solar atmosphere and changes in the places affected by the eclipse using the best digital and astronomical instruments.

In addition to coinciding with the anniversary of the 1919 Eddington expedition, the eclipse takes place during the 50th anniversary of the La Silla Observatory and the 100th anniversary of the International Astronomical Union.


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Compound view of the 13 November 2012 total solar eclipse. Credit: P. Horálek/ESO


The Weather

The probability of a totally clear sky at La Silla during July is around 40%. There is around 55% chance that the sky will be partially clear. There is a probability of more than 30% that there will be a thick cloud cover. The likelihood of a clear sky at La Silla is higher than in most other regions that will also experience the eclipse and slightly better than in the nearby Elqui Valley, but naturally no guarantees for clear weather can be given.

Viewing of the total solar eclipse is weather dependent and ESO does not make a guarantee that the eclipse will be viewable. ESO will organise a programme of activities at the La Silla Observatory also in case of cloudy weather. Please note that tickets will be refunded only in case the event has to be cancelled because of adverse meteorological conditions, natural disasters or any other event which may compromise people’s safety. More information is available here.


Average July afternoon fractional cloudiness along the eclipse track over South America. Data are extracted from 14 years (2002-15) of observations from the Aqua satellite.
Data: J. Anderson/NASA


The total solar eclipse 2019 over Chile. To the right a simulation of how the eclipse may look in case the weather is clear.
Credit: ESO / P. Horálek, M. Druckmüller, P. Aniol, Z. Hoder, S. Habbal, L. Calçada


The total solar eclipse 2019 over Chile. To the right a simulation of how the eclipse may look in case the weather is clear.
Credit: ESO / P. Horálek, M. Druckmüller, P. Aniol, Z. Hoder, S. Habbal, L. Calçada


This simulation shows the predicted path of the eclipsed Sun in the sky above La Silla on 2 July 2019.
Credit: ESO/B. Tafreshi (twanight.org)/P. Horálek


Clear-weather view of the sky over La Silla during the eclipse on 2 July 2019.
Credit: M. Druckmüller, P. Aniol, K. Delcourte, P. Horálek, L. Calçada/ESO


Clear-weather 2018 view of the position of the Sun at the time of the 2019 Total Solar Eclipse. This picture was taken from the location where the public eclipse viewing is planned to be exactly one year prior to the eclipse. Credit: ESO/I. Saviane


This clear-weather simulation shows how the eclipsed Sun would look like in the sky above La Silla on 2 July 2019 if the weather is clear.
Credit: ESO/J. Morin, M. Druckmüller, P. Aniol, K. Delcourte, P. Horálek, L. Calçada, M. Zamani.

List of total solar eclipses at ESO’s sites (year 1700–2500)

La Silla

Paranal-Armazones, home of the future Extremely Large Telescope

ALMA/APEX Sequitor

ESO/ALMA Vitacura offices in Santiago

Headquarters

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