If you possibly can, you should definitely try to get in a position to see the total eclipse, since this is the most spectacular astronomical phenomenon you will ever see! If that's not possible, though, the partial eclipse will still be a spectacular event, well worth seeing. This page give the low-down on what you can expect to see, and where.
Please remember that a partial solar eclipse is never safe to look at with the naked eye. At all times you must use proper solar viewing protection. For more information, see our eye safety page.
Introduction
The partial eclipse as a whole will begin at 23:19:20 on 8 Mar UT, and end at 04:34:55 UT. When you will be able to see it, and how deep an eclipse you will see, depend on where you are.
The eclipse coverage, based on the
NASA eclipse dataGSFC Eclipse Web Site
The primary source of all the information on eclipses presented here at Hermit Eclipse. (NASA Goddard Space flight Center)
. Green areas see a partial eclipse; the red band sees the total eclipse.
As you can see from the map, the partial eclipse will be visible from south-east Asia, most of Australia, and the Pacific as far as Hawaii. The blue lines running across the map show how deep an eclipse can be seen in various places. So, for example, most of Japan will see an eclipse covering around 0.2, or 20% of the Sun; whereas the Hawaiian islands will see a 60% or greater eclipse.
India to Vietnam
India and Sri Lanka will see the last stages of partial eclipse just as the Sun rises. In Colombo, the Sun will rise at 00:50 UT, about half an hour after the moment of maximum eclipse; the partial eclipse ends at 01:16:50 UT. Kolkata, however, is just on the side of seeing the maximum eclipse: sunrise is at 00:21 UT, and maximum eclipse happens there at 00:36:58 UT, when the Sun will be 29% covered. The total eclipse ends at 01:20:19 UT.
China sees a partial eclipse of at most 40%, and that only in Hainan. Most of Burma sees an eclipse of about 20% - 40%; Thailand, and much of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, 40% - 60%. Yangon (Rangoon) will see the partial eclipse from 23:44:16 on 8 Mar–01:27:31 UT, with the maximum at 00:33:23 UT when the Sun's diameter will be 44% covered by the Moon; Bangkok will see a 52% eclipse, with the maximum at 00:32:33 UT; and Ho Chi Minh City will see a 61% eclipse with the maximum at 00:34:22 UT.
Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
Most of Malasia and Indonesia will see a partial eclipse of 80% or more; Papua New Guinea and the Philippines will see at least 40%, and mostly 60% or more. Of course the total eclipse passes right through this area, so the best strategy is to get in a position to see it if at all possible.
Kuala Lumpur sees an 83% eclipse, with the maximum at 00:23:44 UT; Singapore sees 89% 2 seconds later. In Manila, the partial eclipse lasts from 23:51:01 on 8 Mar–02:14:29 UT, with a maximum eclipse of 57% at 00:58:26 UT; Davao sees an 80% eclipse peaking at 00:57:01 UT.
Manokwari in West Papua has a 92% eclipse peaking at 01:04:41 UT, and Port Moresby a 49% eclipse with the maximum at 01:24:03 UT.
Australia
The best position in Australia is the north around Darwin / Bathurst Island. In Darwin, the partial eclipse will last from 23:37:31 on 8 Mar–02:05:08 UT, with a maximum 59% eclipse at 00:47:15 UT. The rest of Australia sees a progressively smaller partial eclipse: 41% in Karratha, peaking at 00:25:54 UT; 29% in Cairns at 01:12:34 UT; and south-east Australia is outside the eclipse zone.
The Pacific
Hawaii sees the end of the partial eclipse as the Sun sets. In Honolulu, the partial eclipse lasts from 02:33:27–04:33:18 UT; maximum is at 03:36:35 UT, when 70% of the Sun's diameter is covered. In Hilo, the partial eclipse starts at 02:37:32 UT; maximum is at 03:37:46 UT, with a 64% eclipse; but the Sun sets just before the end of the partial eclipse.
