The total solar eclipse of March 30 2052 will be visible across central/northern Mexico, the Gulf of mexico, and the southeastern USA. This will be a very impressive eclipse, lasting just over 4 minutes at maximum and visible to millions of people over a path up to 164 km wide.
The total eclipse begins in the northern Line Islands of the Pacific at 15:52:58 UT, and ends south-west of the Azores at 21:07:00 UT. The maximum eclipse occurs over Mexico at 18:30:03 UT, when the total phase will last just over 4 minutes. The partial eclipse will be visible over most of North America and northern South America between 15:52:58 UT and 21:07:00 UT.
More information on this eclipse may be found at Fred Espenak's site. You can plot the eclipse for yourself using the table of mapping co-ordinates.
The following maps show the path of the total eclipse. Please note that these maps are approximate. Check with reliable sources before making travel plans.
This map shows the overall path of the total eclipse:
The total eclipse begins at local dawn, 15:52:58 UT in the Christmas, or Line, Islands of the Pacific. As the Sun is rising, the centre of the total eclipse will pass over Kiritimati, giving residents there a superb view; the eclipse will last 1 minute and 40 seconds, and will be visible over a path 105 km wide.
After crossing the Pacific, the total eclipse will reach Mexico at Bahía Banderas at 18:21 UT. By now, the eclipse is approaching maximum, and the duration on the centreline will be 4 minutes and 6 seconds, and the path width will be 164 km.
The centreline of the eclipse passes just north of Ixtlán at 18:24 UT, and continues north-east. The eclipse reaches its maximum just south-west of Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, at 18:30:03 UT, where it will last for just over 4 minutes. The path of totality will be 164 km wide here. The total eclipse then passes just south of Matehuala at 18:36 UT.
The centre of the eclipse crosses the Laguna Madre to reach the Gulf of Mexico at 18:45 UT, just south of the US border; in fact, a little corner of Texas will be inside the path of the totality. However, it will be so close to the edge that it would be well worth travelling south into Mexico to get closer to the centre and see a longer eclipse, still over 4 minutes on the centreline.
The centre of the total eclipse will cross the tip of the Mississippi Delta at 19:09 UT; although the eclipse is now waning, it will still last 3 minutes 51 seconds on the centreline, and be visible over a path 157 km wide. New Orleans will miss the excitement; but a short drive east into the Florida panhandle will make all the difference. The eclipse touches land there at 19:16 UT, with the centreline passing just south of Grayton Beach, and then moves north-east to Lake Seminole; it passes over Altha, Fl, south-west of the lake, at 19:18 UT. This same spot saw a total eclipse just seven years previously on 12 August, 2045. The total eclipse here still lasts 3 minutes 41 seconds on the centreline, and the path is 154 km wide.
Finally, the eclipse crosses Georgia towards Savannah; the centreline passes just south of there at 19:27 UT, with the path being 151 km wide, so Savannah should get a good view. The eclipse will still last 3 minutes 30 seconds on the centreline. The bottom corner of South Carolina will be in the same boat, but anyone much farther north would be well advised to head south, as after this the eclipse heads out to sea.
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Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Ian Cameron Smith.
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