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October 2, 1959 Total Solar Eclipse

This eclipse was visible in Columbus - go to local timings and animation

What the Eclipse Looked Like Near the Maximum Point

The animation shows what the eclipse approximately looked like near the maximum point. The curvature of the Moon's path is due to the Earth's rotation.

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Where the Eclipse Was Seen

Try our new interactive eclipse maps. Zoom in and search for accurate eclipse times and visualizations for any location.


Path of the Eclipse Shadow

Regions that saw, at least, a partial eclipse: Europe, Much of Asia, Africa, Much of North America, North in South America, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic.

Expand for a list of selected cities where at least part of the total eclipse was visible
Expand for a list of selected cities where the partial eclipse was visible

This eclipse was visible in Columbus - go to local timings and animation

Eclipse Shadow Path

Portion of Sun covered by the Moon (Eclipse obscuration)

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The dark areas symbolize night and twilight.

When the Eclipse Happened Worldwide — Timeline

The eclipse started at one location and ended at another. The times below are actual times (in UTC) when the eclipse occurred. This calculation uses a Delta T value of 33.0 seconds.

Eclipse Stages WorldwideUTC TimeLocal Time in Columbus*
First location to see the partial eclipse beginOct 2 at 09:49:12Oct 2 at 5:49:12 am
First location to see the full eclipse beginOct 2 at 10:49:54Oct 2 at 6:49:54 am
Maximum EclipseOct 2 at 12:26:29Oct 2 at 8:26:29 am
Last location to see the full eclipse endOct 2 at 14:03:12Oct 2 at 10:03:12 am
Last location to see the partial eclipse endOct 2 at 15:03:46Oct 2 at 11:03:46 am

* These local times do not refer to a specific location but indicate the beginning, peak, and end of the eclipse on a global scale, each line referring to a different location. Please note that the local times for Columbus are meant as a guideline in case you want to view the eclipse via a live webcam. See the actual times the eclipse is visible in Columbus.

Upcoming eclipses visible in Columbus

Next Total Solar Eclipse will be on Feb 15, 1961

Eclipse calculations usually accurate to a few seconds

Countries Where the Eclipse Is Visible

CountryTypeStart of EclipseEnd of Eclipse
Cameroon
Total Solar Eclipse
12:42 pm WAT3:49 pm WAT
Central African Republic
Total Solar Eclipse
12:54 pm WAT3:57 pm WAT
Chad
Total Solar Eclipse
12:33 pm WAT3:48 pm WAT
Ethiopia
Total Solar Eclipse
2:32 pm CAT6:02 pm EAT
Mali
Total Solar Eclipse
9:36 am WAT2:16 pm GMT
Mauritania
Total Solar Eclipse
9:21 am WAT12:56 pm WAT
Morocco
Total Solar Eclipse
9:20 am WAT1:36 pm WET
Niger
Total Solar Eclipse
11:03 am GMT3:34 pm WAT
Nigeria
Total Solar Eclipse
11:15 am GMT3:40 pm WAT
Somalia
Total Solar Eclipse
3:45 pm EAT6:03 pm EAT
South Sudan
Total Solar Eclipse
2:13 pm CAT6:01 pm EAT
Spain
Total Solar Eclipse
10:14 am WET1:27 pm WET
Sudan
Total Solar Eclipse
1:00 pm WAT5:56 pm EAT
United States
Total Solar Eclipse
6:26 am EDT7:55 am EDT
Western Sahara
Total Solar Eclipse
9:21 am WAT12:33 pm WAT
Afghanistan
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:16 pm IRST5:11 pm IRST
Albania
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:39 pm CET2:43 pm CET
Algeria
Partial Solar Eclipse
10:30 am WET4:15 pm EET
Andorra
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:55 am CET2:17 pm CET
Angola
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:16 pm WAT4:53 pm CAT
Anguilla
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:02 am AST7:28 am AST
Antigua and Barbuda
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:03 am AST7:28 am AST
Armenia
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:28 pm 6:00 pm
Aruba
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:58 am 6:34 am
Austria
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:17 pm CET2:20 pm CET
Azerbaijan
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:30 pm 5:32 pm IRST
Bahrain
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:43 pm GST6:24 pm GST
Barbados
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:16 am AST7:18 am AST
Belarus
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:50 pm CEST4:15 pm MSK
Belgium
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:05 pm CET2:05 pm CET
Benin
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:12 am GMT3:24 pm WAT
Bermuda
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:12 am AST7:46 am AST
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:31 pm CET2:34 pm CET
Botswana
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:15 pm SAST4:40 pm CAT
Brazil
Partial Solar Eclipse
8:23 am BRT9:05 am BRT
British Virgin Islands
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:07 am AST7:27 am AST
Bulgaria
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:46 pm CET3:43 pm EET
Burkina Faso
Partial Solar Eclipse
9:56 am WAT3:18 pm WAT
Burundi
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:42 pm CAT5:01 pm CAT
Cabo Verde
Partial Solar Eclipse
8:17 am CVT11:04 am CVT
Canada
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:56 am AST7:08 am EST
Caribbean Netherlands
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:34 am 6:56 am
Cayman Islands
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:10 am EST6:21 am EST
Colombia
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:33 am COT6:02 am COT
Comoros
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:15 pm EAT5:58 pm EAT
Congo
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:00 pm WAT3:51 pm WAT
Congo Democratic Republic
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:08 pm WAT5:00 pm CAT
Cote d'Ivoire
Partial Solar Eclipse
9:56 am WAT2:12 pm GMT
Croatia
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:25 pm CET2:34 pm CET
Cuba
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:47 am CST6:27 am CST
Curaçao
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:54 am 6:33 am
Cyprus
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:10 pm EET3:07 pm BST
Czechia
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:25 pm CET2:15 pm CET
Denmark
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:21 pm CET1:57 pm CET
Djibouti
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:43 pm EAT5:56 pm EAT
Dominica
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:08 am AST7:23 am AST
Dominican Republic
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:23 am EST6:25 am EST
Egypt
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:54 pm EET4:38 pm CAT
Equatorial Guinea
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:46 am GMT3:42 pm WAT
Eritrea
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:30 pm CAT5:55 pm EAT
Estonia
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:50 pm MSK3:54 pm MSK
Faroe Islands
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:02 am WET12:32 pm WET
Finland
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:50 pm EET2:46 pm EET
France
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:47 am CET2:28 pm CET
French Southern Territories
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:18 pm TFT7:50 pm TFT
Gabon
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:55 pm WAT3:47 pm WAT
Gambia
Partial Solar Eclipse
9:35 am WAT12:34 pm WAT
Georgia
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:22 pm MSK5:54 pm
Germany
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:11 pm CET2:16 pm CET
Ghana
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:04 am GMT2:21 pm GMT
Gibraltar
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:37 am CET2:21 pm CET
Greece
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:39 pm EET4:01 pm EET
Greenland
Partial Solar Eclipse
7:22 am WGT10:16 am
Grenada
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:19 am AST7:13 am AST
Guadeloupe
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:06 am AST7:26 am AST
Guernsey
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:52 am BST1:57 pm BST
Guinea
Partial Solar Eclipse
9:41 am WAT1:56 pm GMT
Guinea-Bissau
Partial Solar Eclipse
10:37 am GMT12:36 pm WAT
Haiti
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:37 am EST6:24 am EST
Hungary
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:32 pm CET2:25 pm CET
Iceland
Partial Solar Eclipse
10:47 am 12:24 pm
India
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:51 pm 6:12 pm
Iran
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:29 pm EET5:54 pm IRST
Iraq
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:23 pm AST5:26 pm AST
Ireland
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:42 am IST1:48 pm IST
Isle of Man
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:54 am BST1:46 pm BST
Israel
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:16 pm EET4:21 pm IST
Italy
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:09 pm CET2:47 pm CET
Jamaica
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:55 am EST6:19 am EST
Jersey
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:53 am BST1:58 pm BST
Jordan
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:18 pm IST5:22 pm AST
Kazakhstan
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:31 pm 6:56 pm
Kenya
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:39 pm CAT6:03 pm EAT
Kosovo
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:41 pm CET2:37 pm CET
Kuwait
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:37 pm AST5:28 pm AST
Kyrgyzstan
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:46 pm ALMT7:03 pm
Latvia
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:48 pm MSK3:59 pm MSK
Lebanon
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:17 pm IST4:12 pm EET
Liberia
Partial Solar Eclipse
10:56 am GMT1:58 pm GMT
Libya
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:13 pm CET3:36 pm WAT
Liechtenstein
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:17 pm CET2:14 pm CET
Lithuania
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:47 pm MSK4:04 pm MSK
Luxembourg
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:10 pm CET2:05 pm CET
Madagascar
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:20 pm EAT5:52 pm EAT
Malawi
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:45 pm 5:44 pm
Malta
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:25 pm CET2:48 pm CET
Martinique
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:11 am AST7:21 am AST
Mauritius
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:21 pm MUT6:09 pm MUT
Mayotte
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:18 pm EAT5:55 pm EAT
Moldova
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:57 pm MSK4:32 pm MSK
Monaco
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:10 pm CET2:20 pm CET
Montenegro
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:37 pm CET2:36 pm CET
Montserrat
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:05 am AST7:25 am AST
Mozambique
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:07 pm CAT5:44 pm
Namibia
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:03 pm WAT4:40 pm CAT
Netherlands
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:07 pm CET2:02 pm CET
North Macedonia
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:42 pm CET2:41 pm CET
Norway
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:16 pm CET1:46 pm CET
Oman
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:47 pm GST6:20 pm GST
Pakistan
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:18 pm AFT6:11 pm AFT
Palestine
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:16 pm EET4:16 pm IST
Poland
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:31 pm CET3:18 pm CEST
Portugal
Partial Solar Eclipse
9:01 am 2:15 pm WEST
Puerto Rico
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:11 am AST7:26 am AST
Qatar
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:43 pm GST6:23 pm GST
Reunion
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:43 pm RET6:17 pm RET
Romania
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:42 pm CET3:37 pm EET
Russia
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:44 pm CEST5:54 pm
Rwanda
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:40 pm CAT5:01 pm CAT
Saint Helena
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:14 pm GMT1:02 pm GMT
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:04 am AST7:26 am AST
Saint Lucia
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:13 am AST7:19 am AST
Saint Martin
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:03 am AST7:27 am AST
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:56 am AST8:02 am AST
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:16 am AST7:16 am AST
San Marino
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:22 pm CET2:25 pm CET
Sao Tome and Principe
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:49 am GMT2:36 pm GMT
Saudi Arabia
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:18 pm AST5:49 pm AST
Senegal
Partial Solar Eclipse
9:29 am WAT1:43 pm GMT
Serbia
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:39 pm CET2:37 pm CET
Seychelles
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:11 pm SCT6:50 pm SCT
Sierra Leone
Partial Solar Eclipse
9:49 am WAT1:48 pm GMT
Sint Maarten
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:03 am AST6:57 am
Slovakia
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:35 pm CET2:19 pm CET
Slovenia
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:26 pm CET2:23 pm CET
South Africa
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:38 pm SAST4:28 pm SAST
St. Barts
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:03 am AST7:27 am AST
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Partial Solar Eclipse
------
Sweden
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:30 pm CET1:56 pm CET
Switzerland
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:08 pm CET2:17 pm CET
Syria
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:17 pm EET4:15 pm EET
Tajikistan
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:46 pm 6:11 pm
Tanzania
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:41 pm CAT5:48 pm
The Bahamas
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:42 am EST6:33 am EST
Togo
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:09 am GMT2:22 pm GMT
Trinidad and Tobago
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:25 am AST7:08 am AST
Tunisia
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:07 pm CET3:56 pm EET
Turkey
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:54 pm EET5:05 pm AST
Turkmenistan
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:38 pm 7:06 pm
Turks and Caicos Islands
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:35 am EST6:28 am EST
US Minor Outlying Islands
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:50 am 6:19 am
US Virgin Islands
Partial Solar Eclipse
6:08 am AST7:26 am AST
Uganda
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:35 pm EAT6:02 pm EAT
Ukraine
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:47 pm CET4:38 pm MSK
United Arab Emirates
Partial Solar Eclipse
4:45 pm GST6:20 pm GST
United Kingdom
Partial Solar Eclipse
11:46 am BST1:57 pm BST
Uzbekistan
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:40 pm 6:55 pm
Vatican City (Holy See)
Partial Solar Eclipse
12:21 pm CET2:30 pm CET
Venezuela
Partial Solar Eclipse
5:39 am VET6:51 am VET
Yemen
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:40 pm AST5:55 pm AST
Zambia
Partial Solar Eclipse
2:52 pm CAT4:59 pm CAT
Zimbabwe
Partial Solar Eclipse
3:12 pm CAT4:49 pm CAT
Åland Islands
Partial Solar Eclipse
1:47 pm EET2:46 pm EET

All times shown in this table are local time. (Note: more than one time zone is listed.)

How Many People Can See This Eclipse?

Number of People Seeing...Number of People*Fraction of World Population
Any part of the eclipse801,000,00026.99%
At least 10% partial637,000,00021.46%
At least 20% partial461,000,00015.55%
At least 30% partial349,000,00011.78%
At least 40% partial296,000,0009.98%
At least 50% partial242,000,0008.15%
At least 60% partial204,000,0006.90%
At least 70% partial151,000,0005.09%
At least 80% partial92,200,0003.11%
At least 90% partial57,200,0001.93%
Totality or annularity7,380,0000.25%

* The number of people refers to the resident population (as a round number) in areas where the eclipse is visible. timeanddate has calculated these numbers using raw population data provided by the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) at Columbia University. The raw data is based on population estimates from the year 2000 to 2020.

An Eclipse Never Comes Alone!

A solar eclipse always occurs about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse.

Usually, there are two eclipses in a row, but other times, there are three during the same eclipse season.

All eclipses 1900 — 2199

This is the second eclipse this season.

First eclipse this season: September 16–17, 1959 — Penumbral Lunar Eclipse