Total solar eclipse 2002 December 4

in South Australia

Eclipse circumstances for various localities

If you have come directly to this page from another website; you can find my other eclipse information here.

Circumstances for these towns have been calculated for the town's Post Office or equivalent (this is a defacto standard for the geographic "location" of Australian towns). Towns have been chosen with an emphasis on places in or near the path, and for general coverage of the inhabited regions of South Australia.
See after the table for notes on specific localities. You may also find the Location Reports and Frequently Asked Questions pages useful.

All times are hh:mm:ss Australian Central Summer Time (UT + 10.5h), unless otherwise stated. Times for second and third contacts (if any) have been corrected for Delta-T for 2002, the Moon's limb profile, the location's height above sea level, and atmospheric refraction (30 C & 102 HPa assumed).
- 1st contact = when the eclipse begins.
- 2nd contact = when the total eclipse (if any) begins.
- Mid-eclipse = when the most Sun is eclipsed.
- 3rd contact = when the total eclipse (if any) ends.
- 4th contact = when the eclipse ends (occurs after sunset from most of these locations).

Magnitude = how much of the Sun's diameter is eclipsed. A magnitude greater than one indicates a total eclipse. Click here for simulated views of the Sun at various partial eclipse magnitudes.

The bright star Antares will be about 5 degrees "left" of the eclipsed Sun, and may be visible if the sky is clear. The planet Mercury should be visible about 11 degrees above and to the right of the eclipsed Sun

Location	1st contact	2nd contact	Maximum	3rd contact	Magnitude
Adelaide	18:39:32		19:37:26		0.882
Albany (WA standard times)	15:56:39		17:04:40	4th contact 18:05:36	0.928
Alice Springs (NT standard times)	17:38:37		18:46:40		0.780
Andamooka see notes below	18:42:50		19:41:26		0.997
Arkaroola	18:43:25		19:41:08		0.992
Berri	18:40:36		19:37:40		0.879
Broken Hill	18:42:31		19:39:23		0.927
Burra	18:40:38		19:08:31		0.911
Cactus Beach	18:39:58		19:40:28		0.996
Cameron Corner see notes below	18:44:44	19:41:35	19:41:40	19:41:45	1.001
CANGAROO see notes below	18:42:10		19:40:59		0.999
Cape Borda	18:38:13		19:36:58		0.882
Cape Vivonne see notes below	18:40:09	19:40:05	19:40:21	19:40:37	1.004
Ceduna see notes below	18:40:15	19:40:10	19:40:26	19:40:42	1.004
Ceduna radio observatory see notes below	18:40:34		19:40:40		0.999
centreline on Lyndhurst-Marree road	18:43:10	19:41:14	19:41:27	19:41:40	1.003
centreline on Stuart Highway	18:41:52	19:40:48	19:41:03	19:41:17	1.004
centreline on Woomera - Roxby Downs road	18:42:28	19:40:58	19:41:11	19:41:24	1.003
Clare	18:10:24		19:38:24		0.910
Coober Pedy	18:43:20		19:42:52		0.930
Coondambo homestead see notes below	18:41:55	19:41:06	19:41:07	19:41:08	1.000
Cowell	18:40:01		19:38:47		0.931
Curdimurka	18:43:39		19:42:11		0.971
Darwin (NT standard times)	18:03:14		18:52 (sunset)		0.42
Denial Bay	18:40:12	19:40:13	19:40:26	19:40:38	1.002
Ediacara homestead	18:43:03	19:41:06	19:41:19	19:41:32	1.003
Elliston	18:39:20		19:09:02		0.954
Esperance (WA standard times)	16:01:29		17:07:21	4th contact 18:06:32	0.933
Eucla (WA standard times)	16:08:29		17:10:49	4th contact 18:07:03	0.944
Evans Island see notes below	18:39:55	19:40:00	19:40:13	19:40:26	1.002
Farina see notes below	18:43:24		19:41:31		0.999
Fowlers Bay	18:39:51		19:40:36		0.998
Geraldton (WA standard times)	16:00:57		17:08:37	4th contact 18:08:39	0.720
Glendambo	18:41:59		19:41:12		0.995
Glyde Hill see notes below	18:41:14	19:40:30	19:40:45	19:40:59	1.004
Hawker	18:41:55		19:40:03		0.961
Hobart (TAS summer times)	19:06:38		19:58:04		0.611
Horsham (VIC summer times)	19:09:14		20:05:11		0.803
Innamincka	18:45:44		19:42:40		0.965
Jamestown	18:40:54		19:38:56		0.926
Kadina	18:40:02		19:38:26		0.916
Kalgoorlie (WA standard times)	16:04:37		17:10:03	4th contact 18:08:38	0.844
Kapunda	18:40:06		19:37:55		0.894
Keith	18:39:11		19:36:07		0.836
Kimba	18:40:19		19:09:20		0.951
Kingoonya	18:41:53		19:41:18		0.989
Kingscote	18:38:40		19:36:56		0.874
Koolymilka see notes below	18:42:13	19:40:53	19:41:06	19:41:19	1.003
Kyancutta	18:40:01		19:39:25		0.960
Lameroo	18:39:47		19:36:46		0.853
Laura Bay see notes below	18:40:11	19:40:08	19:40:17	19:40:26	1.001
Leigh Creek see notes below	18:43:00		19:41:06		0.993
Lyndhurst see notes below	18:43:14	19:41:10	19:41:22	19:41:33	1.003
Maitland	18:39:42		19:38:05		0.906
Marla	18:44:48		19:44:14		0.876
Marree	18:43:43		19:41:53		0.985
Melbourne (VIC summer times)	19:09:08		20:03:33		0.750
Meningie	18:39:11		19:36:39		0.856
Mildura (VIC summer times)	19:11:00		20:07:24		0.865
Moomba gas plant	18:45:22		19:42:33		0.968
Morgan	18:40:33		19:38:05		0.895
Mudamuckla see notes below	18:40:22		19:40:23		0.999
Mount Gambier	18:38:04		19:34:27		0.790
Mount Hopeless homestead	18:44:05	19:41:22	19:41:33	19:41:44	1.002
Murray Bridge	18:39:36		19:37:10		0.871
Naracoorte	18:38:41		19:35:15		0.811
Nepabunna	18:43:08		19:41:00		0.989
Nundroo	18:39:57		19:40:47		0.979
Oodnadatta	18:45:02		19:43:51		0.902
Olympic Dam see notes below	18:42:45		19:41:29		0.994
Orroroo	18:41:16		19:39:19		0.937
Ouyen (VIC summer times)	19:10:24		20:06:36		0.841
Parachilna	18:42:32		19:40:40		0.981
Perth (WA standard times)	15:58:03		17:06:32	4th contact 18:07:31	0.823
Penong	18:40:09		19:40:39		0.991
Peterborough	18:11:09		19:39:05		0.929
Pimba	18:42:02		19:40:51		0.995
Point Peter see notes below	18:40:05	19:40:04	19:40:20	19:40:37	1.004
Poochera	18:40:08		19:39:51		0.978
Port Augusta	18:41:16		19:49:32		0.953
Port Lincoln	18:38:48		19:38:00		0.917
Port Neill	18:39:29		19:38:29		0.927
Port Pirie	18:10:46		19:39:05		0.934
Port Wakefield	18:39:59		19:38:10		0.905
Purple Downs homestead	18:42:28	19:40:58	19:41:11	19:41:24	1.003
Robe	18:38:15		19:35:15		0.816
Roxby Downs see notes below	18:42:40		19:41:23		0.997
Skull Camp Tanks see notes below	18:41:17		19:40:42		0.999
Smoky Bay	18:40:06		19:40:12		0.997
Streaky Bay	18:39:49		19:39:48		0.982
Swan Reach	18:40:06		19:37:35		0.881
Tarcoola	18:41:50		19:41:32		0.976
Tibooburra (NSW summer times)	19:14:32		20:11:08		0.985
Victor Harbour	18:39:07		19:36:53		0.866
Wilpena	18:42:16		19:40:19		0.968
Wirraminna rail siding see notes below	18:41:54	19:40:43	19:40:58	19:41:13	1.004
Wirrulla	18:40:18		19:40:09		0.990
Woomera see notes below	18:42:08		19:40:56		0.998
Whyalla	18:40:46		19:39:16		0.942
Yorketown	18:39:10		19:37:31		0.890
Yunta	18:41:38		19:39:17		0.931

Sunset times (hh:mm): Ceduna 20:29, Wirraminna 20:16, Lyndhurst 20:06, Cameron Corner 19:52.

Apparent Sun altitudes at mid-eclipse (degrees): Ceduna 8.8, Wirraminna 6.5, Lyndhurst 4.5, Cameron Corner 1.6.

The eclipse's speed over the ground is ~7 km/sec (at Ceduna), ~23km/sec (at Lyndhurst), ~50km/sec (at Cameron Corner). The actual speed of the Moon's shadow, relative to the centre of the Earth, while it crosses SA is about 3,750 km/h. The Earth's rotation cancels out some of this speed on the ground; but the low angle of this eclipse through SA greatly magnifies it again. Think of the geometry.... The eclipse traverses the 780km from Ceduna to Cameron Corner in 76 seconds.

Distance between the centres of the Earth & Moon during this eclipse ~365,000 km.

Andamooka: the northern limit of the eclipse path is about 8km SSE of the post office, across the southernmost parts of the Opal Field. There is a bitumen road from Woomera to Andamooka, via Roxby Downs. See also the Location Report for the Roxby Road & Andamooka.

Cameron Corner: (27d00'S 141d00'E) the eclipse path is nominally 27.7km wide here. Atmospheric refraction here on the day could broaden it by up to 1.3km. This is remote, four-wheel-drive country, and if it rains you could be trapped here for days. See also the NRMA travel report for Cameron Corner.

CANGAROO: gamma ray telescope at 31d06'S 136d47'E near Woomera. Managed by the University of Adelaide for a consortium of owners.

Cape Vivonne, which separates Decres Bay from Denial Bay, is at 32d12'S 133d40'E. Gets nearly the same totality as Ceduna centreline, due to some favourably placed lunar mountains. Or to look at it another way, Ceduna centreline suffers from some unfavourably placed lunar valleys!

Ceduna: the eclipse path is nominally 36.3km wide here, and its centreline is 1.5km north of the town's post office, along the north boundary of the local racecourse. Atmospheric refraction here on the day could broaden the path by up to 300 metres. See also the Location Report for Ceduna.

Ceduna radio telescope: the former OTC / Telstra satellite dish now managed by the University of Tasmania. The dish is about 700 metres outside the northern limit of the eclipse path. See also the Location Report for Ceduna.

Coondambo homestead: just off the highway at 31d03'S 135d51'E. The homestead is about 400 metres inside the northern limit of the eclipse path, and the actual duration of totality will be significantly affected by atmospheric refraction. The old Coondambo rail stop is about 2km outside the eclipse path. See also the Location Report for the Stuart Highway.

Evans Island: one of many islands near Ceduna, is at 32d22'S 133d28'E.

Farina: a station on the original (and abandoned) Ghan railway, at 30d04'S 138d16'E. The northern limit of the eclipse path is less than half a km south of here. See also the Location Report for Lyndhurst.

Glyde Hill is at 31d32'S 135d09'E. One of the few topographic features in a region of scrub and countless sand dunes.

Koolymilka: former missile-tracking facility at 30d58'S 136d32'E, within the Woomera Prohibited Area (see notes on Woomera below). There is a bitumen road from Woomera, but access is restricted under Department of Defence regulations. See also the Location Report for Woomera Prohibited Area.

Laura Bay: is on the southern limit of the path of totality. Total eclipse is slightly longer than expected because of elevated terrain around the Moon's south pole - but actual duration seen here will depend critically upon where you are located in the town, and the effects of atmospheric refraction. See also the Location Report for Ceduna.

Leigh Creek: is a few km south of totality. The Leigh Creek coal mine lookout gets 0.998 partial eclipse. See also the Location Report for Lyndhurst.

Lyndhurst: is midway between centreline and southern limit. See also the Location Report for Lyndhurst.

Mt Hopeless homestead: a few km off the Strzelecki Track at 29d35'S 139d45'E. The Track is passable to ordinary cars during dry weather, although care is needed at some creekbed crossings and when driving near road trains. Any significant rain will close the Track, perhaps for days.

Olympic Dam: the original mining camp for the huge copper-uranium mine of the same name. Now the industrial suburb and airport for nearby Roxby Downs. Many people still live here because of the housing shortages in the region. See also the Location Report for the Roxby Road & Andamooka.

Point Peter: at 32d12'S 133d29'E. Will have 0.6 seconds more totality than Ceduna. This is the "darkest" point for this eclipse in Australia, but it's not easily accessible. The final few km entails a walk along a rather soft beach.... See also the Location Report for Ceduna.

Purple Downs homestead: is at 30d47'S 136d54'E, just off the highway. Eclipse path centreline is less than 200 metres from the intersection with the homestead's access road. See also the Location Report for the Roxby Road & Andamooka.

Roxby Downs: a modern town built to support the huge Olympic Dam copper-uranium mine 15km to its north. The northern limit of the eclipse path crosses the highway (to Woomera) about 7km south of the post office. See also the Location Report for the Roxby Road & Andamooka.

Skull Camp Tanks: at 31d37'S 135d25'E. The condition of the unsealed (and often sandy) roads to this location depends upon recent weather, and the traffic volumes since they were last graded. Sometimes you can get there in an ordinary car. Other times the journey will require prolonged and low speed four wheel drive....

Wirraminna: rail loop at 31d09'S 136d07'E on the trans-Australian railway, adjacent to the highway. It is a 2km long siding built solely to allow oncoming trains to pass each other, and has no visitor facilities at all. See also the Location Report for the Stuart Highway.

Woomera: The Prohibited Area is controlled by the Department of Defence and extends several hundred km north and west of the town. It is regularly patrolled by military personnel. The Prohibited Area has a long (and continuing) history of use as a rocket and weapons-testing range; therefore any public entry requires prior permission from the Woomera military authorities. Specific plans have been made for eclipse visitors, and an entry fee will be charged. See also the Location Report for the Woomera Prohibited Area.
No permits are required to enter or stay in the town of Woomera; or to travel along or stay beside the main highways (Port Augusta - Pimba - Glendambo - Coober Pedy, and Pimba - Woomera - Roxby Downs).

Total solar eclipse 2002 December 4

in South Australia Eclipse circumstances for various localities

in South Australia

Eclipse circumstances for various localities