Spectacular things will happen in the sky this weekend for people in the Southern Hemisphere. The last and second solar eclipse of the year will happen on September 21 and 22. They will happen just hours before the equinox. Because it happens at sunrise, some places will get to see very rare and dramatic views of the eclipse, even though it's only partly dark.
It won't be dark all day during the solar eclipse in September 2025, but it will be one of the darkest parts of the day in a long time. Forbes says that on New Zealand's South Island and along the coast of Antarctica's Ross Sea, the moon will cover up to 86% of the sun. This is a very deep partial eclipse.
Having this happen at this time makes it even more dramatic. People who looked up at dawn could see the crescent-shaped sun rising right on the horizon. The show will look like something from a dream if you can see it clearly from the east.
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The eclipse is even more rare because it happens less than 24 hours before the September equinox. At 18:19 UTC on September 22, the equinox happens. In North America, this is 2:19 p.m. EDT, and in New Zealand, it is 6:19 a.m. NZST on September 23, as per a report by Forbes.
The fact that these two astronomical events are so close together makes this eclipse even more important. It combines the alignment of the moon and sun with the balance of day and night, as per a report by Forbes.
People who live outside of the Southern Hemisphere will be able to watch the eclipse online. It happens from 17:29 to 21:53 UTC on September 21, which is 1:29 to 5:53 p.m. EDT for people in North America. TimeAndDate.com will stream the event live from Dunedin, New Zealand, where the sun will rise partially blocked at 6:27 a.m. NZST on September 22.
This live stream lets people all over the world see what is sure to be a rare and stunning celestial show.
The eclipse can't be seen in Europe or North America, but it can be seen perfectly from a few places in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand's South Island is one of the best places to see the eclipse because it happens at the same time as sunrise over the Pacific Ocean, making for postcard-worthy views, as per a report by Forbes.
Here are some important places and the times of the maximum eclipse in their area:
McMurdo Station, Antarctica: Begins 7:11 a.m. NZST on Sept. 22, peaking at 69% at 8:16 a.m.
Zucchelli Station, Antarctica: Begins 7:07 a.m. NZST, peaking at 72% at 8:12 a.m.
Young Island, Balleny Islands: Sunrise at 6:58 a.m. NZST, peaking at 78% at 7:53 a.m.
Oban, Stewart Island, New Zealand: Sunrise at 6:37 a.m. NZST, peaking at 73% at 7:14 a.m.
Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, South Island: Sunrise at 6:27 a.m. NZST, peaking at 70% at 7:08 a.m.
Christchurch, South Island: Sunrise at 6:19 a.m. NZST, peaking at 69% at 7:08 a.m.
Auckland, New Zealand: Sunrise at 6:10 a.m. NZST, peaking at 61% at 6:55 a.m.
Suva, Fiji: Sunrise at 5:56 a.m. FJT, peaking at 27% at 6:22 a.m.
Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Sunrise at 6:30 a.m. TOT, peaking at 32% at 7:28 a.m.
Papeete, Tahiti: Sunrise at 8:35 a.m. TAHT on Sept. 21, peaking at 8% at 9:24 a.m.
This event is a sneak peek at an even bigger show for Dunedin, New Zealand. During a rare total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028, the city will be completely dark for 2 minutes and 51 seconds. But for now, the partial eclipse in September is a great way to get people excited about what's to come.
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The experts stress how important it is to follow the right safety rules while watching the event. It is dangerous to look at the sun directly if you don't have the right glasses or a solar filter on your camera or telescope.
The majority of the time in Antarctica, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
Is this eclipse visible in North America or Europe?
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It only happens in the Southern Hemisphere, not the Northern.
What makes the solar eclipse in September special?
It won't be dark all day during the solar eclipse in September 2025, but it will be one of the darkest parts of the day in a long time. Forbes says that on New Zealand's South Island and along the coast of Antarctica's Ross Sea, the moon will cover up to 86% of the sun. This is a very deep partial eclipse.
Having this happen at this time makes it even more dramatic. People who looked up at dawn could see the crescent-shaped sun rising right on the horizon. The show will look like something from a dream if you can see it clearly from the east.
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What does this eclipse have to do with the equinox?
The eclipse is even more rare because it happens less than 24 hours before the September equinox. At 18:19 UTC on September 22, the equinox happens. In North America, this is 2:19 p.m. EDT, and in New Zealand, it is 6:19 a.m. NZST on September 23, as per a report by Forbes.
The fact that these two astronomical events are so close together makes this eclipse even more important. It combines the alignment of the moon and sun with the balance of day and night, as per a report by Forbes.
When and where can you watch it live?
People who live outside of the Southern Hemisphere will be able to watch the eclipse online. It happens from 17:29 to 21:53 UTC on September 21, which is 1:29 to 5:53 p.m. EDT for people in North America. TimeAndDate.com will stream the event live from Dunedin, New Zealand, where the sun will rise partially blocked at 6:27 a.m. NZST on September 22.
This live stream lets people all over the world see what is sure to be a rare and stunning celestial show.
Who can see the eclipse in person?
The eclipse can't be seen in Europe or North America, but it can be seen perfectly from a few places in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand's South Island is one of the best places to see the eclipse because it happens at the same time as sunrise over the Pacific Ocean, making for postcard-worthy views, as per a report by Forbes.
Here are some important places and the times of the maximum eclipse in their area:
McMurdo Station, Antarctica: Begins 7:11 a.m. NZST on Sept. 22, peaking at 69% at 8:16 a.m.
Zucchelli Station, Antarctica: Begins 7:07 a.m. NZST, peaking at 72% at 8:12 a.m.
Young Island, Balleny Islands: Sunrise at 6:58 a.m. NZST, peaking at 78% at 7:53 a.m.
Oban, Stewart Island, New Zealand: Sunrise at 6:37 a.m. NZST, peaking at 73% at 7:14 a.m.
Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, South Island: Sunrise at 6:27 a.m. NZST, peaking at 70% at 7:08 a.m.
Christchurch, South Island: Sunrise at 6:19 a.m. NZST, peaking at 69% at 7:08 a.m.
Auckland, New Zealand: Sunrise at 6:10 a.m. NZST, peaking at 61% at 6:55 a.m.
Suva, Fiji: Sunrise at 5:56 a.m. FJT, peaking at 27% at 6:22 a.m.
Nuku’alofa, Tonga: Sunrise at 6:30 a.m. TOT, peaking at 32% at 7:28 a.m.
Papeete, Tahiti: Sunrise at 8:35 a.m. TAHT on Sept. 21, peaking at 8% at 9:24 a.m.
A look at bigger eclipses that will happen in the future
This event is a sneak peek at an even bigger show for Dunedin, New Zealand. During a rare total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028, the city will be completely dark for 2 minutes and 51 seconds. But for now, the partial eclipse in September is a great way to get people excited about what's to come.
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The experts stress how important it is to follow the right safety rules while watching the event. It is dangerous to look at the sun directly if you don't have the right glasses or a solar filter on your camera or telescope.
FAQs
Where can people go in September 2025 to see the eclipse?The majority of the time in Antarctica, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
Is this eclipse visible in North America or Europe?
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