A partial solar eclipse will be visible from Sydney, Australia, starting about 42 minutes before sunset on Wednesday the 4th of December.  (The exact starting time of the eclipse and sunset time will vary by a few minutes across the Sydney metropolitan area.)

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, blocking some or all of the sun’s light from reaching the earth.

The eclipse on 4th December will be a total eclipse in Ceduna, South Australia, about 800 km (500 miles) northwest of Adelaide.  The rest of Australia will see a partial eclipse.

Here in Sydney, the eclipse will reach a maximum magnitude at sunset, covering 69% of the sun’s diameter and 62% of its surface area.

More detailed information about the eclipse is available from NASA at:

If you’ve ever tried to look at the sun on a bright, clear day, you know that you cannot look directly at it.  Even in a 60% eclipse, it is so bright that its exact shape cannot be clearly discerned.  Without solar viewing glasses, you may notice that the sky is a bit darker than usual, but you will not be able to make out the crisp ‘‘crescent’’ shape of the sun.

Solar viewing glasses allow less than 0.001% of the sun’s light to reach your eyes.  This is a level that is safe for extended viewing.  (Note, however, that solar viewing glasses are not designed for use with cameras, binoculars or telescopes.  If you are interested in using a solar filter with a camera or telescope, you should get something that is designed specifically for that purpose.)

Makeshift filters using smoked glass, exposed film, CD-ROMs or other materials do not provide adequate protection because they do not filter enough of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation, which can damage the retina of your eye.

Extensive tests have been performed on the safety of various materials for solar viewing.  For more information see:

After 4th December, the next solar eclipse visible from Australia won’t be until 2012.  But don’t throw away your solar glasses!

You’ll have another chance to make good use of them when the planet Venus passes across the face of the sun on 8th June, 2004.  The last time this happened was in 1882!

A portion of this rare six-hour transit will be visible from throughout Australia.

For more informaiton on the 2004 Venus transit see:

I have ordered a limited quantity of solar viewing glasses from the U.S. to sell to friends and coworkers here in Sydney.  If you are interested in purchasing one of these from me in person, please call me at (02) 9687-5046.

Otherwise, you may obtain solar viewing glasses from the following locations at the prices shown.