How Long Will the Luxor Eclipse Last? Totality Times for 2 August 2027

How long will the Luxor eclipse last? About 6 minutes and 22 seconds of totality on Monday 2 August 2027, from about 13:02 to 13:08 local time (Egyptian summer time, UTC+3). The whole event, from the first bite of the Moon to the last, runs from about 11:40 to 14:26, so you have nearly two and three quarter hours of eclipse with the six minutes of darkness in the middle.

That makes it the longest total solar eclipse on land this century, and Luxor sits almost at the point of longest totality. This guide gives the timings, explains why this eclipse lasts so long and covers what our team has learned about watching it safely in the August heat of Upper Egypt.

Published calculations differ by a few seconds (6 minutes 21 to 22 seconds for the centre of Luxor), and the exact times depend on where in the city you stand. The Sun will be about 82 degrees high, almost overhead, so you watch by looking straight up. Some older pages still give times one hour earlier: Egypt uses summer time in August, so make sure your schedule uses local summer time.

Most total eclipses last two to four minutes. On 2 August 2027 three things come together:

• The Moon is close to Earth (near perigee), so it looks larger and covers the Sun with room to spare.
• Earth is near aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun in early July, so the Sun looks slightly smaller.
• Luxor is close to the equator and has the Sun almost overhead, so the Moon's shadow moves more slowly across the ground there.

The longest totality, about 6 minutes 23 seconds, falls in the desert of Upper Egypt just a short distance from Luxor. A longer total eclipse on easily reachable land will not happen until 3 June 2114.

Real darkness lasts only the six minutes of totality. In the last minutes before it, the light turns a strange, flat silver, shadows sharpen and the temperature drops by several degrees. During totality the sky looks like deep twilight, with a sunset glow all around the horizon, and Venus and other bright planets appear. Within seconds of third contact, daylight comes back.

What makes those six minutes special

• The corona: the Sun's pearl-white outer atmosphere, invisible at any other time, spreads around the black disc of the Moon, often with pink prominences at the edge.
• A drop in temperature: in the dry air of Upper Egypt the fall can be clearly felt, even at midday in August.
• Nature reacts: birds go to roost or fall silent, and on the Nile the fishermen and farmers stop to watch with you.
• A 360-degree sunset: outside the shadow the horizon glows orange in every direction.

Without protection, not at all, except during totality. During the partial phases, even when 99% of the Sun is covered, the remaining crescent is bright enough to burn the retina, and the damage is painless at the time. With certified eclipse glasses you can look as long and as often as you like. In Luxor that means about 1 hour 20 minutes of partial eclipse with glasses on, then about 6 minutes 22 seconds when you can look with the naked eye, then glasses back on for the last 1 hour 20 minutes. If you are anywhere outside the path, such as Cairo, Hurghada or Aswan, the glasses never come off.

• Light, loose, long-sleeved clothing in cotton or linen: you will be outside at the hottest time of day, and covered skin burns less than bare skin.
• A wide-brimmed hat for the partial phases; take it off for totality so it does not block the view when you look straight up.
• Closed, comfortable shoes: sand and stone get very hot at midday, and many viewing sites are on uneven ground.
• Eclipse glasses on a cord around your neck, so they are always at hand when the light returns.
• No need for a jacket: the drop in temperature during totality is noticeable but brief.

The path of totality is about 250 km wide and crosses Egypt from the Libyan border through the Western Desert, Luxor and Upper Egypt to the Red Sea coast. Before Egypt it crosses southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya; after it, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Inside Egypt the main options are:

Near the edges of the path a short drive changes the duration a lot, so check the exact spot rather than the town name. Cairo is outside the path and sees only a partial eclipse. Our guide on where to see the total solar eclipse in Egypt compares the places, and what day is the total eclipse of the Nile covers the date in detail.

• Open ground on the West Bank: the fields and desert edge near the Theban hills give a clear sky all round and the hills as a backdrop. Groups need a planned site with shade and water.
• Hotel gardens and rooftops on the East Bank: comfortable, with shade and toilets close by, but book early.
• On the Nile: a cruise ship sun deck or a dahabiya mooring gives open sky and space for a group.
• Temple sites: Karnak, Luxor Temple and the Valley of the Kings are the dream backdrop, but access rules and crowd limits for the day had not been announced at the time of writing. Do not plan on watching from inside a temple unless your operator has confirmed it.

Weather risk is low: Luxor averages 0 rain days and about 11.5 hours of sunshine a day in August. The main risk is dust or haze if a hot wind blows, which is rare in August.

• East Bank Corniche, between Luxor Temple and Karnak: the largest choice of hotels, close to the airport, restaurants and the temples; the gardens of riverside hotels make easy viewing spots.
• South of the town centre and Crocodile Island: larger resort hotels with gardens and space, a short drive from the centre.
• West Bank: smaller hotels and guesthouses among the fields, close to the Theban hills and away from the crowds.
• A Nile cruise ship or dahabiya: your cabin, meals and viewing deck in one place; ships moored between Luxor and Esna stay in long totality.

Whatever you choose, ask in writing where the eclipse will be watched, whether there is shade, and whether the price for the eclipse dates includes a minimum stay.

• Use certified eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard during all partial phases. Sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe.
• Take the glasses off only during totality, when the bright Sun is completely covered, and put them back on as soon as the first bright point reappears.
• Never look through a camera, binoculars or telescope without a proper solar filter fixed on the front, and never look through optics while wearing eclipse glasses.
• Check children's glasses for scratches and make sure they stay on during the partial phases.

August in Luxor averages a maximum of about 41 °C, and totality comes just after midday with the Sun almost overhead. Our planning for eclipse groups is built around the heat:

• Arrive at the viewing site no earlier than you need, ideally after the start of the partial phase, and stay in shade until about 12:45.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, light long sleeves and closed shoes; carry at least two litres of water per person and electrolytes.
• Do sightseeing at dawn on the days around the eclipse and rest in the hotel at midday.
• Remember that looking straight up for six minutes is tiring: bring a mat or a reclining chair.

Our guide to a summer vacation in Egypt has more tips for travelling in the heat.

Six minutes gives you time to take photos and still watch with your own eyes. Practise with your camera and solar filter before the day, set your settings in advance, and remove the filter only for totality to catch the corona and the diamond rings. Our advice: spend at least two of the six minutes simply looking up.

Luxor has a limited number of hotel rooms and Nile cruise cabins, and eclipse demand has been building for years. Practical points:

• Book early. Hotels and ships fill early for an event like this, and some set minimum stays for the eclipse dates.
• Arrive at least a day before. Domestic flights into Luxor and roads will be busy on 1 and 2 August.
• Stay longer. Add the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and the West Bank at dawn; see how many days you need in Luxor.
• Choose an operator with a confirmed viewing plan: where you will stand, how you get there, shade, water and glasses.

We do not publish a general price range for eclipse cruises, because the fare depends on things that differ from ship to ship: the category of the boat (large cruise ship or small dahabiya), the cabin, the length of the cruise, whether the ship is moored inside the path at totality, and what the package includes (flights, guide, entry tickets, glasses). Eclipse departures are also priced higher than a normal August cruise because demand is concentrated on a few dates. Ask for the itinerary of 1 to 3 August in detail, the exact mooring point at 13:00 on the 2nd, and what happens if the ship cannot reach it.

Our Egypt solar eclipse 2027 tours place you in the path of totality with a planned viewing site, eclipse glasses and an Egyptologist guide. The short 4 day Cairo and Luxor eclipse tour suits a tight schedule, and the 10 day Nile cruise tour for the eclipse watches it from the river.

How long will totality last in Luxor?

About 6 minutes 22 seconds, from about 13:02 to 13:08 local time on 2 August 2027.

How long does the whole eclipse last in Luxor?

About 2 hours 46 minutes, from about 11:40 to 14:26 local time, including the partial phases.

Is the 2027 eclipse the longest of the century?

Yes. Its maximum of about 6 minutes 23 seconds is the longest total eclipse on land in the 21st century; a longer one on accessible land comes on 3 June 2114.

Can I see the eclipse from Cairo?

Only as a partial eclipse. Cairo is outside the path of totality, so you need to travel south to Luxor or Upper Egypt.

When is it safe to look at the eclipse without glasses?

Only during totality, when the Sun is completely covered. Use ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses at all other times.