Guide · Eclipse timing
2027 Eclipse Luxor Viewing Time: Exact Times and Duration
By Eclipse.Travel · Updated July 2026 · 6-minute read
Key facts
| Date | Monday 2 August 2027 |
|---|---|
| Location | Luxor, Egypt (25.69 N, 32.64 E), local time EEST / UTC+3 |
| First contact (partial begins) | Approx. 11:16 local time |
| Totality begins (second contact) | Approx. 12:37 local time |
| Maximum eclipse | Approx. 12:40 local time |
| Totality ends (third contact) | Approx. 12:43 local time |
| Last contact (partial ends) | Approx. 14:09 local time |
| Duration of totality | Up to 6 minutes 23 seconds on the centreline |
| Sun altitude at maximum | Approx. 70 degrees — almost directly overhead |
| Total event length | Just under 3 hours from first to last contact |
On Monday 2 August 2027, Luxor sits within seconds of the centerline of the longest total solar eclipse visible from land this century. Below are the local contact times, what happens at each stage, and how to plan your day around them. All times are EEST (UTC+3), Egypt's local summer time, and are approximate to within a minute or two depending on your exact position along the Nile.
Luxor eclipse timeline — 2 August 2027
| Stage | Local time | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| First contact (partial begins) | ≈ 10:50 EEST | Moon touches the solar disc |
| Totality begins (2nd contact) | ≈ 12:24 EEST | Diamond ring, then darkness |
| Maximum eclipse | ≈ 12:27 EEST | Sun ~73° high, corona fully visible |
| Totality ends (3rd contact) | ≈ 12:30 EEST | Second diamond ring |
| Fourth contact (partial ends) | ≈ 14:00 EEST | Sun fully restored |
Why the duration is so long here
Totality lasts up to 6 minutes 23 seconds near Luxor. The Moon is close to perigee, the Earth near aphelion, and the shadow crosses at low latitude around local noon — the three conditions that stretch totality to its physical maximum. Move a few hundred kilometres off the centerline and you begin shedding tens of seconds.
Planning your eclipse day
The Sun stands roughly 73° overhead at maximum, so shade, hydration, and a reclining viewing position matter more than a distant horizon. Be in position by 10:00 EEST: roads around Luxor and the West Bank are expected to be heavily congested on eclipse morning, and you want to be settled well before first contact rather than watching partial phases through a windscreen.
Our itineraries moor or station guests inside the maximum-duration band before dawn on 2 August, with certified solar filters, a briefing the evening before, and an astronomer on hand for the contact countdowns.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the 2027 solar eclipse start in Luxor?
The partial phase (first contact) begins over Luxor at approximately 10:50 EEST on 2 August 2027, with the Moon taking a little over an hour to fully cover the Sun.
What time is totality in Luxor on 2 August 2027?
Totality begins over Luxor at approximately 12:24 EEST and reaches maximum eclipse around 12:27 EEST. The Sun is high overhead, roughly 73 degrees above the horizon.
How long does totality last in Luxor?
Up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds on the centerline near Luxor, the longest totality visible from land between 1991 and 2114.
How long is the whole eclipse from start to finish?
About three hours in total, from first contact near 10:50 EEST to fourth contact near 14:00 EEST, with totality in the middle.
Do I need to be exactly on the centerline?
Not exactly, but every kilometre off the centerline costs seconds of totality. Our itineraries position guests within the maximum-duration band around Luxor.