What the 2027 eclipse looks like in Jeddah
Jeddah is a major Saudi city inside the 2027 path of totality. It combines a high Sun angle, international access and deep accommodation capacity, which makes it an important non-Egypt benchmark.
Jeddah tests a different planning profile from Luxor: very strong access and lodging, totality, and a dense urban environment with opportunities to relocate along major roads.
Jeddah eclipse times and circumstances
The table below uses the published reference coordinate, not a city-wide average. Times are shown in UTC so the underlying calculation stays unambiguous. Convert the UTC times to the observing location’s local timezone before the event; the underlying astronomical calculation stays the same.
| Eclipse type | total |
|---|---|
| Obscuration at maximum | 100.0% |
| Partial eclipse begins | 09:00:22 UTC |
| Totality begins | 10:22:12 UTC |
| Maximum eclipse | 10:25:14 UTC |
| Totality ends | 10:28:15 UTC |
| Partial eclipse ends | 11:43:39 UTC |
| Totality duration | 6m 03s |
| Sun altitude at maximum | 76.4° |
| Sun azimuth at maximum | 256.6° |
| Distance from modelled centerline | 35.5 km |
Historical August climate around Jeddah
Historical climate helps compare destinations before a useful eclipse-day forecast exists. Eclipse Wayfinder uses the same August 2001–2025 NASA POWER climatology period for every published location, so the comparison window stays consistent.
Jeddah historical climate snapshot
The solar clarity proxy compares all-sky surface solar energy with the modeled clear-sky value for the same NASA POWER grid. It is a long-term planning indicator, not the probability of a cloud-free eclipse.
| Solar clarity proxy | 95.8% |
|---|---|
| All-sky solar energy | 6.82 kWh/m²/day |
| Clear-sky solar energy | 7.12 kWh/m²/day |
| August mean temperature | 34.5°C |
| August mean relative humidity | 46% |
Jeddah climate planning scores
NASA POWER August 2001–2025. Scores are planning proxies, not an eclipse-day forecast.
Should you stay in Jeddah or move?
August heat and humidity can matter for comfort, while urban horizons and local access can affect the practical observing site. Those factors sit outside the pure eclipse calculation.
Use the exact observing coordinate and compare Jeddah with Luxor if you are balancing long totality against gateway convenience and structural access.
The reference coordinate is about 35.5 km from the modelled centerline. Path depth matters because totality duration generally grows as you move away from an edge and toward the center, although the best real-world site can still depend on weather and access.
What to compare before choosing an observing site
For Jeddah, useful comparison targets include Luxor, Mecca, Sfax. Compare the exact eclipse duration, Sun altitude, path margin, structural access, lodging depth and historical climate when available. Keep live road conditions, border rules and weather forecasts separate because they can change.
- Totality duration: how long the Sun is completely covered at the exact coordinate.
- Path margin: how far the location sits from the approximate edge of totality.
- Sun geometry: altitude and azimuth at maximum eclipse, useful for local horizon planning.
- Relocation flexibility: whether you can move if a later cloud forecast favors another part of the path.
- Local obstructions: buildings, terrain and trees are site-level issues and are not captured by the city reference coordinate.
How accurate are these Jeddah eclipse calculations?
Eclipse Wayfinder calculates local circumstances with Astronomy Engine and validates the event geometry against NASA eclipse references. The city coordinate is visible because a single “Jeddah time” can hide meaningful differences across a metropolitan area. Near the path edge, lunar mountains can also shift the true totality limit by kilometres, so the site does not recommend observing directly on a mathematical boundary.
Read the calculation methodology and data sources for the model, validation and climate rules.
Common planning questions
Is Jeddah in totality in 2027?
Yes at the Jeddah reference coordinate.
How high will the Sun be?
The calculator above reports the solar altitude and azimuth at maximum for the exact coordinate.
How does Jeddah compare with Luxor?
Luxor is closer to the longest-duration part of the path, while Jeddah scores strongly on structural access and accommodation. Climate adds another layer.
Does the page include current Saudi entry rules?
No. Always check current official visa, access and travel information separately.
Authoritative planning sources
Use Eclipse Wayfinder for location comparison, then check the underlying references. NASA publishes the August 2, 2027 path data, while the American Astronomical Society maintains practical eclipse eye-safety guidance.