What the 2027 eclipse looks like in Sfax
Sfax is a Tunisian reference city inside the 2027 path of totality. It sits in the central portion of the North African path and is useful for comparing duration and mobility with Algeria and Egypt.
The city provides a regional transport and accommodation base while keeping multiple outward route options, which becomes valuable if later weather forecasts favor another corridor.
Sfax 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 | 07:56:19 UTC |
| Totality begins | 09:08:38 UTC |
| Maximum eclipse | 09:11:29 UTC |
| Totality ends | 09:14:21 UTC |
| Partial eclipse ends | 10:31:36 UTC |
| Totality duration | 5m 43s |
| Sun altitude at maximum | 56.2° |
| Sun azimuth at maximum | 111.6° |
| Distance from modelled centerline | 19.6 km |
Historical August climate around Sfax
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.
Sfax 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 | 95.4% |
|---|---|
| All-sky solar energy | 6.70 kWh/m²/day |
| Clear-sky solar energy | 7.03 kWh/m²/day |
| August mean temperature | 28.6°C |
| August mean relative humidity | 63% |
Sfax climate planning scores
NASA POWER August 2001–2025. Scores are planning proxies, not an eclipse-day forecast.
Should you stay in Sfax or move?
Sfax does not offer the same totality duration as the longest-duration part of Egypt, but the right destination depends on more than seconds of darkness.
Compare Sfax with Luxor and western North African destinations. Pay attention to known-factor score components rather than only the headline duration.
The reference coordinate is about 19.6 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 Sfax, useful comparison targets include Oran, Luxor, Tangier. 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 Sfax 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 “Sfax 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 Sfax in totality in 2027?
Yes at the Sfax reference coordinate.
How does Sfax compare with Luxor?
Luxor is closer to the longest-duration portion of the path, while Sfax has different travel, climate and relocation trade-offs.
Is the path-margin score exact?
No. It is derived from NASA centerline width interpolation and is a planning estimate, not a lunar-limb contact solution.
Should I wait for a weather forecast before choosing?
Bookable logistics may require earlier decisions, but live cloud forecasts become most useful close to eclipse day. Historical climate should guide, not guarantee.
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.