What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth and the moon’s shadow falls on Earth. This only happens during a new moon in an eclipse season.
Types of solar eclipses
Total solar eclipse: A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, and the moon’s umbra, or the inner part of the moon’s shadow, falls on Earth.
During a total solar eclipse, the moon is close enough to Earth to completely cover the sun’s disk.
Partial solar eclipse: A partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, and the moon’s penumbra, or the outer part of the moon’s shadow, falls on Earth.
During a partial solar eclipse, the moon is not perfectly aligned between the sun and Earth. As a result, it partially covers the sun’s disk.
Annular solar eclipse: An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, and the moon’s antumbra, or the extended part of the moon’s umbral shadow, falls on Earth.
During an annular solar eclipse, the moon is too far from Earth to completely cover the sun’s disk. As a result, it appears smaller than the sun, leaving a ring (an annulus) of sunlight around it.
Hybrid solar eclipse: A hybrid solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, and the moon’s umbra and antumbra fall on Earth. This type of eclipse appears annular in some locations and total in others along its path.
August 12, 2026: Total solar eclipse
The moon’s umbra, or the inner part of the moon’s shadow, will sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere on August 12, 2026, creating a total solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: August 12, 2026, at 15:34 UTC
Total solar eclipse begins: August 12, 2026, at 16:58 UTC
Greatest eclipse: August 12, 2026, at 17:46 UTC
Total solar eclipse ends: August 12, 2026, at 18:34 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: August 12, 2026, at 19:58 UTC
Visibility: The total solar eclipse will be visible over the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and Spain along a path about 294 km wide, known as the path of totality. Along this path, the moon will completely cover the sun’s disk for up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
However, the partial solar eclipse will be visible from parts of the U.S., Canada, northwestern Africa, and much of Europe.
February 6, 2027: Annular solar eclipse
The moon’s antumbra, or the extended part of the moon’s umbral shadow, will sweep across parts of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres on February 6, 2027, creating an annular solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: February 6, 2027, at 12:57 UTC
Annular solar eclipse begins: February 6, 2027, at 14:04 UTC
Greatest eclipse: February 6, 2027, at 15:59 UTC
Annular solar eclipse ends: February 6, 2027, at 17:55 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: February 6, 2027, at 19:01 UTC
Visibility: The annular solar eclipse will be visible over Chile, Argentina, and the Atlantic along a path about 281 km wide, known as the path of annularity. Along this path, the sun will appear as a “ring of fire” for up to 7 minutes and 51 seconds, as the moon covers 93% of the sun’s center.
However, the partial solar eclipse will be visible from much of South America, parts of Antarctica, and the western half of Africa.
Read more: Annular solar eclipse February 2027: All you need to know
August 2, 2027: Total solar eclipse
The moon’s umbra, or the inner part of the moon’s shadow, will sweep across parts of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres on August 2, 2027, creating a total solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: August 2, 2027, at 07:30 UTC
Total solar eclipse begins: August 2, 2027, at 08:23 UTC
Greatest eclipse: August 2, 2027, at 10:06 UTC
Total solar eclipse ends: August 2, 2027, at 11:50 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: August 2, 2027, at 12:43 UTC
Visibility: The total solar eclipse will be visible over Morocco, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia along a path about 257 km wide, known as the path of totality. Along this path, the moon will completely cover the sun’s disk for up to 6 minutes and 22 seconds.
However, the partial solar eclipse will be visible from much of Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and western and southern Asia.
January 26, 2028: Annular solar eclipse
The moon’s antumbra, or the extended part of the moon’s umbral shadow, will sweep across parts of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres on January 26, 2028, creating an annular solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: January 26, 2028, at 12:06 UTC
Annular solar eclipse begins: January 26, 2028, at 13:15 UTC
Greatest eclipse: January 26, 2028, at 15:07 UTC
Annular solar eclipse ends: January 26, 2028, at 17:00 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: January 26, 2028, at 18:08 UTC
Visibility: The annular solar eclipse will be visible over Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Spain, and Portugal along a path about 323 km wide, known as the path of annularity. Along this path, the sun will appear as a “ring of fire” for up to 10 minutes and 27 seconds, as the moon covers 92% of the sun’s center.
However, the partial solar eclipse will be visible from eastern North America, Central America, much of South America, western Europe, and northwestern Africa.
July 22, 2028: Total solar eclipse
The moon’s umbra, or the inner part of the moon’s shadow, will sweep across parts of the Southern Hemisphere on July 22, 2028, creating a total solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: July 22, 2028, at 00:27 UTC
Total solar eclipse begins: July 22, 2028, at 01:30 UTC
Greatest eclipse: July 22, 2028, at 02:55 UTC
Total solar eclipse ends: July 22, 2028, at 04:20 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: July 22, 2028, at 05:23 UTC
Visibility: The total solar eclipse will be visible over Australia and New Zealand along a path about 230 km wide, known as the path of totality. Along this path, the moon will completely cover the sun’s disk for up to 5 minutes and 10 seconds.
However, the partial solar eclipse will be visible from southeastern Asia and Oceania.
January 14, 2029: Partial solar eclipse
The moon’s penumbra, or the outer part of the moon’s shadow, will sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere on January 14, 2029, creating a partial solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: January 14, 2029, at 15:02 UTC
Greatest eclipse: January 14, 2029, at 17:12 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: January 14, 2029, at 19:23 UTC
Visibility: The partial solar eclipse will be visible over North America and Central America, with the moon covering up to 87% of the sun’s disk.
June 12, 2029: Partial solar eclipse
The moon’s penumbra, or the outer part of the moon’s shadow, will sweep across parts of the Northern Hemisphere on June 12, 2029, creating a partial solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: June 12, 2029, at 02:26 UTC
Greatest eclipse: June 12, 2029, at 04:05 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: June 12, 2029, at 05:43 UTC
Visibility: The partial solar eclipse will be visible over the Arctic, much of Europe, northern Russia, Alaska, northwestern Canada, and Greenland, with the moon covering up to 45% of the sun’s disk.
July 11, 2029: Partial solar eclipse
The moon’s penumbra, or the outer part of the moon’s shadow, will sweep across parts of the Southern Hemisphere on July 11, 2029, creating a partial solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: July 11, 2029, at 14:27 UTC
Greatest eclipse: July 11, 2029, at 15:36 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: July 11, 2029, at 16:44 UTC
Visibility: The partial solar eclipse will be visible over southern Chile and southern Argentina, with the moon covering up to 23% of the sun’s disk.
December 5, 2029: Partial solar eclipse
The moon’s penumbra, or the outer part of the moon’s shadow, will sweep across parts of the Southern Hemisphere on December 5, 2029, creating a partial solar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse begins: December 5, 2029, at 13:06 UTC
Greatest eclipse: December 5, 2029, at 15:02 UTC
Partial solar eclipse ends: December 5, 2029, at 16:58 UTC
Visibility: The partial solar eclipse will be visible over Antarctica, southern Chile, and southern Argentina, with the moon covering up to 89% of the sun’s disk.
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