When are the next eclipses?
When and where are the next eclipses happening? BBC Sky at Night Magazine presents your solar eclipse-chasing schedule for the coming years.
1.3 million people in Dallas, Texas will see totality in 2024. Image Credit: CC0 Public Domain (pixabay.com)
If you saw the stunning images of totality in the USA this week, you’re probably asking yourself the same question as millions of other people; when is the next one?
Here’s our guide to the next ten total solar eclipses and (the less impressive, but still worth seeing) annular ‘Ring of Fire’ eclipses.
2 July, 2019: South Pacific, Argentina & Chile
Type: Total Solar Eclipse
Is this the ultimate eclipse for amateur astronomers?
The European Southern Observatory’s La Silla site and the CTIO, part of the U.S. National Optical Astronomy Observatory, will both receive a two-minute eclipse.
The surrounding Elqui Valley has numerous smaller observatories and inky-black night skies.
26 December 2019: Arabian Peninsula, South India & South Asia
Type: Annular Solar Eclipse
How about a Ring of Fire for Christmas?
Six months after the Great South American Eclipse, the Moon will be farther away from Earth in its elliptical orbit, covering 97 per cent of the Sun for three minutes and 40 seconds.
This might be a good opportunity to take in a cruise in the Indian Ocean, though the exquisite temple town of Madurai in Tamil Nadu would also be a great location.
Solar eclipses glasses must be worn at all times when viewing an annular eclipse.
21 June 2020: Africa, India & China
Type: Annular Solar Eclipse
This Ring of Fire eclipse will be brief, but spectacular.
For just 38 seconds the Moon will cover 99 per cent of the Sun, which should mean some exquisite ‘edge effects’ are viewable from the southern edge of the path of totality.
From there, it should be possible to see Baily’s beads – tiny pinpricks of the Sun’s light pouring through the Moon’s mountainous southern polar region – popping and pulsing on the limb of the Moon.
A nice option for the intrepid might be to go to Lhasa in Tibet, and travel north, or to Xiamen in China, but this is one for eclipse geeks only.
14 December 2020: Chile & Argentina
Type: Total Solar Eclipse
If you ever wanted to stand on top of an active volcano and experience a total solar eclipse, this is your best chance.
Taking place in the South American summer, this two-minute totality will be best seen in the Chilean Lake District, which is dominated by the Villarrica volcano.
Hikers will love that, though you could just sit by the beautiful lake beside Villarica or Pucón.
10 June 2021: Northern Canada
Type: Annular Solar Eclipse
This promises to be one of the least viewed eclipses of all, since this Ring of Fire will only be visible from north-eastern Russia and northern Canada.
If you really want to make a long journey to see a not particularly impressive 94 per cent obscured Sun, the Polar Bear Provincial Park in Canada is your best bet.
4 December 2021: Antarctica
Type: Total Solar Eclipse
Six months after a partial eclipse for polar bears comes a total eclipse for penguins.
This will not be a cheap eclipse to see, but it could be worth it; ultra-rare ‘shadow bands’ that are created by the oddly refracted light just before totality are most easily visible on snow (or sand).
A trip to Union Glacier Base Camp, a private facility owned by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions (probably followed by a short flight to the South Pole) is one option.
Another is a cruise ship near South Georgia.
8 April 2023: Western Australia
Type: Total Solar Eclipse
Would you travel halfway across the world to experience one minute of totality?
For eclipse chasers, that’s more than enough, so the tiny Exmouth Peninsula – the only part of Australia crossed by the path of totality – is sure to be bursting with observers from around the world.
Exmouth is also the place to swim with whalesharks, the ocean’s biggest fish at 40ft.
14 October 2023: North & South America
Type: Annular Solar Eclipse
This annular eclipse crosses Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and origin, as well as parts of Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia and Brazil.
Crater Lake in Oregon, or the Mayan temple of Edzna on the Yucatan Peninsula are both in the firing line.
8 April 2024: Mexico, US & Canada
Type: Total Solar Eclipse
Two total solar eclipses in seven years?!
Although it happens in Spring where clear skies are certainly not guaranteed, this four-minute totality is set to top 2017’s event.
The Path of Totality passes over Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, New York and Vermont, and Canada.
Remarkably, one area around Carbondale, Illinois will get a second go at totality, having already seen it in 2017.
2 October, 2024: Easter Island & Chile
Type: Annular Solar Eclipse
Although this is also visible in Patagonia on southern Chile’s Pacific coast, this Ring of Fire would be best enjoyed among the monoliths of Easter Island.
This South Pacific island, over 2,000 miles from mainland South America, has an astronomical allure all of its own.
Huge stone statues known as Moai face inland from every beach, and are said to stare at the stars.
Jamie Carter is the author of When Is The Next Eclipse? and The Great South American Eclipse Travel Guide for July 2, 2019.
