When is Next Solar Eclipse in 2024, 2025 and 2026?

One of the most fascinating and awe-inspiring astronomical phenomena, a solar eclipse has captured the imagination of people around the world. A solar eclipse is when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking it out, and has been observed and worshipped since ancient times.

In 2024, the first solar eclipse, Surya Grahan, occurs on April 8, 2024. According to NASA, it is a total solar eclipse visible in North America, passing through Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The first solar eclipse of 2024 will not be visible in India.

In this article, we’ll look at upcoming solar eclipses in 2024, 2025, and 2026, providing details on their dates, types, and where they’ll be visible. We’ll also dive into the science behind solar eclipses and their different types.

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What is a Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on Earth that partially or completely blocks out the sun’s rays in some areas. This alignment of the sun, moon, and Earth only occurs during a new moon, when the moon is directly between the sun and Earth.

umbra and penumbra of solar eclipse

During a solar eclipse, the moon’s shadow on Earth consists of two parts: the umbra (where the sun is completely blocked) and the penumbra (where only a portion of the sun is blocked). The type of solar eclipse (total, partial, annular, or hybrid) depends on the distances between the Earth, moon, and sun and how they are aligned.

For example, the day before a total solar eclipse, the moon may be 360,000 kilometers from the Earth, which is the closest distance between the moon and the Earth. This distance makes the moon appear large enough in the sky to completely cover the sun, resulting in a total solar eclipse.

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Types of eclipse

Types of eclipse

From left to right, these images show a total solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse and a partial solar eclipse. (Image: NASA)

There are four main types of solar eclipses, each offering a unique viewing experience: total, partial, annular, and hybrid. Different types of solar eclipses can be observed depending on the distances between the Earth, Moon, and Sun and how they are aligned.

Total Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs when the apparent diameter of the moon is larger than that of the sun, blocking all direct sunlight and turning day into night for a short period of time. The zone of totality visible during a total solar eclipse is usually very narrow and can only be observed by people located in this zone. The sky darkens and the temperature drops, making for an unforgettable spectacle. Under favorable weather conditions, observers in the zone of totality can see the sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere, which is usually hidden by the sun’s bright surface.

Partial Solar Eclipse

A partial solar eclipse is when only part of the Sun is blocked by the Moon. A partial solar eclipse is when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not aligned perfectly perpendicularly, and the Moon blocks only part of the Sun, giving it a crescent shape. Partial solar eclipses are more common than total solar eclipses and can be seen over a larger area.

Annular solar eclipse

An annular solar eclipse is when the apparent diameter of the moon is smaller than that of the sun, making the sun appear as a ring (donut-shaped) around the moon. This is because the moon is farther away from the earth and therefore appears smaller in the sky. An annular solar eclipse is also called a “ring of fire” eclipse because of its unique appearance.

Hybrid Eclipse

A hybrid solar eclipse, also known as an annular solar eclipse, is a relatively rare solar eclipse in which a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse alternate in the path of the solar eclipse. This type of solar eclipse is a total solar eclipse in some areas of the Earth’s surface, while an annular solar eclipse occurs in other areas.

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List of solar eclipses in 2024, 2025, and 2026

The table below contains a list of solar eclipses for 2024, 2025, and 2026. View details on the types of solar eclipses and where they will occur around the world.

date

Types of eclipse

Visible geographic area

October 2, 2024

Ring

There will be an annular solar eclipse in South America, and a partial solar eclipse in South America, Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and North America

March 29, 2025

part of

Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean

September 21, 2025

part of

Australia, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean

February 17, 2026

Ring

An annular solar eclipse will occur in Antarctica, and a partial solar eclipse will occur in Antarctica, Africa, South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean

August 12, 2026

All

A total solar eclipse will be visible from Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and small parts of Portugal, while a partial solar eclipse will be visible from Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans.

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Last annular solar eclipse in India

The last annular solar eclipse visible from India was on December 26, 2019. The annular solar eclipse lasted for 3 minutes and 39 seconds. This spectacular astronomical event was visible not only in India but also in parts of Asia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Sumatra, and Borneo.

Next annular solar eclipse in India

The next visible annular solar eclipse in India is scheduled to take place on May 21, 2031. The cities of Kochi, Alleppey, Chalakudi, Kottayam, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Painavu, Gudalur (Theni), Theni, Madurai, Ilaiyangudi, Karaikudi and Viddalanyam will witness this event. Dubbed as the ‘Ring of Fire’, this solar eclipse will adorn the skies of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with the maximum eclipse covering about 28.87% of the Sun.

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