Eclipse Calculator
Predict solar and lunar eclipses—see how many you might see in your lifetime and when the next big ones are.
Eclipses happen when the Sun, Earth, and Moon line up. In a solar eclipse the Moon blocks the Sun; in a lunar eclipse Earth's shadow falls on the Moon. Use the calculator below to get a rough idea of how many eclipses you might see, and check the list of upcoming events to plan your viewing.
How many eclipses might I see?
This uses average rates. Your actual count depends on where you live and how long you live. Total solar eclipses at one place are rare (about once every 375 years).
In the next 69 years (from today), you might see roughly:
- Total lunar: ~104 (blood moons)
- Partial lunar: ~104
- Partial solar: ~28
- Total solar: ~0 (at your location—travel to see more!)
Types of Eclipses
Total solar
The Moon fully covers the Sun. Day turns to twilight; the corona appears. Rare at any one place (~once per 375 years). Only safe to look without protection during the few minutes of totality.
Partial solar
The Moon covers part of the Sun (a crescent). Never look without proper eclipse glasses. A few per decade from a given location.
Annular solar
The Moon is too far away to fully cover the Sun, so you see a "ring of fire." Still need eclipse glasses the whole time.
Total lunar
Earth's shadow covers the Moon and it often turns red ("blood moon"). Visible from the whole night side of Earth. Safe to watch with the naked eye. About 1–2 per year.
Upcoming major eclipses (2025–2035)
Notable solar and lunar eclipses. Visibility depends on your location; check NASA or Time and Date for exact paths and times.
| Date | Type | Visible from | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 14, 2025 | Total Lunar | Americas, Europe, Africa | 65 min | First total lunar of 2025 |
| Mar 29, 2025 | Partial Solar | NW Africa, Europe, N Asia | 2.5 hours | Major European cities |
| Sep 7, 2025 | Total Lunar | Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia | 82 min | Long totality |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Total Solar | Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain | 2 min 18 sec | Crosses Spain |
| Aug 2, 2027 | Total Solar | Morocco, Spain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia | 6 min 23 sec | One of longest of century |
| Jul 22, 2028 | Total Solar | Australia, New Zealand | 5 min 10 sec | Crosses Sydney |
| Jun 1, 2030 | Annular Solar | Algeria, Tunisia, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Japan | 5 min 21 sec | Ring of fire |
| Nov 25, 2030 | Total Solar | Namibia, South Africa, Australia | 3 min 44 sec | South African cities |
| Mar 30, 2033 | Total Solar | Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Russia | 2 min 37 sec | Arctic eclipse |
| Sep 2, 2035 | Total Solar | China, Japan, Korea | 2 min 54 sec | Major Asian cities |
Eclipse safety
- •Never look at the Sun without protection—even during a partial eclipse. It can damage your eyes in seconds. Use eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2) or proper solar filters. Sunglasses are not enough.
- •During a total solar eclipse, it is safe to look only when the Sun is completely covered (totality). As soon as any part of the Sun shows again, put your glasses back on.
- •Lunar eclipses are safe—you're looking at the Moon, not the Sun. No special glasses needed.
- •Don't look at the Sun through binoculars or a telescope without a proper solar filter on the front. Get glasses from a trusted source (e.g. American Astronomical Society list).
Why don't we get an eclipse every month?
The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° to Earth's orbit around the Sun. So at most new moons and full moons, the Sun–Earth–Moon line isn't straight. Eclipses only happen when the Moon crosses the same plane as Earth and the Sun—that's why we get "eclipse seasons" a few times a year instead of every month. Ancient astronomers noticed that similar eclipses repeat in a cycle of about 18 years (the Saros cycle), which helped them predict future eclipses.
Cool eclipse facts
- • Every 100 years there are about 240 solar eclipses and 150 lunar eclipses somewhere on Earth. But from one place, a total solar eclipse only happens about once every 375 years.
- • When the Moon fully covers the Sun (totality), it usually lasts 2–4 minutes. The longest can be about 7½ minutes. The whole eclipse (first bite to last) can take 2–3 hours.
- • The Moon's shadow moves across Earth at about 1,700 km/h—faster than the speed of sound! The path where it's total is only 100–270 km wide, so you have to be in the right spot.
- • The Sun is 400 times bigger than the Moon but also 400 times farther away, so they look the same size in the sky. That's why the Moon can block the Sun so neatly. The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth, so in hundreds of millions of years total solar eclipses won't happen anymore.
- • A "blood moon" in a total lunar eclipse is red because Earth's air bends red sunlight into the shadow and onto the Moon. The same kind of bending makes sunsets red.
- • Just before and after totality, light can peek through valleys on the Moon's edge and look like beads—then one last bright spot looks like a "diamond ring." It only lasts seconds!
Eclipses that made history
Eclipses have amazed and sometimes changed people's lives. Here are a few famous ones.
- 585 BCE – Eclipse that stopped a war: A total solar eclipse happened during a battle in Turkey. Both sides took it as a sign to stop fighting and made peace. Some say a Greek thinker predicted it.
- 1919 – Proving Einstein right: Scientists photographed stars near the Sun during a total eclipse. The starlight was bent by the Sun's gravity, just as Einstein had said. That helped make him famous and showed that his theory of gravity was right.
- 2017 & 2024 – Great American Eclipses: Total solar eclipses crossed the United States. Millions of people saw totality. Many say it was one of the most amazing things they've ever seen. The next total solar eclipse over the continental U.S. is in 2044.
Why watch eclipses?
A total solar eclipse is often called the most stunning sight in nature. The sky goes dark, the Sun's corona appears, stars come out, and it can feel otherworldly. Scientists still use eclipses to study the Sun's outer atmosphere. And because totality at one place is so rare, people travel across the world to see it—eclipse chasers sometimes see many in their lifetime. If you get a chance to be in the path of totality, it's worth it!
Eclipse myths – what's true?
- Myth: Eclipses are dangerous. Truth: They're safe if you view them correctly. The Sun is always dangerous to look at—eclipses just make people want to look. Use proper eclipse glasses for solar eclipses and you're fine.
- Myth: Sunglasses are enough. Truth: No. You need eclipse glasses that meet the ISO safety standard. Regular sunglasses don't block enough light and can still harm your eyes.
- Myth: Eclipses cause bad luck or disasters. Truth: Eclipses are just the Moon or Earth's shadow. They follow predictable cycles and don't cause earthquakes, wars, or anything else on Earth.
- Myth: You can only see one total solar eclipse in your life. Truth: From one town, totality is rare. But a total solar eclipse happens somewhere on Earth about every 18 months. People who travel can see many in a lifetime.
Quick questions
- How long does totality last?
- Usually 2–4 minutes. The very longest can be about 7½ minutes. The full eclipse (from when the Moon first touches the Sun until it leaves) lasts 2–3 hours, but only those few minutes are total.
- What is the Saros cycle?
- It's an 18-year, 11-day pattern. After one Saros, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in almost the same positions again, so a similar eclipse happens—but about 120° west (one-third of the way around Earth). Ancient astronomers used it to predict eclipses.
- Where can I get exact eclipse times for my location?
- NASA's Eclipse Website and sites like Time and Date have maps and times for eclipses worldwide. For a total solar eclipse, check exactly where the path of totality goes—being even 50 km outside can mean you see 99% coverage instead of totality, which is a completely different experience.