When is the Next Total Solar Eclipse?

When’s the next total solar eclipse? If seeing these amazing celestial spectacles makes you eager to see the next one, here is a short list of dates for the U.S. and Canada. For the big travelers, we’ve also highlighted three upcoming eclipses across the globe.

What is a Total Solar Eclipse?

A total eclipse of the Sun occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, blocking out its light. Although the entire eclipse can last a couple of hours, its spectacular total phase lasts only a few minutes.

The chances of observing a total solar eclipse from your backyard are very rare; Totality exists only along a narrow path on Earth’s surface. On average, a total eclipse occurs only once every 385 years at any one spot on Earth!

Every total solar eclipse is different. Once you’ve been immersed in the experience, don’t be surprised if you wish to become an “umbraphile” (a person who chases eclipses).

Total Solar Eclipse Dates for U.S. and Canada

Mark these solar eclipse dates on your calendar so you don’t miss any of this century’s spectacles!

• August 23, 2044. The next total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous U.S. after 2024 is August 23, 2044, which will cross parts of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Canadians in northern and western areas—from Nunavut through parts of the Northwest Territories, Alberta, and British Columbia—will also see totality.
   
• August 12, 2045. This is the longest total phase in U.S. history—6 minutes. This path runs through northern California, through Reno, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Florida will be the best place to see the totality.
   
• May 11, 2078, and May 1, 2079. These two solar eclipses will both be visible in the United States. In Canada, the second one will be visible only in the Maritime provinces.
   
• September 14, 2099. Visible in the north-central and mid-Atlantic states and southwestern Canada.

See our current Eclipse Calendar for all types of solar and lunar eclipses in the coming year.

Three Upcoming Eclipses Outside North America

If seeing a total solar eclipse in 2017 or 2024 makes you excited to see another one before 2044, you’ll have to travel!

• August 12, 2026: It only crosses Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. With almost 100% cloud cover in Iceland, the best chances are in northern Spain, where there is a 60% to 70% chance of clear skies.
   
• August 2, 2027: Northern Africa. Yes, this is far away, but it will be the eclipse of a lifetime with the longest duration for the next 87 years. See the sites of Egypt; the amazing city of Luxor along the Nile offers 6 minutes and 21 minutes of totality. Other great cities include Tangier, Morocco, and both Jeddah and Yemen, which are in Saudi Arabia. 
   
• July 22, 2028: Australia and New Zealand. The path will cross the continent, offering up to 5 minutes and 10 seconds of totality. It makes landfall in the Kimberley region, moves across the Outback, and then crosses right through the center of Sydney! In New Zealand, the path reaches the South Island, where the totality lasts up to 2 minutes and 57 seconds.