Solar Eclipse Preview: 2021 - 2040
©2023 by Fred Espenak
Introduction
An eclipse of the Sun (or solar eclipse) can only occur at New Moon when the Moon passes between Earth and Sun. If the Moon's shadow falls upon Earth's surface, we see some portion of the Sun's disk covered or 'eclipsed' by the Moon. Since New Moon occurs every 29 1/2 days, you might think that we should have a solar eclipse about once a month. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen because the Moon's orbit around Earth is tilted 5 degrees to Earth's orbit around the Sun. As a result, the Moon's shadow usually misses Earth as it passes above or below our planet at New Moon. At lease twice each year, the geometry lines up just right so that an eclipse of the Sun is seen from some part of Earth.
The Moon's shadow has three parts two of which are nested inside the third. The faint outer shadow is the penumbra. Partial eclipses are visible inside the penumbral shadow. The dark inner shadow is the umbra. Total eclipses are seen in the umbral shadow. The umbra is cone-shaped and narrows to a point. Extending beyond the umbra is the antumbra.
There are four types of solar eclipses:
- Partial - Moon's penumbral shadow traverses Earth (umbral and antumbral shadows completely miss Earth)
- Annular - Moon's antumbral shadow traverses Earth (Moon is too far from Earth to completely cover the Sun)
- Total - Moon's umbral shadow traverses Earth (Moon is close enough to Earth to completely cover the Sun)
- Hybrid - Moon's umbral and antumbral shadows traverse Earth (eclipse appears annular and total along different sections of its path). Hybrid eclipses are also known as annular-total eclipses.
The number of solar eclipses in a single year can range from 2 to 5. Nearly 3/4 of the time there are 2 eclipses in a year. On the other hand, it is quite rare to have 5 solar eclipse in a single year. The last time it happened was in 1935 and the next time is 2206.
For a complete introduction to this subject, see: Solar Eclipses For Beginners.
2006 Total Solar Eclipse
This Baily's Beads sequence shows both 2nd and 3rd Contact.
(click to see more photos)
Solar Eclipses: 2021 - 2040
The table below lists every solar eclipse from 2021 through 2040. Click on the eclipse Calendar Date to see a global map showing where the eclipse is visible from. The second column TD of Greatest Eclipse is the Terrestrial Dynamical Time of greatest eclipse and links to an animation showing the eclipse path across Earth. The Eclipse Type link opens a window showing the path of total and annular eclipses plotted on Google Maps. The Saros Series link opens a window showing the table listing details for all eclipses in the Saros series. The Eclipse Magnitude is the fraction of the Sun's diameter covered by the Moon at greatest eclipse. For total and annular eclipses, this value is actually the ratio of the apparent diameters of the Moon to the Sun. The Central Duration lists the duration of totality or annularity at greatest eclipse and links to a table of geographic coordinates of the eclipse path. The last column is a brief description of the geographic regions of eclipse visibility. The descriptions are for the partial phases of each eclipse. Annular and total eclipses are only visible from the regions in bold.
Eclipses of the Sun: 2021 - 2040 | |||||||
Calendar Date | TD of Greatest Eclipse | Eclipse Type | Saros Series | Eclipse Magnitude | Central Duration | Geographic Region of Eclipse Visibility | |
2021 Jun 10 | 10:43:06 | Annular | 147 | 0.943 | 03m51s | n N. America, Europe, Asia
[Annular: n Canada, Greenland, Russia] |
|
2021 Dec 04 | 07:34:38 | Total | 152 | 1.037 | 01m54s | Antarctica, S. Africa, s Atlantic
[Total: Antarctca] |
|
2022 Apr 30 | 20:42:36 | Partial | 119 | 0.640 | - | se Pacific, s S. America | |
2022 Oct 25 | 11:01:19 | Partial | 124 | 0.862 | - | Europe, ne Africa, Mid East, w Asia | |
2023 Apr 20 | 04:17:55 | Hybrid | 129 | 1.013 | 01m16s | se Asia, E. Indies, Australia, Philippines. N.Z.
[Hybrid: Indonesia, Australia, Papua New Guinea] |
|
2023 Oct 14 | 18:00:40 | Annular | 134 | 0.952 | 05m17s | N. America, C. America, S. America
[Annular: w US, C. America, Columbia, Brazil] |
|
2024 Apr 08 | 18:18:29 | Total | 139 | 1.057 | 04m28s | N. America, C. America
[Total: Mexico, c US, e Canada] |
|
2024 Oct 02 | 18:46:13 | Annular | 144 | 0.933 | 07m25s | Pacific, s S. America
[Annular: s Chile, s Argentina] |
|
2025 Mar 29 | 10:48:36 | Partial | 149 | 0.938 | - | nw Africa, Europe, n Russia | |
2025 Sep 21 | 19:43:04 | Partial | 154 | 0.855 | - | s Pacific, N.Z., Antarctica | |
2026 Feb 17 | 12:13:05 | Annular | 121 | 0.963 | 02m20s | s Argentina & Chile, s Africa, Antarctica
[Annular: Antarctica] |
|
2026 Aug 12 | 17:47:05 | Total | 126 | 1.039 | 02m18s | n N. America, w Africa, Europe
[Total: Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain] |
|
2027 Feb 06 | 16:00:47 | Annular | 131 | 0.928 | 07m51s | S. America, Antarctica, w & s Africa
[Annular: Chile, Argentina, Atlantic] |
|
2027 Aug 02 | 10:07:49 | Total | 136 | 1.079 | 06m23s | Africa, Europe, Mid East, w & s Asia
[Total:Morocco, Spain, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia] |
|
2028 Jan 26 | 15:08:58 | Annular | 141 | 0.921 | 10m27s | e N. America, C. & S. America, w Europe, nw Africa
[Annular: Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, Spain, Portugal] |
|
2028 Jul 22 | 02:56:39 | Total | 146 | 1.056 | 05m10s | SE Asia, E. Indies, Australia, N.Z.
[Total: Australia, N. Z.] |
|
2029 Jan 14 | 17:13:47 | Partial | 151 | 0.871 | - | N. America, C. America | |
2029 Jun 12 | 04:06:13 | Partial | 118 | 0.458 | - | Arctic, Scandanavia, Alaska, n Asia, n Canada | |
2029 Jul 11 | 15:37:18 | Partial | 156 | 0.230 | - | s Chile, s Argentina | |
2029 Dec 05 | 15:03:57 | Partial | 123 | 0.891 | - | s Argentina, s Chile, Antarctica | |
2030 Jun 01 | 06:29:13 | Annular | 128 | 0.944 | 05m21s | Europe, n Africa, Mid East, Asia, Arctic, Alaska
[Annular: Algeria, Tunisia, Greece, Turkey, Russia, n China, Japan] |
|
2030 Nov 25 | 06:51:37 | Total | 133 | 1.047 | 03m44s | s Africa, s Indian Oc., East Indies, Australia, Antarctica
[Total: Botswana, S. Africa, Australia] |
|
2031 May 21 | 07:16:04 | Annular | 138 | 0.959 | 05m26s | Africa, s Asia, East Indies, Australia
[Annular: Angola, Congo, Zambia, Tanzania, s India, Malaysia, Indonesia] |
|
2031 Nov 14 | 21:07:31 | Hybrid | 143 | 1.011 | 01m08s | Pacific, s US, Central America, nw South America
[Hybrid: Pacific, Panama] |
|
2032 May 09 | 13:26:42 | Annular | 148 | 0.996 | 00m22s | s South America, s Africa
[Annular: s Atlantic] |
|
2032 Nov 03 | 05:34:13 | Partial | 153 | 0.855 | - | Asia | |
2033 Mar 30 | 18:02:36 | Total | 120 | 1.046 | 02m37s | North America
[Total: e Russia, Alaska] |
|
2033 Sep 23 | 13:54:31 | Partial | 125 | 0.689 | - | s South America, Antarctica | |
2034 Mar 20 | 10:18:45 | Total | 130 | 1.046 | 04m09s | Africa, Europe, w Asia
[Total: Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China] |
|
2034 Sep 12 | 16:19:28 | Annular | 135 | 0.974 | 02m58s | C. America, South America
[Annular: Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil] |
|
2035 Mar 09 | 23:05:54 | Annular | 140 | 0.992 | 00m48s | Australia, New Zealand, s Pacific, Mexico, Antarctica
[Annular: New Zealand, Pacific] |
|
2035 Sep 02 | 01:56:46 | Total | 145 | 1.032 | 02m54s | e Asia, Pacific
[Total: China, Korea, Japan, Pacific] |
|
2036 Feb 27 | 04:46:49 | Partial | 150 | 0.629 | - | Antarctica, s Australia, New Zealand | |
2036 Jul 23 | 10:32:06 | Partial | 117 | 0.199 | - | s Atlantic | |
2036 Aug 21 | 17:25:45 | Partial | 155 | 0.862 | - | Alaska, Canada, Arctic, w Europe, nw Africa | |
2037 Jan 16 | 09:48:55 | Partial | 122 | 0.705 | - | n Africa, Europe, Mid East, w Asia | |
2037 Jul 13 | 02:40:36 | Total | 127 | 1.041 | 03m58s | East Indies, Australia, Pacific
[Total: Australia, New Zealand] |
|
2038 Jan 05 | 13:47:11 | Annular | 132 | 0.973 | 03m18s | e North America, n South America, Atlantic, Africa, Europe
[Annular: Cuba, Dom.Rep., Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Chad, Egypt] |
|
2038 Jul 02 | 13:32:55 | Annular | 137 | 0.991 | 01m00s | N. & C. America, South America, Africa, Europe, Mid East
[Annular: Colombia, Venezuela, Mauritania, Morocco, Mali, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya] |
|
2038 Dec 26 | 01:00:10 | Total | 142 | 1.027 | 02m18s | se Asia, East Indies, Australia, New Zealand, s Pacific, Antarctica
[Total: Australia, New Zealand, s Pacific] |
|
2039 Jun 21 | 17:12:54 | Annular | 147 | 0.945 | 04m05s | North America, w Europe
[Annular: Alaska, n Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Russia] |
|
2039 Dec 15 | 16:23:46 | Total | 152 | 1.036 | 01m51s | s South America, Antarctica
[Total: Antarctica] |
|
2040 May 11 | 03:43:02 | Partial | 119 | 0.531 | - | Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica | |
2040 Nov 04 | 19:09:02 | Partial | 124 | 0.807 | - | N. & C. America |
Geographic abbreviations (used above): n = north, s = south, e = east, w = west, c = central
The last two total solar eclipses visible from the continental USA occured on Feb. 26, 1979 and Aug. 21, 2017. A total solar eclipse was visible from Hawaii and Mexico on July 11, 1991. The next total solar eclipse visible from the USA occurs on Apr. 8, 2024. The 2024 eclipse is also visible from Mexico and Canada.
The partial and annular phases of eclipses are dangerous to look at because the un-eclipsed part of the Sun is still very bright. You must use special filters or a home-made pinhole projector to safely watch a partial or annular eclipse of the Sun (see: Observing Solar Eclipses Safely). It is only during the total phase of a total eclipse that it is completely safe the to view the Sun with the naked eye. See Solar Eclipses For Beginners to learn the basics.
Eclipse Publications
The five volumes of the Eclipse Almanac publication series include maps and diagrams of every solar and lunar eclipse from 2021 to 2070 (each volume covers a single decade). Each vomume available in Black & White, Color, and Kindle editions. |
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Total Solar Eclipse of 2006
This sequence captures the entire eclipse from start to finish.
(click to see more photos)
Eclipse Resources
- Table and Maps of Solar Eclipses: 2011-2020 (EclipseWise)
- Table and Maps of Solar Eclipses: 2021-2030 (EclipseWise)
- Table and Maps of Solar Eclipses: 2031-2040 (EclipseWise)
- World Atlas Solar Eclipses (EclipseWise)
- World Map of Total Solar Eclipses: 2001-2025 (EclipseWise)
- World Map of Annular Solar Eclipses: 2001-2025 (EclipseWise)
- Maps of Annular and Total Solar Eclipses in North America: 1851-2100 (EclipseWise)
- Eclipses During 2015 - complete details on all eclipses in 2015
- Eclipses During 2016 - complete details on all eclipses in 2016
- Eclipses During 2017 - complete details on all eclipses in 2017
- Eclipses During 2018 - complete details on all eclipses in 2018
- Eclipses During 2019 - complete details on all eclipses in 2019
- Eclipses During 2020 - complete details on all eclipses in 2020
- Eclipses During 2021 - complete details on all eclipses in 2021
- Eclipses During 2022 - complete details on all eclipses in 2022
- Eclipses During 2023 - complete details on all eclipses in 2023
- Eclipses During 2024 - complete details on all eclipses in 2024
- Solar Eclipse Predictions (EclipseWise)
- Six Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: 3000 BCE to 3000 CE (EclipseWise)
- Solar Eclipses of Historical Interest (EclipseWise.com)
- Solar Eclipses For Beginners
- How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse - instructions and tips (MrEclipse.com)
- How to Photograph a Solar Eclipse - instructions and tips (Nikon)
- Exposure Table for Solar Eclipse Photography
- Videotaping Solar Eclipses
- Solar Eclipses: Photograph Index
- Solar Eclipse Galleries: 1970 - 1984 | 1990 - 1994 | 1995 - 1999
- 1991 Total Solar Eclipse: Gallery A | Gallery B
- 1998 Total Solar Eclipse: Gallery A | Gallery B
- 1999 Total Solar Eclipse: Gallery A | Gallery B | Gallery C | Gallery D
- 2001 Total Solar Eclipse: Gallery A | Gallery B
- 2005 Total Solar Eclipse: Gallery A | Gallery B
- 2005 Annular Solar Eclipse: Gallery A | Gallery B
- 2006 Total Solar Eclipse: Gallery A | Gallery B | Gallery C | Gallery D | Gallery E
- 2008 Total Solar Eclipse Photos: Gallery A
- 2012 Annular Solar Eclipse Photos: Gallery A
- 2017 Total Solar Eclipse Photos: Gallery A | Gallery B
- 2019 Total Solar Eclipse Photos: Gallery A
- Observing Solar Eclipses Safely - Totality
- Solar Eclipses and Eye Safety - Ralph Chou
- Solar Eclipses and Eye Safety - Fred Espenak
- Sources for Solar Filters - Totality
- Lunar Eclipses For Beginners
- Lunar Eclipse Preview: 2020 - 2040
- Index to Eclipse and Astronomy Photographs