An eclipse happens when the Sun, the Earth and the Moon line up. In a solar eclipse, the Moon passes in front of the Sun and its shadow sweeps across a strip of the Earth: only there is the eclipse total, while a much wider area sees a partial one. In a lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow and can turn coppery red, and everyone on the night side of the Earth can see it. Because the Moon’s orbit is tilted, eclipses do not happen every month but in “seasons” about six months apart. The list gives the coming eclipses, and with your location Perigee says how much of each you would see.
When is the next eclipse?
Computing…
Questions and answers
Why doesn’t an eclipse happen every month?
The Moon’s orbit is tilted about 5° to the Earth’s, so the Moon usually passes a little above or below the Sun or the Earth’s shadow.
How can I watch a solar eclipse safely?
Only with certified eclipse glasses or a proper solar filter, or by projecting the Sun’s image through a pinhole; sunglasses are not enough.
Where the numbers come from
Values refresh every second in your browser; the published data are checked every 10 minutes and updated several times a day.