For each eclipse, a map of the path of totality (in dark blue) and the accompanying partial region (in pale blue), is shown. The red regions indicate where the eclipse occurs at sunrise or sunset. The shaded area is the night side of the Earth. The red asterisk along the path of totality indicates the location of greatest eclipse where the eclipse is at its longest. The second red astersisk indicates where the Sun is overhead (the sub-solar point) at the moment of greatest eclipse.
The general locations where the eclipse is total are listed along with the maximum width of the path of totality and the maximum duration of the total phase.
More details, bigger and more detailed maps, tables of the path of totality, weather details and lots more can be obtained from Fred Espenak a year or two before the eclipse is due.
The following maps are all © Fred Espenak.
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1 August 2008
Northern Canada, northern Greenland, the Arctic Ocean, central Siberia, Mongolia, China. A partial eclipse will be visible in the UK. Maximum path width: 237 km Maximum duration of totality: 2m 27s | |
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22 July 2009
India at sunrise, China, Japanese islands, Pacific Ocean. This is the longest eclipse of the 21st century. Maximum path width: 258 km Maximum duration of totality: 6m 39s | |
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11 July 2010
Southern Pacific Ocean, a few Pacific islands including Easter Island, the extreme south of Chile and Argentina at sunset. This is a long eclipse mainly over ocean. Maximum path width: 259 km Maximum duration of totality: 5m 20s | |
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13 November 2012
Northern Australia at sunrise, southern Pacific Ocean. A long eclipse but mainly in ocean. Maximum path width: 179 km Maximum duration of totality: 4m 02s | |
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3 November 2013
A Hybrid eclipse. Total for most of its length including Gabon, Congo, Zaire, Uganda. Maximum path width: 58 km Maximum duration of totality: 1m 40s | |
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20 March 2015
Faroe Islands, Arctic Ocean. A high latitude eclipse with an unusually wide path visible in the northern regions including the North Pole. A large partial eclipse will occur in the UK. Maximum path width: 463 km Maximum duration of totality: 2m 47s | |
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9 March 2016
Indonesia (including Sumatra, Borneo and Sulawesi), Pacific Ocean. Maximum path width: 155 km Maximum duration of totality: 4m 09s | |
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21 August 2017
Pacific Ocean, several states of the USA, Atlantic Ocean. A small partial eclipse will be visible at sunset in the UK. Maximum path width: 115 km Maximum duration of totality: 2m 40s |
| Angular Diameter of the Moon | 33'39'' | 29'22'' | 31'05.16'' | Angular Diameter of the Sun | 32'36'' | 31'32'' | 31'59.26'' |
| Total | Annular | Hybrid | Partial |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26.9% | 33.2% | 4.8% | 35.2% |
On average the Moon is not large enough (as seen from the Earth) to cover the Sun completely. The Moon must be closer than average to cover the Sun completely. This is why Annular eclipses are more common than Total eclipses.
| Solar Eclipses per Century | 238 |
| Maximim Number of Solar Eclipses per Year | 5 |
| Minimum Number of Solar Eclipses per Year | 2 |
| Maximim Number of Total Solar Eclipses per Year | 3 |
| Minimum Number of Total Solar Eclipses per Year | 0 |
| Longest Possible (Theoretical) | 7m 31s |
| Longest in 20th Century (20 June 1955) | 7m 08s |
| Longest in 21st Century (22 July 2009) | 6m 39s |
| Longest in 2nd Millennium (9 June 1062) | 7m 21s |
| Longest in 3rd Millennium (16 July 2186) | 7m 29s |
| Longest in Recorded History (15 June 744BC) | 7m 28s |
Fred Espenak (NASA)
Past and future eclipses - reports, maps and information from NASA's Fred
Espenak. This is the best place to obtain eclipse information and maps.
Eclipse Glasses
Small or large amounts of CE approved eclipse glasses as used by the BBC.
