Latest from Space.com in Eclipses

An 'almost blood moon' is coming on Aug. 27 and it'll be the best lunar eclipse until NYE 2028

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

One month from today, skywatchers across the Americas, Europe and Africa will have the chance to witness the best lunar eclipse until New Year's Eve 2028.

On Aug. 28, Earth's shadow will cover up to 96% of the moon's disk in an exceptionally deep partial lunar eclipse. At maximum eclipse, only a thin sliver of the moon will remain outside Earth's darkest shadow, creating an "almost blood moon" with nearly the entire lunar surface glowing a deep reddish-orange.

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to observe with the naked eye and requires no special equipment. All you need is clear skies and a view of the moon.

Where can I see the lunar eclipse?

A map of the lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28, 2026. Click the arrows in the bottom left corner to expand to full screen. (Image credit: F. Espenak, NASA's GSFC)

The eclipse will be visible across Europe, Africa, the Americas and parts of western Asia, though exactly what you'll see depends on your location.

The Americas are particularly well-placed to catch the eclipse's most dramatic stages, as many locations will see the moon rise already deep within Earth's shadow. Across eastern North America, observers will see the "almost blood moon" climb above the horizon shortly before or during maximum eclipse.

Across Europe and Africa, the eclipse occurs before dawn on Aug. 28. Observers in the U.K. and western Europe will see the moon low in the western sky during the final stages of the eclipse, before it sets shortly after maximum. Farther east, progressively less of the eclipse will be visible before moonset.

North & South America: Best overall views
Europe & Africa: Excellent predawn moonset eclipse
Western Asia: Limited views before moonset
Eastern Asia: Little or no visibility.

What will it look like?

A deep partial lunar eclipse makes for an impressive skywatching event. (Image credit: Laurie LaPorte via Getty Images)

Because 96% of the moon will pass through Earth's central dark shadow, known as the umbra, this eclipse is expected to look remarkably similar to a total lunar eclipse or a "blood moon" lunar eclipse. The moon will likely take on a deep coppery-red hue with only a narrow bright silver lining remaining.

Follow along with Space.com

Over the coming month, Space.com will bring you everything you need to prepare for eclipse night. From viewing guides and photographing the event to a live blog bringing you the latest news and action from the best lunar eclipse until NYE 2028. We'll also be releasing details on how you can watch the eclipse online if you're unable to catch it in person.

After a lifetime of waiting, I'll finally witness a total solar eclipse next month on Aug. 12

Anthony Wood — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000

On Aug. 12, I get to fulfil a lifelong ambition. I'll take a flight to Madrid and travel northwest to the city of Valladolid by rail, before striking out for Valoria la Buena — a charming town in central Spain with a population of less than 1,000.

There, I'll bear witness to one of the most spectacular naked eye shows that the solar system has to offer: a total solar eclipse. My first total solar eclipse.

Don't get me wrong. I've been obsessed with eclipses my entire life. I just haven't found myself in the right place at the right time to experience totality until now. 10-year-old me came pretty close during a deep partial eclipse in 1999, when I caught a fleeting glimpse of the moon's silhouette taking a bite out of the sun in the cloud-ridden skies over the United Kingdom.

Smash cut 20-something years later and I'm inexplicably the Skywatching Writer for Space.com, where one of the major perks of the job is being sent to report on eclipses. Things aligned quite nicely.

For the 2026 eclipse, I'll be joining a volunteer team from NASA's Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast (DEB) Initiative led by citizen scientist Charles Greenwald.

The DEB is a network of enthusiastic solar observers led by professional astronomers who use standardized telescopes and software to share inspiring eclipse imagery to the public, while also capturing valuable scientific data on the sun's disk and golden atmosphere.

It was Greenwald who scouted Valoria la Buena as a prime location to observe the eclipse. He's since been hard at work liaising with DEB initiative leadership to test software updates and troubleshoot other issues, while also travelling to Mexico to help train student members of the team ahead of their expedition to Spain. Two more eclipse enthusiasts are due to join the group once it arrives in Madrid, making it a wonderfully international affair.

Less than a month out, things are pretty settled, and a kind of nervous anticipation has taken hold. Flights and trains are booked, and I have a pair of Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 binoculars and the EclipSmart 3-Piece Solar Eclipse Observing and Imaging Kit, courtesy of Celestron. Also hats and an ungodly amount of suntan lotion. I'm bald after all, so the sun is my greatest natural predator.

Of course, preparations can only get you so far. Once we get to Valoria la Buena on Aug. 10 there'll still be important work to do. The first order of business for Charles and his DEB team will be to stake out a location with a clear line of sight to the west for their equipment. Totality will occur with the sun less than 10 degrees above the horizon — roughly the width of your clenched fist held at arm's length — so line of sight will be everything.

We'll also be at the mercy of the weather. Clouds could easily arrive to hide the cosmic show from view — especially with the eclipse so low on the horizon. The DEB team also has to find a spot with good connectivity, which will allow them to broadcast near-live images of our parent star for the public to enjoy and scientists to pore over.

The sun's atmosphere shines out from behind the moon during a total lunar eclipse. (Image credit: Photo by Keegan Barber/NASA via Getty Images)

All being well, myself, the DEB team and over 15 million others in the path of totality will bear witness to a heartstopping display of orbital mechanics that crescendos with the fleeting artificial night of totality, as the moon blocks the last sliver of the sun from view. Space.com's Skywatching Editor Daisy Dobrijevic will also be on hand to report on the total solar eclipse as it unfolds in the skies over Greenland.

We can't wait to share our experiences with you. Be sure to stick with Space.com to discover everything there is to know about the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse, along with details on how to watch it online, which will be published closer to the event!

You should also read our guide to safely observing the sun, to ensure that you're ready to enjoy the eclipse, and our roundup of the best solar viewing equipment available in 2026 if you're looking for safe, quality gear.

Editor's Note: Want to share your eclipse photography with Space.com's readers? Then please send your photos and comments, along with your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

The 10 best places in the UK to see the partial solar eclipse on Aug. 12

Jamie Carter — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000

On Aug. 12, 2026, skywatchers across the U.K. will experience a rare astronomical double-header: a deep partial solar eclipse before sunset followed, hours later, by the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Although the path of totality will sweep from Greenland and Iceland to Spain, it will miss Britain entirely. However, the solar eclipse will still be dramatic, with up to 96% of the sun obscured for viewers in the far southwest.

This will be the U.K.'s deepest partial solar eclipse since 2015, and timing will be everything. The eclipse reaches its peak around 7:00-7:16 p.m. BST, with the sun hanging low above the west-northwest horizon as a narrowing crescent shortly before sunset. Because the sun will be relatively low, choosing the right location will matter far more than traveling huge distances. Coastal viewpoints, hilltops and open landscapes with unobstructed western horizons will offer guaranteed views — if the sky is clear.

The locations below prioritize another crucial factor: dark skies. While the eclipse will be visible almost everywhere in the U.K. and most will be happy to see it from close to where they live, the real reward comes after darkness falls, when the Perseids begin flashing across the sky. Find somewhere remote, stay overnight — ideally camp — and this could become one of the most memorable observing sessions of the year.

Eclipse timings and sightlines are from Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Maps; cloud cover is from Time and Date, the figures reflect long-term climatological averages for mid-August, not weather forecasts. Bortle and sky quality meter (SQM) data come from the Light Pollution map.

During a partial solar eclipse, it is NEVER safe to look directly at the sun without solar eclipse glasses designed for solar viewing. Read our guide on how to observe the sun safely.

1. Hugh Town

The Isles of Scilly will see the largest eclipse in the U.K. (Image credit: Westend61 via Getty Images)

Location: St. Mary's Island, Isles of Scilly, U.K.

Max eclipse: 96.4% at 7:16 p.m. BST

Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:19-8:10 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:49 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 3.2 Bortle/SQM 21.86

Cloud risk: 74%

The Isles of Scilly combine Britain's deepest partial eclipse with some of southern England's darkest skies. From Hugh Town and nearby west-facing beaches on St Mary's, the eclipsed sun will hang low above the Atlantic Ocean late in the day. Later that night, with minimal light pollution and broad sea horizons, the islands are an exceptional place to watch the Perseid meteor shower beneath pristine late-summer skies.

2. Land's End

Land's End will see one of the biggest eclipses on the U.K. mainland. (Image credit: PKM1 via Getty Images)

Location: Sennen, Penzance, England

Max eclipse: 95.9% at 7:16 p.m. BST

Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:19-8:10 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:47 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 3.1 Bortle/SQM 21.85

Cloud risk: 71%

Land's End is one of the best places on mainland Britain to watch the eclipse because of its vast Atlantic horizon and minimal obstruction toward the west-northwest. The sun will appear heavily eclipsed as it descends toward the ocean before sunset. After dark, the remote far-western location and low levels of artificial light make this region an outstanding destination for viewing the Perseid meteor shower.

3. Boscastle

Boscastle's River Valency valley will frame the eclipsed sun. (Image credit: Graham Custance Photography via Getty Images)

Location: Cornwall, England

Max eclipse: 94.7% at 7:15 p.m. BST

Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:18-8:09 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:45 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 4.0 Bortle/SQM 21.71

Cloud risk: 76%

Boscastle's narrow harbor and dramatic valley may create a natural frame for the eclipsed sun as it sinks toward the Atlantic. The village's northwest-facing coastline offers clear views toward the low evening eclipse, while the surrounding Cornish countryside remains relatively dark after sunset. Once twilight fades, the cliffs and headlands nearby become excellent places to watch for bright Perseid meteors.

4. Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve

Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve is a great choice for an eclipse and the Perseids. (Image credit: Devon and Cornwall Photography via Getty Images)

Location: Exmoor National Park, Somerset and north Devon, England

Max eclipse: 93.7% at 7:14 p.m. BST

Sun position: 12° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:17-8:08 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:42 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 3.9 Bortle/SQM 21.67

Cloud risk: 69%

Exmoor combines elevated moorland, dramatic coastline and protected dark skies, making it ideal for both the eclipse and the Perseids. Coastal viewpoints such as Valley of Rocks and Heddon's Mouth offer clear west-facing horizons for the low-eclipsed sun before sunset. Later that night, Exmoor's status as a Dark Sky Reserve makes it perfect for seeing bright Perseid meteors — and the Milky Way.

5. Rhossili Bay

Rhossili Bay in the Gower has a west-facing beach and dark skies at night. (Image credit: Chris Griffiths via Getty Images)

Location: Gower Peninsula, Swansea, Wales

Max eclipse: 93.8% at 7:13 p.m. BST

Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:16-8:07 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:46 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 4.0 Bortle/SQM 21.63

Cloud risk: 73%

Rhossili Bay's enormous west-facing beach and elevated clifftops make it ideal for watching a low eclipse unfold above the sea. Located on the Gower Peninsula, the area is a Dark Sky Community that retains relatively dark skies despite its popularity during the day. As darkness falls later that evening, the open coastal landscape provides excellent visibility for Perseid meteors.

6. Strumble Head

Strumble Head in west Wales has a clear western horizon and dark skies. (Image credit: Andrea Ricordi, Italy via Getty Images)

Location: Pencaer, Pembrokeshire, west Wales

Max eclipse: 94.0% at 7:13 p.m. BST

Sun position: 14° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:15-8:07 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:51 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 3.3 Bortle/SQM 21.84

Cloud risk: 70%

Strumble Head offers one of the clearest west-facing horizons in Wales, with the eclipsed sun appearing above the Irish Sea beside its iconic lighthouse. The remote Pembrokeshire coastline experiences very little artificial light, helping preserve dark skies after sunset. Once the eclipse ends, this rugged headland becomes an excellent place to watch the Perseids, with broad ocean views and little interference from nearby towns.

7. Llŷn Peninsula

The remote Lleyn Peninsula is close to a Dark Sky Sanctuary. (Image credit: WLDavies via Getty Images)

Location: Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd, north Wales

Max eclipse: 93.3% at 7:11 p.m. BST

Sun position: 14° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:14-8:05 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:52 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 2.9 Bortle/SQM 21.91

Cloud risk: 70%

The remote Llŷn Peninsula projects deep into the Irish Sea, offering expansive views toward the west-northwest horizon, where the eclipsed sun will appear before sunset. It is also one of the darkest regions in Wales, lying close to the protected skies of Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) Dark Sky Sanctuary. With minimal light pollution and wide rural vistas, the peninsula becomes a superb location for watching Perseid meteors later that same night.

8. Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park

The shore of Clatteringshaws Loch in Galloway Forest Park. (Image credit: Flavio Vallenari via Getty Images)

Location: Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland

Max eclipse: 91.8% at 7:07 p.m. BST

Sun position: 14° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:10—8:01 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:47 p.m. BST

Cloud risk: 85%

Galloway Forest Park was Britain's first Dark Sky Park and remains one of the country's premier stargazing destinations. Open western views around Clatteringshaws Loch, along with other viewpoints away from the forests, make it well-suited to the low evening eclipse. After twilight fades, exceptionally dark skies reveal the Milky Way in striking detail, creating near-perfect conditions for viewing the Perseid meteor shower in the early hours — if the sky is clear.

9. Northumberland Dark Sky Park

Sunset at Kielder Water in Northumberland. (Image credit: Paul Hayes via Getty Images)

Location: Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park, Northumberland, England

Max eclipse: 90.4% at 7:07 p.m. BST

Sun position: 13° above west-northwest horizon

Eclipse window: 6:10-8:00 p.m. BST

Sunset: 8:49 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 3.3 Bortle/SQM 21.82

Cloud risk: 90%

Northumberland's Dark Sky Park combines remote landscapes with some of England's darkest skies. Locations around Kielder Water and Northumberland National Park provide broad views toward the low west-northwest eclipse shortly before sunset. Later that night, the region becomes one of the finest places in Europe to watch the Perseids, with frequent views of the Milky Way and bright meteors overhead. Check for any events at Kielder Observatory.

10. Giant's Causeway

Giant's Causeway will have a great view of the eclipse. (Image credit: Francesco Vaninetti Photo via Getty Images)

Location: Bushmills, Northern Ireland

Max eclipse: 93.1% at 7:07 p.m. BST

Sun position: 16° above the west horizon

Eclipse window: 6:09-8:02 p.m. BST

Sunset: 9:31 p.m. BST

Light pollution: 4.2 Bortle/SQM 21.52

Cloud risk: 81%

The Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland offers a spectacular foreground for the eclipse, with the sun appearing low above the Atlantic beyond the famous basalt columns. Although the skies here are not as dark as in some rural parks, the north Antrim coastline still experiences relatively modest light pollution. Nearby coastal viewpoints and beaches provide good conditions for watching Perseid meteors later that night beneath expansive northern skies.

1 month until the total solar eclipse 2026 — Here's what you need to know

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

One month from today, millions will turn their eyes to the skies for one of the most anticipated skywatching events of the year: the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026.

The eclipse will sweep across parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, briefly turning day into night for those lucky enough to be within the narrow path of totality.

It's been a long time coming for European skywatchers, as the event marks Europe's first total solar eclipse since 1999.

Where can I see the total solar eclipse?

If you're hoping to experience totality, now is the time to finalize your plans. The path of totality crosses Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, with maximum eclipse lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds.

Path of totality over Iceland.Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

Path of totality over Spain.Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

Entire path of totality. From Greenland through Iceland and Spain. Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

Spain is expected to be one of the most popular destinations thanks to its favorable weather prospects, though it's not without a catch! Viewers will need to secure a clear view of the western horizon because the eclipsed sun will sit very low in the sky during totality.

Notable locations and timings of totality
Location	Totality duration	What time?	Sun height
Scoresby Sund, Greenland	1 minute, 46 seconds	4:35 p.m. CGST	24 degrees above west
Reykjavik, Iceland	1 minute, 1 second	5:48 p.m. GMT	25 degrees above west
Snæfellsjökull National Park, Iceland	2 minutes, 10 seconds	5:45 p.m. GMT	25 degrees above west
Gijón, Spain	1 minute, 46 seconds	8:26 p.m. CEST	10 degrees above west-northwest
A Coruña, Spain	1 minute, 15 seconds	8:27 p.m. CEST	12 degrees above west-northwest
Palencia, Spain	1 minute, 42 seconds	8:29 p.m. CEST	9 degrees above west-northwest
Burgos, Spain	1 minute, 44 seconds	8:28 p.m. CEST	8 degrees above west-northwest
Segovia, Spain	54 seconds	8:31 p.m. CEST	8 degrees above west-northwest
Sigüenza, Spain	1 minute, 38 seconds	8:30 p.m. CEST	7 degrees above west-northwest
Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain	1 minute, 36 seconds	8:31 p.m. CEST	2.7 degrees above west-northwest

Will I see the eclipse from where I live?

Not inside the path of totality? Don't worry. A spectacular partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, with more than 90% of the sun covered from locations including London, Paris and Dublin.

Location	% of sun's disk covered
New York City	9%
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada	53%
Nuuk, Greenland	79%
Oslo, Norway	83%
Berlin, Germany	84%
London, U.K.	91%
Paris, France	92%
Tangier, Morocco	92%
Dublin, Ireland	94%
Lisbon, Portugal	94%
Nice, France	95%
Madrid, Spain	99.96%
Barcelona, Spain	99.82%

If you're still deciding where to watch, we have several guides on the best viewing locations close to popular Spanish holiday destinations, the best Spanish beaches, and the best places to view the eclipse overall.

How we will be covering the eclipse

Over the coming weeks, Space.com will bring you everything you need to prepare for eclipse day. We'll publish viewing guides, safety advice and information on how to watch the eclipse online.

Closer to the event, we'll launch a dedicated live blog covering the latest eclipse news and insights from our reporters in the field.

Skywatching Editor Daisy Dobrijevic will join an eclipse expedition to Greenland with HX, while Skywatching Writer Anthony Wood will travel to northern Spain with the DEB initiative and citizen scientists to report firsthand from the path of totality.

10 best Spanish cities to see the total solar eclipse 2026

Jamie Carter — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 10:00:00 +0000

For the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse, Spain's great cities will be pulling in eclipse-chasers from across Europe, but not every famous destination is equally well placed. In Barcelona and Madrid, the eclipse is a near miss — dramatic on paper, yet ultimately disappointing. Madrid gets a 99.96% partial eclipse, which means no totality, so no corona, no twilight sky and no plunge in temperature. Cue a mass exodus from Spain's two biggest cities in search of totality.

To experience a total solar eclipse, you need to be inside the narrow path of totality stretching across northern Spain, from the northwest coast to the east coast. Timing and geography matter because this is a very low-sun eclipse, with totality arriving close to sunset. Coastal beaches, riverbanks, hilltop miradors and elevated parks with unobstructed west-northwest horizons will become prime real estate for one of Europe's most anticipated astronomical events. Here are 10 cities for the eclipse, with recommended viewpoints.

Essential resources for checking and re-checking intended destinations for totality include Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sight lines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional. However, nothing beats being in place the night before to check for trees and other obstructions at the time of the eclipse. All times and cloud statistics come from Time and Date and are for totality only.

1. Valladolid

Clear skies are likely in Valladolid. (Image credit: Rodolfo Rodríguez Castro via Getty Images)

Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 29 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.7 degrees

Chance of clouds: 19% (since 2000)

Surrounded by flat land and with an excellent chance of clear skies, Valladolid is one of the top spots for the eclipse. There will be some clear sight lines from the east bank of the Pisuerga River, specifically its Playa de las Moreras river beach, though buildings will complicate things, so play it safe and head to the Parque Urbano de las Contiendas on the west side.

2. Palencia

The cathedral in Palencia, Spain. (Image credit: Sergio Formoso via Getty Images)

Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 42 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.7 degrees

Chance of clouds: 23% (since 2000)

One of the destinations most likely to have clear skies, Palencia is surrounded by flat, open landscapes perfect for viewing a low-altitude eclipse. Key locations include the scenic Mirador de Palencia, overlooking the city from the southwest, and the elevated Cristo del Otero, overlooking the city from the north.

3. León

The cathedral of Santa Maria and the old town of León. (Image credit: Carlos Ciudad Photos via Getty Images)

Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 44 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 10 degrees

Chance of clouds: 26% (since 2000)

This historic city south of the Cantabrian Mountains is bound to be one of the hotspots for the eclipse. Considered one of the best spots to watch the sunset because of its panoramic views of the city, Mirador de las Lomas (specifically Mirador de Las Lomas Tres), overlooks León from the east and offers panoramic sunset views across the city.

4. Zaragoza

Zaragoza's Puente de Piedra bridge and Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar. (Image credit: Schroptschop via Getty Images)

Location: Aragon, northern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 23 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 6 degrees

Chance of clouds: 19% (since 2000)

On the Ebro River between Madrid and Barcelona, Zaragoza is best known for its spectacular Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar). It just so happens that, from the historic Puente de Piedra bridge, photographers may be able to capture the totally eclipsed sun just above the silhouette of its spires. Expect crowds here, and also on the San Lázaro riverfront behind. For a quieter spot, follow the Ebro River northwest away from the city center.

5. Burgos

A view of Burgos Cathedral at sunrise. (Image credit: Sergio Formoso via Getty Images)

Location: Castilla y León, northwestern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 44 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.3 degrees

Chance of clouds: 31% (since 2000)

Famed for its medieval architecture, this provincial capital will be busy for the eclipse, but pay close attention to sight lines. Many will be close to the historic Arco de Santa María, but it's poorly placed, so instead get yourself on the northwest bank of the elevated Parque del Castillo for a low panoramic view of the city — and the eclipse.

6. Logroño

Logroño in La Rioja will see a short totality. (Image credit: F.J. Jimenez via Getty Images)

Location: La Rioja, northern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 19 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.5 degrees

Chance of clouds: 38% (since 2000)

A stop on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Logroño — 92 miles (148 km) south of Bilbao — is famed for the twin towers of its Cathedral of Santa María de la Redonda. Its Parque de Ebro, on the banks of the River Ebro, is ideal for eclipse-viewing, with the Puente de Piedra bridge also offering a clear view.

7. A Coruña

Riazor and Orzan beaches in A Coruña. (Image credit: Elizabeth Fernandez via Getty Images)

Location: Galicia, northwestern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:27 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 16 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 12.1 degrees

Chance of clouds: 53% (since 2000)

The first major city on mainland Europe to experience totality will be A Coruña in northwestern Spain, where its crescent-shaped Riazor and Orzan beaches will doubtless be crowded for the occasion. They're close to the city center, home to exquisite Galician seafood restaurants.

8. Gijón

Gijón's Playa de Poniente is perfect for the eclipse. (Image credit: saulgranda via Getty Images)

Location: Asturias, northern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:26 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 44 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 10.3 degrees

Chance of clouds: 54% (since 2000)

There are lots of places to watch the eclipse from this large coastal city in northern Spain. The clifftop park on Santa Catalina hill is bound to be busy, but there's plenty of space on the beaches on either side — the crescent-shaped Playa de San Lorenzo on the east and artificial Playa de Poniente on the west.

9. Bilbao

The Artxanda funicular railroad in Bilbao. (Image credit: We-Ge via Getty Images)

Location: Basque Country, northern Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:27 p.m. CEST; 26 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.2 degrees

Chance of clouds: 57% (since 2000)

Bilbao, on the Bay of Biscay at the northern edge of the path, gets a short totality, but has a spectacular elevated spot to watch the eclipse close to the center. Artxanda Viewpoint is a three-minute journey via funicular railway and gives panoramic views of the city. It's a popular sunset spot in August, so it's bound to be busy.

10. Madrid (San Sebastián de los Reyes)

Madrid will see only a 99.96% partial solar eclipse. (Image credit: fitopardo via Getty Images)

Location: San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, central Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 24 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.3 degrees

Chance of clouds: 15% (since 2000)

Frustratingly for madrileñas, madrileños, and eclipse planners, Puerta del Sol (Gate of the Sun), at the heart of Madrid, gets a 99.96% partial solar eclipse. Only its northern suburbs see totality, including San Sebastián de los Reyes, 12 miles (20km) north. El Mirador de Pichón has a clear sight line to a short, dramatic totality. San Sebastián de los Reyes is one of 11 observation points curated by the Community of Madrid.

Millions could see a rare sunset during the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. Here's where to look

Jamie Carter — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 14:00:00 +0000

On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible in eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. Eclipse chasers will travel to the path in droves, keen to witness a relatively short but ultimately dramatic totality. From Spain, eclipse chasers on the east coast will witness the rare spectacle on land of a totally eclipsed sun just a couple of degrees above the western horizon, minutes from sunset.

What many eclipse chasers — and those unable to travel to the path of totality — may overlook is the massive partial solar eclipse visible across Europe. Across almost the entire continent, a huge chunk of the sun will appear eclipsed. Even rarer, a partially eclipsed sunset will be visible in France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia, Finland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Italy, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania. In Northwest Africa, a similar view awaits Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso.

This promises to be a mighty event that millions can view in some form — but do many know about it yet? Here's what you need to know about seeing a partial solar eclipse across Europe on Aug. 12, 2026.

How to read an eclipse map

The black line on the map above shows where the maximum partial eclipse will happen at sunset. In Warsaw, Poland, for example, the sun will be 83% eclipsed — the maximum there — as it sets. For locations just east of the black line, the sun sets before the partial eclipse ends. Just to the west, sunset occurs as the partial eclipse deepens.

The black line on the left shows where the sun will set eclipsed on Aug. 12, 2026. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

So where should you be? For the best deep partial eclipse shots at sunset, position yourself west of the black line. Being on the line or just east of it will also work. It's less strict than the path of totality. Still, being close to the line on the northwest side is ideal.

Just remember that for all the focus on lines on a map, the spectacle itself — the deep partial eclipsed sunset — will take place on the horizon in the west-northwest.

"People living along the black sunset line will experience a beautiful deep partial eclipse at sunset," Michael Zeiler, eclipse cartographer, told Space.com. "Some ideal locations to see this over water are Algiers, Corsica, the Italian coast by the Ligurian Sea, and Venice, while High Alpine spots in eastern Austria will also have a dramatic sunset — a photographer's dream."

However, there are a few unexpected things to consider if you want the perfect view. "One interesting thing about these is that all the eclipse maps are calculating those lines for geometric sunset, which is when the middle of the sun is at the true horizon, ignoring refraction," Stephen Trainor at The Photographer's Ephemeris, told Space.com. "So what you tend to find is that actually the line isn't the line because refraction lifts the sun a little bit up — so you can usually creep a little bit the 'wrong' side of the line and you'll still be able to get the sun."

A deep, partially eclipsed sunset in such a heavily populated region is relatively rare. This image of a partial solar eclipse during sunrise was captured from New York on June 10, 2021. (Image credit: Matt Champlin via Getty Images)

Best places to see the eclipsed sunset in Europe

Here are some places to be in Europe where you'll get views of a partially eclipsed sunset. At the selected sites, maximum obscuration occurs about 10-15 minutes before sunset. From Europe, the crescent sun will set "horns down" — a "sad face" (or upside-down "smiley face").

Village d'Occi, Corsica, France (96% at 8:25 p.m. CEST, 24% chance of cloud, according to Timeanddate.com)
La Spezia, Ligurian Sea, Italy (94% at 8:22 p.m. CEST, 43% chance of cloud)
Modena, Italy (92% at 8:21 p.m. CEST, 38% chance of cloud)
Venice, Italy (91% at 8:19 p.m. CEST, 43% chance of cloud)
Kitzsteinhorn, Austria (89% at 8:16 p.m. CEST, 68% chance of cloud)
Olympiaberg, Munich, Germany (88% at 8:15 p.m. CEST, 61% chance of cloud)
Letná Park, Prague, Czechia (86% at 8:11 p.m. CEST, 65% chance of cloud)
Ostrów Tumski, Wrocław, Poland (84% at 8:09 p.m. CEST, 66% chance of cloud)
Warsaw, Poland (83% at 8:02 p.m. CEST, 61% chance of cloud)
Kaunas, Lithuania (81% at 8:56 p.m. EEST, 66% chance of cloud)
Lilastes pludmale, Gulf of Riga, Latvia (80% at 8:57 p.m. EEST, 63% chance of cloud)

Best places to see the eclipsed sunset in Africa

Here are some great places to be in northwest Africa, where you'll get views of a partially eclipsed sunset. Selected sites will experience maximum obscuration no more than 30 minutes before sunset (the sunset line largely passes through the remote Sahara Desert). From Africa, the crescent will slip beneath the horizon in the shape of the letter "C."

Cape Matifou, Tamentfoust, Algeria (98.5% at 7:42 p.m. CET, 49% chance of cloud)
Essaouira, Morocco (81% at 7:47 p.m. WEST, 15% chance of cloud)
Dakar, Senegal (37% at 7:12 p.m. GMT, 82% chance of cloud)
Banjul, Gambia (34% at 7:13 p.m. GMT, 80% chance of cloud)

Best places to see the eclipsed sunset in Spain

On Aug. 12, mainland Spain will host a path of totality for the first time since 1905. The path, about 182 miles (293 km) wide, will just miss Barcelona and Madrid. Some eclipse chasers will focus on seeing a totally eclipsed sun a few degrees above the horizon — minutes from sunset — from the Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera). That will be spectacular if the horizon is clear. But what some may overlook is this: in some areas, a partially eclipsed sunset will follow totality.

Watch the eclipse from Spain's Meseta region — including Burgos and León — and you'll see totality, followed by a partial eclipse that finishes minutes before sunset. In Soria, Sigüenza, Zaragoza, Teruel, and farther east toward the coast, you'll see totality and then a partially eclipsed sunset. The farther east you are, the more eclipsed the sun will be as it sinks into the horizon.

Planning a trip to see the eclipsed sunset?

An unobstructed, low western horizon is essential. So are clear skies because even distant clouds can block the view of sunset. For the horizon, try this tip: search for "sunset spots near [location] in August" to find recommendations from locals and tourists. However, as Trainor says, "go out and scout the location two or three nights before so you can develop an alternative if it's not going to pan out on the ground." He also advises using both his precision planning tool, which helps photographers visualize the sun, moon, and natural light, and a "sanity check" on Google Street View, just to prove that a shot is possible.

For the weather, patience is required — all you can do is check forecasts three days before Aug. 12, when predictions become fairly reliable. However, predicting low clouds along the horizon is tough. You'll need clear weather for many hundreds of miles to the west-northwest.

Annular solar eclipse 2027: everything you need to know about the 'ring of fire' on Feb. 6

Jamie Carter — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

An annular solar eclipse will occur on Feb. 6, 2027, when the moon's cone-shaped central shadow will not quite reach Earth. The result will be a 'ring of fire' visible to those within a broad path across southern Chile, Argentina and coastal parts of West Africa.

At the point of greatest eclipse in the Pacific, the moon will cover 93% of the sun's disk, leaving a relatively large bright ring visible for 7 minutes and 51 seconds. That makes it one of the longest annular solar eclipses this decade.

During an annular solar eclipse, it is NEVER safe to look directly at the sun without solar eclipse glasses designed for solar viewing. Read our guide on how to observe the sun safely.

This annular solar eclipse has a long and broad path, rising southwest of Easter Island (Rapa Nui) in the south Pacific Ocean and setting in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa.

The global path of the 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse on Feb. 6, 2027. (Image credit: Created and annotated by Jamie Carter using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community. Eclipse path from Xavier Jubier.))

That journey is 9,011 miles (14,501 kilometers), with the path between 180-220 miles (289-355 km) wide. The path of annularity crosses southern parts of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and (a tiny sliver of) Brazil in South America. After crossing the Atlantic, the northern edge of the path just makes land in the Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

The Path of Annularity: South America

Eclipse chasers wanting to observe annularity high in the sky while on land should head to Chile or Argentina, with the latter having a better chance of a clear sky. The path crosses northern Patagonia, a region of wide skies, low population, and — crucially in February — a generally favorable climate.

The path of the 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse through South America on Feb. 6, 2027. (Image credit: Created and annotated by Jamie Carter using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community. Eclipse path from Xavier Jubier.)

As it reaches Chile's Pacific coast, the "ring of fire" will sit around 50° above the northeast, but this region of mountains and fjords is both logistically challenging and likely cloudy. Average February cloud cover along the centerline in Chile is typically around 65%, while just across the mountains in a classic rain-shadow zone in Argentina's Patagonian plains, cloud cover drops to as low as 30%, according to meteorologist Jay Anderson on Eclipsophile.com.

Standout locations in the rain-shadow include El Maitén (which is being favored by eclipse tour groups), Esquel and Trevelin, where annularity occurs just before midday. There's a similarly small chance of cloud on Argentina's Atlantic coast, with potential observing locations including Las Grutas on the San Matias Gulf and, south of Buenos Aires, the lush Laguna La Brava.

Although the path brushes Uruguay (just missing Montevideo), and nicks Brazil (just missing Rio de Janeiro), once the centerline of the path of annularity leaves Argentina, it doesn't make landfall again.

The Path of Annularity: Africa

The path of the 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse in the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, on Feb. 6, 2027. (Image credit: Created and annotated by Jamie Carter using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community. Eclipse path from Xavier Jubier.)

After crossing the South Atlantic, the path of annularity makes its final landfall in West Africa, reaching Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

Here, the eclipse unfolds late in the day, with the "ring of fire" hanging low in the western sky as it approaches the horizon. At Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the sun will be 7.7° above west-southwest just 30 minutes before sunset, though a potentially orange-golden "ring of fire" will last for just a fleeting moment. Other potential observing locations include Cape of Three Points in Ghana for a long annular phase just six degrees above the horizon, as well as the capital city, Accra, where it's just four degrees up. Lomé in Togo, Cotonou in Benin and Lagos in Nigeria will see the annular phase moments before sunset.

Although statistics show cumulus cloud cover in this region to be common, much of it dissipates by late afternoon, according to Anderson, with sea-breeze winds from the Atlantic — as well as "eclipse cooling" — potentially helping. As such, there's around a 90% chance of a clear sky in this region for a spectacular sunset "ring of fire." A much bigger problem, however, could come from Saharan dust, with reduced clarity likely.

Why does the 2027 'ring of fire' last so long?

A 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse close to sunset will be seen from the Gulf of Guinea on Feb. 6, 2027. This image was captured during an annular eclipse in May 2012, Lubbock, Texas. (Image credit: Willoughby Owen via Getty Images)

The Feb. 6, 2027 annular solar eclipse is unusually long, with its maximum phase lasting up to 7 minutes 51 seconds just off the coast of Brazil — far longer than most annular eclipses, and significantly longer than the totality phase during a total solar eclipse.

The reason is geometry. Annular eclipses happen when the moon is near apogee, its farthest point from Earth, making it appear slightly too small to cover the sun. Instead of a brief blackout, the moon takes longer to cross the sun's face, leaving a bright ring visible throughout. The moon reaches apogee three days before Feb. 6, 2027.

That duration is extended because Earth is near perihelion in early January, when the sun appears marginally larger than average. A smaller apparent moon and a larger apparent sun combine to lengthen the event.

Even so, 2027 is not a record-breaker. Under a near-perfect alignment, annularity can theoretically last up to about 12 minutes and 29 seconds. The longest this century occurred on Jan. 15, 2010, when the ring of fire persisted for just over 11 minutes.

Additional resources

Want to look further ahead? You can find a concise summary of solar eclipses out to 2030 on NASA's eclipse website. Read more about solar and lunar eclipses on EclipseWise.com, a website dedicated to predictions of eclipses. See beautiful maps on eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler's GreatAmericanEclipse.com and interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website. You can find climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on eclipsophile.com.

Bibliography

Anderson, J. Annular Solar Eclipse February 6, 2027. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://eclipsophile.com/ase-2027/

Bakich, M. and Zeiler, M. (2022). Atlas Of Solar Eclipses 2020-2045.

Espenak, F. Solar Eclipse Prime Page: Annular Solar Eclipse of 2027 Feb 06. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from: https://eclipsewise.com/oh/ec2027.html#SE2027Feb06A

Jubier, X. (n.d.). Solar eclipses: Interactive Google Maps. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleMaps.html

Time and Date. (n.d.). 17 February 2026 Annular Solar Eclipse. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2026-february-17

10 best Spanish beaches to see the total solar eclipse 2026

Jamie Carter — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Beaches offer wide-open spaces and low-horizon views, making them ideal for skywatching. For the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse, Spain's beaches will be among the most sought-after locations — but not all will deliver. The path of totality crosses the north and east of the country just before sunset, with the sun low in the west-northwest. Many top resorts face east for sunrise views, so at the crucial moment, the sun may be blocked by hotels or terrain behind you.

To experience totality — the brief period during a solar eclipse when the sun is completely covered by the moon — clearly, being on the coast isn't enough — you need a clear, unobstructed view to the west-northwest, ideally over open water. That's why the best eclipse beaches are either on Spain's Atlantic-facing north coast, where the horizon is open, or in carefully chosen Mediterranean spots where development is low, and sightlines are clean.

The altitude of the eclipsed sun matters: in Galicia, Asturias, and the Cantabrian Coast, it's 12 to 9 degrees above the horizon — manageable but low. On the Mediterranean and Balearic Islands, it's just 4 to 2 degrees, turning totality into a fleeting event easily obscured by haze or thin cloud.

Choose your beach wisely (checking tide times a few weeks in advance on Surf Forecast or Tide Forecast), and you'll watch the moon's shadow race in from the Atlantic before revealing the corona during totality, just minutes before sunset.

Get it wrong, and you could miss everything.

Essential resources for checking and re-checking intended destinations for totality include Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sightlines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional. The best advice is to test your location the day before the eclipse. Let's look at some of the best beaches in Spain for eclipse viewing, complete with details on timing and conditions.

1. Praia de Alba e Sabón, Galicia

Location: Praia de Alba, Municipality of Arteixo, Galicia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:27 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 9 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 12.1 degrees

Chance of clouds: 54% (since 2000)

Easily accessible just south of A Coruña, this broad, open beach offers excellent infrastructure and long, flat stretches of sand. Its clear west-northwest outlook makes it ideal for a low, pre-sunset eclipse, with uninterrupted ocean horizons, coastal paths, and easy access.

2. Playa de Langre, Cantabria

Location: Cantabric coast, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:26 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 55 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 9 degrees

Chance of clouds: 56% (since 2000)

A wild, cliff-backed beach east of Santander, Langre offers a dramatic natural amphitheater facing west-northwest. Wide sands and elevated viewpoints above the cliffs provide excellent sightlines for a low eclipse. Access requires a short walk, but an expansive horizon and striking scenery are the reward.

3. Playa de las Catedrales, Galicia

Playa de las Catedrales (As Catedrais beach) in Galicia. (Image credit: Alf via Getty Images)

Location: Cantabric coast, Ribadeo, Galicia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:26 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 48 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 11 degrees

Chance of clouds: 61% (since 2000)

Famed for its towering rock arches, this dramatic beach offers a spectacular setting — but requires planning. Strict visitor limits and tides complicate access, so consider the clifftop gardens above for an easier option. Both provide wide northwest views, ideal for watching the eclipsed sun sink toward the Atlantic horizon.

4. Playa El Puntal de Somo, Cantabria

Location: Calle El Puntal, Santander, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:27 p.m. CEST; 56 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.9 degrees

Chance of clouds: 55% (since 2000)

A vast, exposed sandbar near Santander, El Puntal offers huge open skies and uninterrupted west-northwest views across the bay. Easily reached by boat or car, its sheer scale allows plenty of space to spread out — ideal for a relaxed, crowd-free eclipse watch with clear horizons toward the setting sun. An epic experience awaits.

5. Platja de Riumar, Ebro Delta

Platja de Riumar in the Ebro Delta. (Image credit: Jan Zammit via Getty Images)

Location: Riumar, Ebro Delta, Tarragona, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:30 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 30 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 31% (since 2000)

The Ebro Delta is one of Spain's largest and most distinctive natural landscapes — a vast mosaic of wetlands, lagoons, rice fields, and barrier beaches extending into the Mediterranean. Set close to the mouth of the Ebro River, Riumar Beach offers uninterrupted views to the northwest.

6. Platya del Gurugú, Castellón

Location: Castellón de la Plana, Valencia

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 35 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 37% (since 2000)

This flat, sandy beach south of Benicàssim is unusually open, with minimal development behind it thanks to a nearby airstrip. That translates into clean, unobstructed views toward the west-northwest — crucial for this very low eclipse. Easy access and wide sightlines make it a practical and reliable Mediterranean option.

7. Es Trenc, Mallorca

Es Trenc in Mallorca. (Image credit: Francesco Riccardo Iacomino via Getty Images)

Location: Trenc, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 35 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 2.1 degrees

Chance of clouds: 34% (since 2000)

Remote but popular, Es Trenc offers long sands and wide western sea views. Its undeveloped backdrop ensures minimal obstruction, though its narrow width can feel busy. For a horizon-hugging eclipse, its sightlines and natural setting make it a prime choice in Mallorca. Note: Es Trenc is an unofficial nudist beach.

8. Platja Estanys, Mallorca

Location: Colònia de Sant Jordi, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 35 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 2.1 degrees

Chance of clouds: 34% (since 2000)

Close to Colònia de Sant Jordi, this bright beach offers easy access and unobstructed views to the west-northwest. Minimal elevation and calm waters with nearby facilities make it a straightforward observing spot.

9. Platja des Carbó, Mallorca

Location: Colònia de Sant Jordi, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 35 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 2.1 degrees

Chance of clouds: 34% (since 2000)

A quieter, undeveloped stretch reached by a short coastal walk, Es Carbó offers pristine sands and uninterrupted horizons. Its isolation means fewer crowds — ideal for photographers tracking a low eclipse.

10. Platja de Son Bou, Menorca

Platja de Son Bou in Menorca. (Image credit: Elenasfotos via Getty Images)

Location: Alaior, Menorca, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:30 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 11 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 1.7 degrees

Chance of clouds: 39% (since 2000)

Menorca's longest beach provides a broad, accessible platform for a very low, horizon-skimming eclipse moments before sunset. Its west-northwest outlook across the open sea is excellent. Lots of facilities and space make it an easy, reliable choice — though it could be immensely popular.

August 2026 lunar eclipse: Everything you need to know about the 96% 'blood moon'

Jamie Carter — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:00:00 +0000

On Aug. 27-28, 2026, a very deep partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, Africa, North America and South America, with just over 96% of the moon passing into Earth's shadow.

Lunar eclipses happen when Earth is between the sun and a full moon. During the event, the moon moves through Earth's umbra, the dark center of its shadow.

Where will the August 2026 partial lunar eclipse be visible?

The best views of the August 2026 partial lunar eclipse will be from North and South America. According to Time and Date, about 12% of the world's population — 987 million people — will see all phases of the eclipse (penumbral and partial), while around 16% — 1.3 billion — will see all of the partial phase. Viewing conditions will depend on the local weather, with western U.S. states, northern Chile and inland Brazil statistically offering the best odds of clear skies.

What will happen during the partial lunar eclipse?

A map of the lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28, 2026. Click the arrows in the bottom left corner to expand to full screen. (Image credit: F. Espenak, NASA's GSFC)

The Aug. 27-28, 2026, event will be the first deep partial lunar eclipse anywhere in the world since Sept. 18, 2024, and the last until Jan. 11-12, 2028 (when only 2.4% of the moon will be in Earth's umbral shadow). As such, 2026's partial lunar eclipse will be the most impressive lunar eclipse until a total lunar eclipse on Dec. 31, 2028.

During the August 2026 eclipse, the full "Sturgeon Moon" will rise and, later that night, pass into Earth's umbral shadow. As it does, the full moon will dim and, as the partial eclipse reaches its peak, look slightly reddish-orange. However, it won't be a true "blood moon" because at no point will there be lunar totality — when the entire lunar surface falls under Earth's shadow. The eclipse — including both the slight penumbral (when the moon drifts into Earth's fuzzy outer shadow) and partial phases — will last 5 hours, 38 minutes.

This partial lunar eclipse will occur just over five days after the moon reaches apogee — its farthest point from Earth on its slightly elliptical orbit — making it of average apparent size.

A deep partial lunar eclipse makes for an impressive skywatching event. (Image credit: Laurie LaPorte via Getty Images)

What time is the August 2026 partial lunar eclipse in North America?

Lunar eclipses occur at the same universal time worldwide, but the local clock time and whether the moon is above the horizon vary by location. This one will happen between 9:23 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Aug. 27, and 3:01 a.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 28 (0123 and 0701 GMT on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026) with the peak of the event — when 96.2% of the lunar surface will appear reddish — happening at 0412 GMT. That translates to the following local times in North America:

Eastern time: 12:12 a.m. EDT on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
Central time: 11:12 p.m. CDT on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
Mountain time: 10:12 p.m. MDT on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
Pacific time: 9:12 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026
Alaska time: 8:12 p.m. AKDT on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026

These are the times for maximum eclipse only. However, it's worth looking at the moon about 39 minutes before these times to see the edge of Earth's shadow inch across the lunar surface as the partial phase builds (and vice versa after maximum eclipse).

What time is the August 2026 partial lunar eclipse in Europe?

In Europe, the eclipse will occur early on Friday, Aug. 28, but it will set during the partial phase.

Here's when maximum eclipse will occur in various locations within Europe (further east of these locations, maximum eclipse is not visible):

London, U.K.: 5:12 a.m. BST on Aug. 28, 2026 (sunrise at 6:06 a.m. BST, moonset at 6:15 a.m. BST)
Paris, France: 6:12 a.m. CEST on Aug. 28, 2026 (sunrise at 7:01 a.m. CEST, moonset at 7:09 a.m. CEST)
Madrid, Spain: 6:12 a.m. CEST on Aug. 28, 2026 (sunrise at 7:38 a.m. CEST, moonset at 7:46 a.m. CEST)
Brussels, Belgium: 6:12 a.m. CEST on Aug. 28, 2026 (sunrise at 6:49 a.m. CEST, moonset at 6:58 a.m. CEST)
Berlin, Germany: 6:12 a.m. CEST on Aug. 28, 2026 (sunrise at 6:10 a.m. CEST, moonset at 6:17 a.m. CEST)

For some observers the partially eclipsed moon will be visible close to moonset. (Image credit: WW News via Getty Images)

When is the next total lunar eclipse?

Here are the dates and locations for upcoming total lunar eclipses:

Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 2028-2029: A total lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Northern and Western North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic.
June 25-26, 2029: A total lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, Western Asia, Africa, North America, South America, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and Antarctica.
Dec. 20-21, 2029: A total lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, Asia, Northern and Western Australia, Africa, North America, South America, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic.

Additional resources

Want to look further ahead? You can find a concise summary of lunar eclipses out to 2026 here on Space.com. Read more about solar and lunar eclipses on EclipseWise.com, a website dedicated to predictions of eclipses, and find beautiful maps on eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler's EclipseAtlas.com and interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website. You can find climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on eclipsophile.com.

Bibliography

Jubier, X. (n.d.). Lunar eclipses: Interactive Google Maps. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from http://xjubier.free.fr/n/site_pages/Lunar_Eclipses.html

Time and Date. (n.d.). Partial Lunar Eclipse on 28 Aug 2026: Map & Times. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2026-august-28

Cameron Smith, I. Partial Lunar Eclipse of 28 Aug, 2026 AD. Retrieved May 5, 2026, from: https://moonblink.info/Eclipse/eclipse/2026_08_28

Spain's total solar eclipse 2026 comes with a catch — here's how to avoid ruining your view

Jamie Carter — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

On Aug. 12, 2026, millions of people across Spain will witness a solar eclipse. Trouble is, some will think they're seeing the main event when they're not, while others will have their view of the all-important, 100% eclipsed sun blocked by mountains or clouds.

This is the first total solar eclipse visible from mainland Europe since 1999, with much of northern Spain within the path of totality. However, this eclipse happens extremely late in the day, with the eclipsed sun hanging low above the west-northwest horizon just before sunset.

From Galicia and Asturias to Aragón, Valencia and the Balearic Islands, successful eclipse-chasing in Spain will depend far less on simply being within the path of totality than on precise positioning.

Here are the biggest ways eclipse travelers could accidentally miss the spectacle — and how experienced eclipse chasers will plan to avoid disappointment.

1. Staying outside the path of totality

A map of the path of totality on Aug. 12, 2026. (Image credit: Created and annotated by Jamie Carter using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community. Eclipse path from Xavier Jubier)

If you hear anyone utter the immortal phrase "90% totality" or anything similar, scream. There is no such thing as partial totality — just a partial eclipse and a total eclipse. On Aug. 12, 2026, the path of totality in Spain will be about 190 miles (305 km) wide as it strikes Galicia and, remarkably, will slip between Madrid and Barcelona, Spain's biggest cities.

Observers in those two cities will see an extremely deep partial eclipse, but not totality — no view of the corona and the many other phenomena that occur only during totality. A 99% partial solar eclipse may sound dramatic, but the remaining 1% of direct sunlight is still overwhelmingly bright. For eclipse chasers, there is a simple rule: totality or bust.

2. Choosing the wrong horizon

This eclipse occurs at a very low altitude in Spain. In northwestern Spain, the eclipsed sun will sit roughly 10-12-° above the horizon during totality. In eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands, it will be just 2-5° high. Along the Mediterranean coast, the irony is particularly cruel. Its resorts are designed to face east toward the sea for sunrise views, while the eclipse occurs low in the west-northwest, close to sunset. In these locations, the eclipse could happen behind buildings, trees and hills. Experienced eclipse chasers know that for this eclipse, horizon geometry matters more than almost anything else.

Valencia on Spain's east coast faces the sunrise, not the sunset. (Image credit: Dave G Kelly via Getty Images)

3. Underestimating Spain's terrain

Spain's landscape is spectacular, but it may work against eclipse observers. The mountainous terrain of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and the Iberian Highlands creates endless dramatic viewpoints, medieval hill towns and forested ridges. However, many of those locations are poorly positioned for a low-altitude eclipse. For the 2026 eclipse, observers need an unobstructed west-northwest view and minimal terrain blocking the horizon. This is especially important inland in eastern Spain, where even distant hills can block the sun when it is only a few degrees above the horizon.

4. Misunderstanding weather forecasts

Clouds in the distance are arguably more important than overhead on Aug. 12, 2026. Castle Berlanga, Soria Spain. (Image credit: aluxum via Getty Images)

One of the most misunderstood aspects of eclipse-chasing is weather. Among eclipse chasers, there's a famous saying: "Climate is what you expect. The weather is what you get." Spain's climatology for August is generally favorable, particularly inland in Castile and León, the Ebro Valley and Aragón, but not only is what actually happens on the day hard to predict, but it's also not entirely relevant because totality will occur so low above the horizon. According to the eclipse experts at Besselian Elements, observers on Mallorca waiting for a totality only about 2.5° above the horizon will actually be looking through hundreds of miles of Earth's atmosphere, meaning distant clouds far beyond the local forecast area could still block their view. Most weather forecasts describe conditions directly overhead, which may not be relevant for the 2026 eclipse. That climate change appears to be making traditional seasonal weather patterns less predictable in some parts of Europe just adds to the complication. It's why many eclipse chasers will make their final viewing decision only 24 hours before the eclipse.

5. Getting trapped in traffic

Expect heavy traffic before and after the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. (Image credit: Scott Olson via Getty Images)

Spain could experience one of Europe's largest eclipse tourism events in modern history. That Barcelona (population 1.7 million) and Madrid (3.5 million) are just outside the path of totality means there could be intense pressure on the road system in the hours before, and particularly after, the eclipse. Expect severe congestion near major cities, coastal resorts and famous viewing locations, with areas around Madrid, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zaragoza and Valencia all potential black spots. Some of the quietest roads are predicted to be from Salamanca, south of the path of totality, to Zamora and Valladolid within the path, a region (Castile and León) with among the best chances of clear skies.

You can maximize your chances of avoiding traffic by prioritizing practicality over aesthetics, avoiding cities, beaches, lighthouses and castles in favor of open farmland, reservoir shorelines, roadside pull-offs — any northwest-facing open terrain. The best eclipse observing site is one with the cleanest sightline low to the northwest horizon.

How to check your viewing spot for the 2026 total solar eclipse

Planning in advance will increase your chances of having a clear view of totality. Here, people observe the total solar eclipse in the town of Bella Vista, San Juan, Argentina, on July 3, 2019. (Image credit: Stringer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Thankfully, there are extensive resources for checking the eclipse path, sight lines and weather data for any location in Spain during this eclipse. However, nothing beats being at your intended location the night before the eclipse to check for trees and other obstructions at the time of the eclipse. Here are some excellent resources to help you plan and check your observing location, ordered by the workflow an eclipse chaser follows:

Eclipsophile.com: an analysis of the climate of the path of totality in 2026 by eclipse meteorologist Jay Anderson.
Eclipse Atlas: eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler's maps are ideal for understanding the overall geometry of the eclipse path.
Besselian Elements (map): an incredibly accurate map using the latest solar diameter, which will be extremely useful if you plan to watch the eclipse from somewhere close to the edge of the path of totality.
Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map: with timings and built-in sight lines from Peak Finder to help you check the terrain.
Google Maps: its 3D mode is useful for getting a basic sense of the terrain and for finding exact coordinates for any location.
The Eclipse App: includes precise timings, a visualization of exactly where shadows will fall during totality, a countdown and real-time weather.
Eclipse Horizon Checker lets you enter exact coordinates (which you can get from Google Maps), then checks the sight lines and adds a comment on tree canopy cover, if relevant.
Instituto Geográfico Nacional: assesses the sight line to the eclipse for any point highlighted on its map
TPE (The Photographer's Ephemeris): a simulator that allows the user to see precisely where on the horizon the eclipse will take place.
PhotoPills: a smartphone app that lets you see where the eclipse will be on the horizon.
NASA Worldview: daily global images back 25 years from NASA's polar-orbiting EOSDIS satellite.
Windy.com: a popular app for checking real-time cloud forecasts from seven different models (though remember that overhead sky conditions are only half the story)
Solar Eclipse Timer: a talking timer from eclipse expert Gordon Telepun; the final eclipse-day execution tool once you're on site

10 easy places to see the total solar eclipse 2026 from Spain's major vacation destinations

Jamie Carter — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:00:00 +0000

For the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse, Spain's iconic holiday hubs will be buzzing, but many are outside the path of totality. If you're in the Costa Brava or Barcelona, you're in the danger zone of missing out. Barcelona will experience a 99% partial eclipse, which might sound impressive, but in practice it's no more interesting than a 10% eclipse; you miss the corona, the sudden darkness and the drop in temperature.

In eclipse chasing, it's totality or bust — and that means getting in the path of totality, on the east coast of Spain, between Vilanova i la Geltrú in the north, close to Barcelona, and Cullera, just south of Valencia. Here, the eclipsed sun will be about four degrees above the west-northwest horizon, but most Mediterranean resorts face the water to the east, meaning the sun will be behind you, hidden by hotels or hills. To see the corona, you need an unobstructed northwest-facing view. Wide, flat areas like the Ebro Delta, high ground and well-positioned miradors are worth searching out. The same goes for the Balearic Islands, where a sunset eclipse — totality takes place barely 2 degrees above the horizon — can be enjoyed from west-facing beaches.

Essential resources for checking and re-checking intended destinations for totality include Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sightlines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional. Do your research and, if you can, check the location the night before for a clear view of the sunset.

1. Playa de Palma, Mallorca

The S'Arenal end of Playa de Palma beach. (Image credit: Emya Photography via Getty Images)

Location: Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 36 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 2.4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 32% (since 2000, according to Timeanddate.com)

It won't do to be in Palma de Mallorca, the island's capital, come totality. Escaping to the rugged west coast is one option, but another is to head down the coast to this long sandy beach resort stretching between Can Pastilla and S'Arenal. Its lively promenade will host a fine view of the eclipsed sun just before sunset, though avoid the first miles or so southeast of Can Pastilla, which will have obstructed sightlines.

2. Playa de la Malvarrosa, Valencia

Valencia's Malvarrosa beach. (Image credit: pawel.gaul via Getty Images)

Location: Valencia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:32 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 3 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 31% (since 2000)

Just a stone's throw from the city center, Valencia's best-known beach has fine sand, a relaxed atmosphere and — if you're careful — clear sightlines to the eclipse. The port, at the south end of the beach, is also an option.

3. La Muntanyeta dels Sants, Valencia

Location: València, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:33 p.m. CEST; 25 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.2 degrees

Chance of clouds: 28% (since 2000)

Chasing such a short totality might seem crazy, but clear sightlines from the east coast are rare — and this location has everything. Inside Albufera Natural Park, this watchtower is a limestone promontory that gives views across paddy fields.

4. Platja de Llevant, Salou

Llevant golden sand beach in Salou. (Image credit: imageBROKER/LUNAMARINA via Getty Images)

Location: Salou, Tarragona, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST: 1 minute, 7 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 35% (since 2000)

A popular, family-friendly resort town on Spain's Costa Daurada (or Costa Dorada), Salou is close to the northern limit of the path of totality, but still has a reasonably long totality. It's known for its Llevant golden sand beach, with the place to be a mirador at its eastern end, on the Punta del Cavall promontory that overlooks the coast. It's one of 25 viewpoints along a coastal path.

5. Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia

Location: Cheste, Valencia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:32 p.m. CEST; 51 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.6 degrees

Chance of clouds: 32% (since 2000)

Also called Circuit de Valencia, this motor racing track holds the finale of the MotoGP season, but on Aug. 12 it looks set to stage a mass observing event. It's got high ground to the northwest, so sightlines will likely be tight, but the southeast of the circuit has a clear view of a short totality

6. Vinaròs, Costa del Azahar

Location: Costa del Azahar, Castellón, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:30 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 39 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.5 degrees

Chance of clouds: 34% (since 2000)

On the Costa del Azahar — the Orange Blossom Coast — Vinaròs is renowned for its beaches, coves and its red prawns. Those after clear sightlines here will struggle, but there is one option: Far de Vinaròs, a lighthouse with views back to the northwest.

7. Altafulla, Catalonia

Platja de Tamarit in Altafulla. (Image credit: imageBROKER/TONO BALAGUER via Getty Images)

Location: Tarragonès, Catalonia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 54 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.2 degrees

Chance of clouds: 38% (since 2000)

A smaller, quieter alternative to the neighboring large cities, Altafulla has a well-preserved old town. Its beaches — Platja de Tamarit and Platja d'Altafulla — will offer open views, particularly near Búnquer d'Altafulla. However, it's close to the northern limit of the path, so totality is short.

8. Far d'Artrutx, Menorca

The Far d'Artrutx Lighthouse in Menorca. (Image credit: David Martinez viaGetty Images)

Location: Cap d'Artrutx, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 16 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 2 degrees

Chance of clouds: 32% (since 2000)

Far d'Artrutx is a lighthouse at the extreme southwest corner of Menorca, from where Mallorca can be seen in the distance. The town above it, Cap d'Artrutx, has a long promenade along a low cliff edge where thousands will gather to watch totality, followed by a deep, partially eclipsed sun sinking into the Mediterranean.

9. Llacuna de l'Encanyissada, Ebro Delta

Tancada lagoon, close to Encanyissada in the Ebro Delta. (Image credit: Westend61 via Getty Images)

Location: Parc Natural del Delta de l'Ebre, Tarragona, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:30 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 34 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.5 degrees

Chance of clouds: 31% (since 2000)

Llacuna de l'Encanyissada — the largest lagoon in the Ebro Delta — is a nature reserve and has a low and unobstructed sightline west-northwest across a lagoon. It's ringed by raised tracks, levees and birdwatching hides.

10. Montsià Hills, Catalonia

Aerial view of the Montsià area in Catalonia, Spain. (Image credit: Jordi Salas via Getty Images)

Location: Ulldecona, Catalonia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:30 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 37 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 4.5 degrees

Chance of clouds: 35% (since 2000)

Hikers after something special — and prepared to take the chance of cloud — could consider ascending to la Torreta del Montsià, at 2,506 ft. (764 m), the highest point of the Serra del Montsià range. It's above Sant Carles de la Ràpita and inland from the Ebro Delta.

Total solar eclipse 2026 vs 2027 — Which one should you choose?

Jamie Carter — Sun, 10 May 2026 10:00:00 +0000

If you've ever dreamed of seeing a total solar eclipse, the next few years present a rare opportunity. Between 2026 and 2028, Earth will experience three total solar eclipses in two years, but it's the first two that are sparking debate among wannabe eclipse chasers.

On Aug. 12, 2026, and Aug. 2, 2027, the moon's shadow will sweep across some of the most accessible and visually striking regions on Earth. Both events promise unforgettable views of the sun's corona, plunging daytime into an eerie twilight. Yet they offer very different experiences.

Given that eclipse chasing is an expensive business, if you can only choose one, which should it be?

2026 total solar eclipse: pros and cons

Do you really want to miss the next eclipse? By the time Aug. 12, 2026, comes along, it will have been almost two-and-a-half years since the last one in North America. This time, the path of totality begins in Siberia, crosses eastern Greenland and western Iceland, then arcs across northern Spain, before ending in the Mediterranean.

A map of the 2026 total solar eclipse. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

For Europeans, this is a no-brainer. The first total solar eclipse over mainland Europe since 1999, the path of totality includes Reykjavik, Iceland and Spanish cities such as Bilbao, Zaragoza, León, Burgos and Valladolid. The path of totality is only a few hours' drive from Toulouse, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Marseille and Lyon in France and only a day's drive from Paris, Geneva in Switzerland and Turin in Italy. Besides, Spain receives about 11 million visitors each August; many Europeans will already be in Spain.

While in Iceland, there are dramatic landscapes — volcanic terrain, glaciers and rugged coastlines — in Spain, the sun will be relatively low in the sky, creating the relatively rare spectacle of a totally eclipsed sun on land just before sunset (that effect will reach its nadir in the Balearic Islands).

However, there are trade-offs. Congestion is expected in Iceland and Spain, maximum totality will last just over two minutes — a shorter time than is possible — and clear skies are not guaranteed. In Spain, wildfires could create a smoky atmosphere, reducing clarity (as happened in summer 2025).

2027 total solar eclipse: pros and cons

On Aug. 2, 2027, the "eclipse of the century" will take place, its nickname derived from its exceptionally long duration of totality. In Luxor, Egypt, the moon will completely cover the sun for 6 minutes and 22 seconds — more than three times longer than in 2026. In fact, it will be the longest inland totality since July 11, 1991, and the longest until Aug. 3, 2114.

A map of the 2027 total solar eclipse. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

The path of totality will stretch from Spain — this time, the south of the country — through North Africa and into the Middle East. While Spain offers a European setting, many eclipse chasers are eyeing destinations like Tunisia and Egypt for their very long totalities and very high chances of clear skies. Luxor, in particular, has become a focal point. With its ancient sites such as Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings nearby, it offers a striking backdrop. The risk of clouds is lower than that of a dust storm.

Again, there are trade-offs. Travel to North Africa or the Middle East may require more planning, higher costs and longer journeys. The scramble to get on organized tours to Luxor makes it prohibitively expensive, and by now, near-impossible. There's also intense summer heat to worry about (an average daytime high of 105°F/41°C in Luxor), adding another layer of preparation.

Key factors to consider

When choosing between the 2026 and 2027 eclipses, a few core differences stand out that may help eclipse chasers decide:

Duration: The 2027 eclipse is significantly longer, offering an immersive experience. The 2026 event is shorter and arguably more dramatic. However, this only applies if you are close to the centerline of the path of totality.
Weather: Northern Spain and Iceland in 2026 carry moderate cloud risk, while southern Spain and North Africa in 2027 generally offer more reliable sunshine, though coastal cloud can still be an issue. Don't conflate climate — the science of averages — with weather forecasts three days before the eclipse. The latter is all that matters.
Accessibility: The 2026 eclipse is easier for European travelers, with straightforward transport and familiar infrastructure. The 2027 eclipse may involve more complex planning, especially outside Spain.
Viewing conditions: A low sun in 2026 creates dramatic visuals, but requires a clear horizon. The higher sun in 2027 simplifies viewing, but takes place in mostly much hotter conditions.
Crowds and logistics: Both events will be busy, but 2027 — especially in southern Spain — may see more concentrated crowds, particularly if the 2026 eclipse acts as a global advertisement for 2027's "eclipse of the century."

Why prioritizing by duration is a mistake

Totality will last 6 minutes 20 seconds at the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor, Egypt. (Image credit: Paul Biris via Getty Images)

There's a number that dominates almost every conversation among inexperienced eclipse chasers about a total solar eclipse: duration. Two minutes, four minutes, six minutes. It's treated like a score — as if longer automatically means better. It doesn't. The miracle isn't how long totality lasts — it's that it happens at all. The sun and moon appear almost the same size in our sky by pure coincidence. When they align perfectly, day turns briefly into night. Given how short all total solar eclipses are, being at all concerned about how many seconds totality lasts is actually ridiculous.

In fact, shorter eclipses are very often more dramatic — more sudden, more intense, more unforgettable. If you're after drama, a total solar eclipse will deliver — and I guarantee you will never remember exactly how many seconds it lasted. There's a reason why some experienced eclipse chasers head to the edge of the path of totality to glimpse a 1-second totality.

Sure, there's a good case to be made that the 2027 total solar eclipse is the exception to this rule purely because of the extreme length of totality. After all, the longest until 2114 is really hard not to get excited about. Yes, there will be more time to absorb the changing light, the drop in temperature, and to take in the solar corona in detail. If you're heading to Luxor in 2027, great decision — you'll not regret it. However, anyone watching an eclipsed sun on the cusp of setting while on a beach in the Balearic Islands in 2026 will have just as much drama — if not more.

There's a cautionary tale from recent history. Many eclipse chasers ignored South America's total solar eclipse in 2019, which was short and predicted by some to be cloudy, for a slightly longer, supposedly clearer one in 2020 in almost the same place. Both COVID-19 and intense rainstorms kiboshed those plans.

The conclusion, of course, is simple: if you can afford it, always go to the next total solar eclipse, no matter the duration, no matter the climatic predictions.

Spain's double totality

One of the most fascinating aspects of this eclipse cycle is Spain's unique position. It sits in the path of totality for both 2026 and 2027 — offering two entirely different eclipse experiences just a year apart.

In 2026, Spain delivers a low, sunset eclipse across its northern and central regions. Open landscapes in Castilla y León — around León, Burgos and Palencia — are expected to be popular for their clearer western horizons and slightly higher sun. Coastal and eastern areas offer more dramatic settings, but come with greater risk from haze and obstruction.

In 2027, the focus shifts south to Andalucía. Here, the eclipse occurs high in the sky, with durations exceeding 4 minutes near the Strait of Gibraltar. Locations like Tarifa, Cádiz and inland hill towns offer expansive views and long totality, though with the likelihood of heavy crowds.

The contrast is striking. One year offers a fleeting, cinematic eclipse around sunset; the next delivers a long, high-altitude spectacle. Anyone heading to Spain twice in succession will have a case study in how different eclipses can feel.

Maps of the 2026 and 2027 total solar eclipses in Spain. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

What kind of eclipse experience do you want?

Eclipse chasing is about choosing the experience you want, so if you're deciding between the 2026 and 2027 total solar eclipses, think about where you want to travel. "I always highly recommend picking someplace in the path of totality you'd like to go to, regardless of whether or not the total eclipse would be happening," Tyler Nordgren, an Ithaca, New York-based astronomer and eclipse artist at Space Art Travel Bureau, told Space.com.

Iceland in August — with an almost midnight sun — is a bucket-list experience in itself. So is touring the castles of Spain, or seeing the Arctic fjords in Greenland.

Wherever you plan to go, bear in mind the practical reality on the day. You may plan to be on the centerline for a super-long totality, but if there are clouds, you may find yourself driving to the edge of the path, where totality lasts only a few seconds, but in a clear sky. Be inside the moon's umbral shadow, and be forever grateful, for being able to witness nature's most perfect moment is the real prize.

10 incredible places to see Spain's rare sunset total solar eclipse on Aug. 12

Jamie Carter — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000

On Aug. 12, 2026, the moon's shadow will sweep across northern Spain, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, creating a rare sunset total solar eclipse. For a few fleeting minutes and seconds, the sun will be completely blocked, revealing its delicate outer atmosphere — the corona — as the landscape is bathed in an eerie twilight.

Spain offers an exciting opportunity to experience low-altitude totality near sunset. By the time totality begins, the sun will already be sinking toward the western horizon — around 10 degrees high in the northwest and dropping to just a few degrees in eastern regions.

That's why rural locations matter. Wide-open landscapes — miradors on high plateaus, wetlands, vineyards and semi-desert terrain — offer the kind of uninterrupted sightlines needed to track the eclipsed sun as it dips toward the horizon.

These locations have all been checked using resources including Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sightlines from Peak inder, as well as The Eclipse App and Eclipse Horizon Checker, while cloud cover is from Time and Date. However, the best advice is to check the weather, choose a location and confirm sightlines the night before the eclipse.

1. Castildetierra (Fairy's Chimney), Navarre

The 'Fairy's Chimney' within Bardenas Reales Natural Park, Spain (Image credit: Achim Thomae via Getty Images)

Location: Tudela, Navarre, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 4 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 6.7 degrees

Chance of clouds: 31% (since 2000)

A bizarre, eroded pillar in the shape of a chimney, Castildetierra (known as the Fairy's Chimney), is within Bardenas Reales Natural Park, near the town of Tudela in Navarre. It's a semi-desert landscape with clear sightlines and plenty of places to park.

2. Talatí de Dalt, Menorca

The Talatí de Dalt prehistoric site in Menorca. (Image credit: imageBROKER/Bartomeu Balaguer Rotger cia Getty Images)

Location: Maó, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:30 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 7 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 1.5 degrees

Chance of clouds: 36% (since 2000)

The island of Menorca — also a Starlight-certified destination — is scattered with dozens of sites from a Neolithic Talayotic culture, which built huge stone structures without mortar between about 1,000 and 123 B.C.E. There are many sites, but Talatí de Dalt stands out for both its accessibility and unusual T-shaped ceremonial monument. It's on flat land, but this remains a risky choice because the eclipse will take place very low on the horizon, so if you're planning to come here, check the sightlines the previous day.

3. Zamarramala, Castile and León

Zamarramala is at the southeast corner of the open ground and perfect for eclipse hunting. (Image credit: THEPALMER via Getty Images)

Location: Zamarramala, Segovia, Castile and León, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 57 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8 degrees

Chance of clouds: 19% (since 2000)

The historic city of Segovia, northwest of Madrid, will be hugely popular for the eclipse because of its aqueduct, but it has relatively difficult sightlines for such a low eclipse. Just to the north is Zamarramala, a village that stands above its surroundings on a high plateau. It will have an unobstructed 360-degree view of the eclipse above a flat landscape of Castilian fields.

4. Calatañazor, Castile and León

Calatañazo is a medieval village close to the centerline of the eclipse. (Image credit: Rosa María Fernández Rz via Getty Images)

Location: Soria, Castile and León, Spain.

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 43 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 24% (since 2000)

Above the ominously named Valley of Blood, close to the centerline of the path of totality, is Calatañazor, a small village named after the tiny fortified city on top of a hill. Its well-preserved medieval look, with paved streets and traditional houses, has made it a backdrop for movies, most famously Orson Welles' Chimes at Midnight.

5. Laguna de Gallocanta, Spain

Cranes over Laguna de Gallocanta. (Image credit: Manuel ROMARIS Getty Images)

Location: between Teruel and Zaragoza, Aragon

Time and duration of totality: 8:30 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 42 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 6 degrees

Chance of clouds: 22% (since 2000)

Almost bang on the centerline, this rain-fed salt lake on a high plateau in the south-west of Aragon is best known for cranes in winter, though in August you're more likely to see bustards, flamingos, harriers, vultures and the golden eagle. It's a wide, flat, undeveloped landscape framed by picturesque mountain ranges, with nearby places to stop, including Observatorio de la Reguera, Observatorio El Cañizar, and Mirador de aves de Tornos.

6. Alfaro Wetlands, La Rioja

Ebro river, La Rioja. (Image credit: Sima_ha via Getty Images)

Location: Reserva Natural de los Sotos del Ebro en Alfaro, La Rioja, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 16 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 6.9 degrees

Chance of clouds: 31% (since 2000)

The Alfaro wetlands nature reserve in La Rioja, near the border with Navarre, is a protected wetland area along the Ebro River. Among its meanders, islands and beaches, there are storks, herons, cormorants and kingfishers. The best eclipse-viewing spots will be open meadows and flat, grassy areas away from trees.

7. Arcos de las Salinas, Teruel

Arcos de las Salinas is home to the Galáctica Astronomy Center. (Image credit: imageBROKER/LUNAMARINA via Getty Images)

Location: Teruel, Aragon, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 23 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 5.2 degrees

Chance of clouds: 19% (since 2000)

South of Teruel, in the heart of the Gúdar-Javalambre region, is the "interstellar town" of Arcos de las Salinas. It's home to Galáctica, Europe's largest astronomy outreach center, which will stage a special ticketed event for the eclipse. Mirador de Estrellas de Arcos de las Salinas, beside an area of telescopes, will have a view of the totally eclipsed sun just above the mountains.

8. Fortaleza califal de Gormaz, Soria

The medieval citadel in Gormaz, Soria. (Image credit: Roldán Marta via Getty Images)

Location: Gormaz, Soria, Castile and León

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 42 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 20% (since 2000)

This Islamic citadel, dating to the 8th century, has well-preserved walls, watchtowers and a horseshoe arch above its main door. Almost as if it were created for the eclipse, the walls face northwest to create the perfect balcony for watching the moon's shadow approach across a rural landscape.

9. Lago Enol, Asturias

Lago Enol in the Picos de Europa. (Image credit: M.A.Ortega via Getty Images)

Location: Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa, Cangas de Onís, Asturias, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:27 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 42 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 9.7 degrees

Chance of clouds: 58% (since 2000)

There are myriad miradors in the Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa that offer spectacular vistas not only of the mountains but also of the Cantabrian Sea beyond. One is Lago Enol, a high mountain lake that won't see the eclipse, but whose Mirador del Príncipe de Asturias offers an excellent vantage point if the weather is clear.

10. San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja

San Vicente de la Sonsierra has a 10th-century fortress. (Image credit: © Marco Bottigelli via Getty Images)

Location: Sonsierra, La Rioja, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:28 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 22 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.8 degrees

Chance of clouds: 47% (since 2000)

The Ebro River basin is a major destination for this eclipse, stretching from La Rioja and Navarra in the west through Zaragoza and into Aragón. On the slopes of the Sierra de Cantabria in La Rioja, San Vicente de la Sonsierra is a village at the top of a hill overlooking the Ebro River, with sweeping views toward the setting sun in August. It's also a winemaking area along the Ruta del Vino.

15 expert-checked places to see the 2026 total solar eclipse in Spain, Iceland and Greenland

Jamie Carter — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Looking for inspiration or deep research for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026? Stretching across eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, the moon's shadow will carve out a roughly 190-mile (305 kilometers) wide path of totality — a fleeting corridor where the sun will be completely blocked by the moon, revealing its ghostly corona for a minute or two and plunging the landscape into twilight.

What follows is a curated mix of 15 locations — from remote Arctic fjords to city center viewpoints and high, dry plains — each offering a different way to experience one of nature's most extraordinary spectacles.

However, this is not a simple one-size-fits-all eclipse — the experience will dramatically differ depending on where you stand. In Greenland and Iceland, the eclipsed sun will hang relatively high in the sky. In Spain, it will be about 12 degrees above the horizon in Galicia, but dropping to just a few degrees above the horizon in the Balearic Islands. In some areas of Spain, even a low ridge, a distant hill or a line of buildings could block your view at the crucial moment, so choosing the right location is everything.

These locations have all been checked using resources including Xavier Jubier's Interactive Google Map, which has timings and built-in sightlines from Peak Finder, as well as The Eclipse App, Eclipse Horizon Checker and the Instituto Geográfico Nacional.

However, the best advice is always to scout out the location the day before, at the time of the eclipse, to check sightlines. Cloud cover information comes from Time and Date, though check the weather forecast before traveling, and again on the day itself.

1. Segovia, Spain

Alcázar de Segovia will see a short totality. (Image credit: Maremagnum via Getty Images)

Segovia, Spain

Location: C. Cta. de los Hoyos, Segovia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST, 59 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 7.9 degrees

Chance of clouds: 19% (since 2000)

An epic vista for the eclipse will be possible from this mirador, which also has views of the majestic Alcázar de Segovia, the inspiration for the castle in Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. It faces the open plains of Castile to the west and is accessed via a path from Arco de la Fuencisla. However, it's a short totality from Segovia.

2. Saxhóll Crater, Iceland

Saxhóll Crater on Iceland's Snæfellsnes Peninsula. (Image credit: Clement LEONARD via Getty Images)

Saxhóll Crater, Iceland

Location: Hellissandur, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

Time and duration of totality: 5:45 p.m. GMT; 2 minutes, 8 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 25.4 degrees.

Chance of clouds: 79% (since 2000)

The western end of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is where totality lasts longest in Iceland. About 5.5 miles (9 km) south of Hellissandur on the peninsula's westernmost tip, Saxhóll Crater is an easy climb. It's inside Snæfellsjökull National Park.

3. Becerril de Campos, Spain

Becerril de Campos, Spain

Location: Becerril de Campos, Castile and León, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 42 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 8.9 degrees

Chance of clouds: 21% (since 2000)

Becerril de Campos is one of many small towns within the flat plains of Palencia that will offer open views across the surrounding landscape. The town's San Pedro Cultural Becerril de Campos is a converted Romanesque church now used as an astronomy center. Inside is a Foucault pendulum, which demonstrates the Earth's rotation.

4. Reykjavík Domestic Airport, Iceland

Reykjavik's coastline will be set up for an epic eclipse viewing event. (Image credit: Arctic-Images via Getty Images)

Reykjavík Domestic Airport, Iceland

Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

Time and duration of totality: 5:48 p.m. GMT; 1 minute

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 24.6 degrees.

Chance of clouds: 76% (since 2000)

Both airports in Iceland — Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV) and Keflavík International Airport — are in the path of totality. The former, just a short walk from the city center, has a fabulous southwest-facing coastline where food stalls will be set up, with plans to accommodate around 10,000 people all along the seafront.

5. Nordvestfjord, Greenland

Scoresby Sund in East Greenland. (Image credit: MB Photography via Getty Images)

Nordvestfjord, Greenland

Location: Scoresby Sund, East Greenland

Time and duration of totality: 4:32 p.m. EGST; 2 minutes, 16 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 24.8 degrees.

Chance of clouds: 61% (since 2000)

Getting close to the centerline of the path of totality anywhere but Spain is a challenge, but it comes with a reward. Realistically, the only option in Greenland is Nordvestfjord (Northwest Fjord) in Scoresby Sund, a region known for icebergs and Arctic wildlife, including muskox with occasional sightings of polar bears and walruses. Here, a 2-minute, 16-second totality is possible, but you'll need to be on an expedition cruise ship to access it.

6. Castillo de Osma, Spain

Castillo de Osma near Soria. (Image credit: Enrique Díaz / 7cero via Getty Images)

Castillo de Osma, Spain

Location: El Burgo de Osma, Soria, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 43 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7.5 degrees

Chance of clouds: 20% (since 2000)

This strategically placed citadel, dating from the 11th century, perched above the Ucero River, Osma Castle offers sweeping views of the Castilian landscape and a sense of Spain's medieval frontier history. Its weathered stone walls and commanding hilltop position on the edge of Ciudad de Osma make it a striking stop for eclipse chasers.

7. Mount Helgafell, Iceland

Mount Helgafell, Iceland

Location: Hafnarfjörður, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

Time and duration of totality: 5:48 p.m. GMT; 55 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 24.5 degrees.

Chance of clouds: 77% (since 2000)

For sweeping, uninterrupted views across Reykjavík, Faxaflói Bay, and the Reykjanes Peninsula, take a 45-minute hike from Kaldársel through a lava field to the top of this 338-meter volcanic hill. It's just south of Hafnarfjörður in Greater Reykjavík.

8. Mirador del Sablón, Spain

Mirador del Sablón has a bench with a spectacular view of the Asturias coastline. (Image credit: Manuel Arias Duran via Getty Images)

Mirador del Sablón, Spain

Location: Cudillero, Asturias, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:26 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 48 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 10.7 degrees

Chance of clouds: 58% (since 2000)

You may have to get here early to get a place on the most beautiful bench in the world, but if the sky is clear on the wild Asturian coast, you'll get a view of the eclipse above the Cantabrian Sea.

9. Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland

Reykjavík's Hallgrímskirkja will enjoy a short totality. (Image credit: Arctic-Images via Getty Images)

Hallgrímskirkja, Iceland

Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

Time and duration of totality: 5:48 p.m. GMT; 57 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 24.5 degrees.

Chance of clouds: 76% (since 2000)

The chances of getting a vantage point in the tower of Iceland's tallest and most dramatic church are probably slim, but whoever does get a ticket is sure to get a spectacular 360-degree view of the city, surrounding mountains and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

10. Muriel Viejo, Spain

Muriel Viejo, Spain

Location: Soria, Castile and León, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 44 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 7 degrees

Chance of clouds: 27% (since 2000)

Mirador La Peñota is an observation deck on high ground at the western end of the Sierra de Cabrejas, a 33,000-hectare area of juniper forests. Although completely isolated and with a clear view to the northwest, it's close to the small town of Muriel Viejo, a Starlight Tourist Destination in the Pinares de Soria region west of Soria. Muriel Viejo is home to the Starlight Foundation-certified El Cielo de Muriel, which is fully booked but intends to hold an observation event open to non-guests.

11. Ella Island, Greenland

Ella Island, in Greenland's King Oscar Fjord. (Image credit: Graeme Snow via Getty Images)

Ella Island, Greenland

Location: King Oscar Fjord, Greenland National Park, Greenland

Time and duration of totality: 4:31 p.m. EGST; 1 minute, 45 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 23.7 degrees.

Chance of clouds: 55% (since 2000)

The only way to visit this remote island in East Greenland is via a polar expedition cruise ship. At the confluence of five iceberg-filled fjords, it hosts a summer station used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite Danish naval unit enforcing Danish sovereignty in the Arctic.

12. Santillana del Mar, Cantabria

Santillana del Mar, Cantabria

Location: Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:26 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 13 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 9.1 degrees

Chance of clouds: 56% (since 2000)

Home to medieval towers, Renaissance palaces and churches, Santillana del Mar is one of Spain's most beautiful villages. Just 5 miles (8km) north is Torre de San Telmo, a 14th-century medieval watchtower on a cliff with expansive views over the ocean to the north and the Picos de Europa mountains to the south. It's part of a beautiful coastal walk.

13. Santander Bay, Spain

The lighthouse at Cabo Mayor. (Image credit: RuslanKaln via Getty Images)

Santander Bay, Spain

Location: Santander Bay, Cantabria, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:26 p.m. CEST; 58 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 9 degrees

Chance of clouds: 54% (since 2000)

About 3 miles (5 km) from Santander, the 19th-century Faro de Cabo Mayor lighthouse watches the entrance to Santander Bay and offers dramatic cliff-top views — and spectacular coastal walks — perfect for the eclipse if skies are clear.

14. Geirfuglinn (The Great Auk), Iceland

Geirfuglinn (The Great Auk), Iceland

Location: Reykjanes Lighthouse, Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

Time and duration of totality: 5:48 p.m. GMT; 1 minute, 41 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-southwest: 25 degrees.

Chance of clouds: 76% (since 2000)

The geirfuglinn (great auk) was a flightless bird that lived on Iceland and became extinct in the mid-19th century. Stand close to this sculpture, and you'll be among the last in Iceland to experience totality. Reykjanes lighthouse is nearby.

15. S'Arenal, Spain

The beach at S'Arenal, Mallorca, is a favorite for sunsets. (Image credit: Frank Fell/robertharding via Getty Images)

S'Arenal, Spain

Location: S'Arenal, Mallorca, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 36 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west-northwest: 2.4 degrees

Chance of clouds: 34% (since 2000)

For a clean, sea-level view of totality, S'Arenal is one of the most practical locations on Mallorca's south coast. Sitting at the southeastern end of Playa de Palma, it offers an uninterrupted west-northwest horizon — exactly where the eclipsed sun will hang just a couple of degrees above the sea.

Only 12 people on Earth saw this 'ring-of-fire' eclipse. Here's how one improvised to capture a once-in-a-lifetime photo from Antarctica

Ryan French — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:00:13 +0000

Last week, Artemis 2 astronauts witnessed a total solar eclipse from space, as the Orion spacecraft spent nearly an hour in the moon's shadow. But, as a remote team at the French-Italian Concordia Research Station recently experienced, you don't need to travel beyond the moon to see a truly private eclipse.

The Concordia Research Station is the most remote research base in Antarctica, located 750 miles (1207 kilometers) inland at an altitude of 10,600 feet (3,230 meters). The small crew stationed there endures average winter temperatures of -58 degrees Fahrenheit (-50 degrees Celsius), and four months each without seeing the sun rise above the horizon. This region is also one of the driest on Earth — part of Antarctica's vast polar desert.

Despite its harsh environment, Concordia is an ideal site for a wide range of scientific research, including glaciology, atmospheric science, astronomy and space medicine.

On Feb. 17 2026, the Concordia team witnessed something likely seen nowhere else on Earth — an annular solar eclipse.

Annular solar eclipses, often called "ring-of-fire" eclipses, occur when the moon passes in front of the sun at a point in its orbit where it appears slightly smaller in the sky. Instead of completely blocking the sun, the moon leaves a bright ring of sunlight visible around its edges.

Unlike total solar eclipses, which reveal the sun's faint outer atmosphere, annular eclipses are still a form of partial eclipse and require proper eye protection to view safely.

The path of annularity, where the ring-of-fire effect is visible, crossed Antarctica during the Feb. 17 event. It passed over just two inhabited locations: Concordia Research Station and Mirny Station, a Russian base.

But clouds obscured the view over Mirny.

That left a small group at Concordia as the only people on Earth to witness this eclipse in its full annular form. I spoke to one of them, Andrea Traverso, about the experience.

Traverso arrived at Concordia in November 2025 and will remain there until November 2026. He oversees scientific experiments and monitoring systems across the station, including studies of geomagnetism, seismology and meteorology, as well as investigations into how the upper atmosphere interacts with solar wind.

This marks his third "winterover" at the base, following previous stays in 2019 and 2020.

When I asked where he observed the eclipse from, Traverso described the station's layout — two cylindrical towers with windows facing multiple directions.

The southern lights or aurora australis seen over Concordia station July 2025. (Image credit: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-N. Purivs/Lacrampe)

During the event, he positioned himself at "a window in perfect alignment with the eclipse," which offered "many possibilities from a photographic point of view".

Sheltered from the extreme cold, he simply opened the window to avoid reflections from the glass and began taking photos.

The result was remarkable.

ESA/IPEV/PNRA-A. Traverso

Andrea Traverso

Traverso captured a striking image of the ring-of-fire eclipse that was later shared widely by the European Space Agency.

But it wasn't until after the event that the full significance of the event came clear.

Traverso contacted other Antarctic stations to ask about their weather conditions. Many, including Mirny, had been clouded out.

No one else had seen it.

It was the he said, that he "became aware of the uniqueness of my observation."

In a Facebook post translated from Italian, Traverso wrote:

"Yesterday night's eclipse, photographed by me, visible in this form exclusively from the Italian-French base Concordia in Antarctica. My wonderful white lady also gave me this spectacle that only me and my 11 companions could enjoy live."

The Concordia Research Station experiences four months of darkness a year. (Image credit: ESA/IPEV/PNRA–N. Smith)

Surprisingly, the team had not prepared in advance for the event.

"I wasn't aware in advance about the eclipse and the possibility of observing it from Concordia," Traverso said.

Capturing an annular eclipse requires solar filters — similar to eclipse glasses — to safely reduce the sun's brightness. But none had been specifically set aside for the event.

Instead, Traverso improvised.

He found some sheets of mylar film stored at the base, which had previously been used for solar observations a long time ago and used cardboard and glue to build a makeshift filter for his camera lens.

"The solution proved to be effective," Traverso said.

Given that his image remains the only known photograph of the eclipse from Earth, it's hard to argue otherwise.

From spa to boat party: 10 epic events for the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse in Spain and Iceland

Jamie Carter — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Where will you be for the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026?

If you're within the roughly 190-mile (305 kilometers) wide path of totality through eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain, you'll catch a rare total solar eclipse, when the sun's disk is completely blocked, and an eerie twilight descends.

It's an eclipse that demands careful research. While it's high in the sky from Greenland and Iceland, across Spain, the sun will set roughly 20 to 50 minutes after totality, depending on your location... That means it's low in the western sky; about 12 degrees above the horizon as seen from Galicia in northwest Spain and as low as 2 degrees as seen from the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Mallorca, Minorca and Formentera) in the Mediterranean.

1. Monte Valonsadero, Spain

Monte Valonsadero

Location: Soria, Castilla y León, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 41 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 7 degrees.

The medieval town of Soria, in north-central Spain, has big plans for the eclipse, including a gathering at Monte Valonsadero. A natural park close to the town boasting light-pollution-free skies and Starlight Foundation certification, Valonsadero will host thousands of people, with plans underway for music, food, drinks and a free shuttle service from the city center.

2. Eclipse Festival 2026, Spain

Eclipse Festival 2026

Location: Prades, Tarragona, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 51 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 5 degrees.

Many thousands will miss this eclipse because sightlines to the low sun haven't been checked, which is a good reason to head to Parc Astronòmic Muntanyes de Prades (PAP) in Catalonia, Spain, as an astronomical park that's home to Eclipse Festival 2026 — Prades. Expect music, workshops, lectures, observations, shows, telescopes and a planetarium during the Aug. 10-13 event. As a bonus, the park offers Starlight Foundation-certified stargazing under one of southern Europe's darkest skies — ideal for the peak of the Perseids hours after totality.

3. Blue Lagoon Total Eclipse 2026

Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon will experience totality on Aug. 12, 2026. (Image credit: Matthew Micah Wright via Getty Images)

Blue Lagoon

Location: Blue Lagoon, Grindavíkurbær, Iceland

Time and duration of totality: 5:48 p.m. GMT; 1 minute, 36 seconds.

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 25 degrees.

As if the lava fields of Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula weren't already an other-worldly location to experience totality, the famous Blue Lagoon will host a special event for the eclipse. At the geothermal spa set in a lava field, a US $750 ticket gets you into its blue, mineral-rich waters for totality, complete with a shuttle bus from Reykjavík, a two-course meal, two drinks, a bathrobe and towel and eclipse glasses for the partial phases.

4. EclipseFest 2026, Spain

EclipseFest 2026

Location: Aldea Santillana, Manjirón, Madrid, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:32 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 15 seconds.

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 5 degrees.

In a cruel twist of fate, both Barcelona and Madrid are just outside the path of totality. However, the latter makes a great base for entering the path to the north. Just a 40-minute drive north is Aldea Santillana, an estate on the banks of the Atazar Reservoir usually used for weddings and events. On Aug. 12, it will host EclipseFest 2026, complete with activities, a welcome pack with glasses and guided eclipse viewing. Tickets cost €147 (adults) and €117 (children), and there are options to stay at the hotel. It's organized by the astrotourism company El Nocturnario.

5. Ibiza PlayAbout Radio Fest, Ibiza

Ibiza will see a short totality. (Image credit: Westend61 via Getty Images)

Ibiza PlayAbout Radio Fest

Location: off the coast of Ibiza, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:32 p.m. CEST; 1 minute 6 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 3 degrees.

It's perhaps not a surprise that an island globally renowned for partying and super-clubs is planning one or two gatherings for the eclipse, though some venues have limited views of the low western horizon. Being staged from Aug. 10-14 by an internet radio station dedicated to house and techno, Ibiza PlayAbout Radio Fest, the action takes place across various venues on the White Isle. The key event is The Eclipse Boat Party, soundtracked by house music DJ Dario Nunez. Other events are best avoided; Jet Ibiza's Jet Apartments are on the east coast, so pool party-goers will struggle to see anything of the eclipsed sun.

6. Umbra Festival, Spain

Umbra Festival

Location: Agolada Lake, Pantano De Brocos, Agolada, Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 34 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 12 degrees.

If you're up for a 40-hour electronic music gathering, head to the Umbra Festival in northwest Spain from 4:00 p.m. CEST on Aug. 11, through 10:00 a.m. CEST on Aug. 13. Taking place at Agolada Lake (Pantano de Brocos) — actually a reservoir — expect a blend of house and minimal music. It's about an hour's drive from the tourist center of Santiago de Compostela in a quiet, agricultural region of rolling hills, river valleys and dark skies in the interior of Galicia. The only drawback is the limited duration of totality. Tickets are €62.15.

7. Iberia Eclipse, Spain

Iberia Eclipse

Location: Vinuesa, Soria, Castilla y León, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 42 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 7 degrees.

Expect 5,000-10,000 people for five days of music, art and ceremony from Aug. 10-14 at Iberia Eclipse Festival 2026. Taking place near Vinuesa, just northwest of Soria, close to the Douro River, the festival will include tent camping and pre-setup tents, four stages spread across the hillside and forest, workshops, wild swimming and art. Expect trance and techno day and night — but a pause for totality. Tickets start at €240.

8. Astral Plane, Spain

Astral Plane

Location: La Pinilla Mountain Resort, Castilla y León, Segovia, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:31 p.m. CEST; 1 minute, 31 seconds

Held in La Pinilla ski resort in Spain's Sierra Ayllón, Astral Plane is just an hour's drive north of Madrid. Totality is expected to occur during a headline set by Detroit techno artist Kevin Saunderson, who'll be halfway through a four-hour set. There are plans for similar events for the total solar eclipses in 2027 (also in Spain) and 2028 (Australia and New Zealand). Tickets cost from €175.

9. Sizigia Eclipse Gathering

Sizigia Eclipse Gathering

Location: Embalse Sotonera, Alcalá de Gurrea, Huesca, Spain

Time and duration of totality: 8:29 p.m. CEST; 40 seconds

Height of eclipsed sun above west: Approximately 5-6 degrees.

Here's another major event being planned in a location that will enjoy totality — but only just. Close to the northern limit of the path of totality, just 40 seconds of totality will grace Sizigia Eclipse, a five-day "underground music" festival taking place from Aug. 10-14 beside a reservoir. Importantly, organizers promise a collective viewing from an elevated, open site with clear western horizon views. Tickets cost €262.50 tickets, with optional extras including a tipi camp and a shuttle bus from Barcelona and Zaragoza.

10. Iceland Eclipse Festival

A festival will take place close to Hellissandur's Ingjaldsholskirkja. (Image credit: Harald Nachtmann via Getty Images)

Iceland Eclipse Festival

Location: Hellissandur, Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

Time and duration of totality: 5:45 p.m. GMT; 2 minutes, 6 seconds.

Height of eclipsed sun above west: 25 degrees.

Iceland Eclipse Festival in Hellissandur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is almost as close to the eclipse's maximum point as it's possible to get on land. Running from Aug. 12-15, the event will include live music, presentations and panels across two stages. Burning Man, SXSW and TED inspire it.

Did these spruce trees really 'predict' a solar eclipse? Scientists are split

Julian Dossett — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

During an October solar eclipse in 2022, a team of scientists traveled to the Dolomites, a forested mountain range in Italy, to study spruce trees.

While the rest of the world was worried about buying solar eclipse glasses, timing telescopes to perfectly capture spectacular views of our sun and preparing for something profound, these researchers decided to spend time in the damp, woody and quiet air.

Fourteen hours before the eclipse began, the researchers recorded a heightened, synchronized electrical response from the spruces. And, after some analysis, the crew attributed the signals to the trees "anticipating" the upcoming eclipse in their own way. The team also concluded that older trees detected the eclipse first and communicated with younger trees via those electrical responses.

The team, led by Alessandro Chiolerio of Italian Institute of Technology, which included Monica Gagliano of Southern Cross University in Australia, then published a paper last year in the journal Royal Society Open Science detailing how they built custom sensors to measure electrical activity produced by the spruce trees and explaining what they found out about spruce tree communication.

However, a new opinion paper led by Ariel Novoplansky, a researcher and professor at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel, that was published Feb. 6 in the journal Trends in Plant Science, may have cut short the celebrations. Novoplansky and co-author Hezi Yizhaq call the original research into question, saying the team's conclusion doesn't necessarily come from the procedures they carried out.

In short, did Chiolerio and team really reveal that spruce trees can talk to one another before a solar eclipse — or is something else at play?

Well, Novoplansky's team concluded that no, the evidence Chiolerio and his team gathered does not suggest the trees anticipated the solar eclipse or communicated this or any other information to other trees.

Space.com covered the original research last year, and in light of the opinion piece, spoke with Novoplansky, Chiolerio and Gagliano to learn more about the debate.

We'll start with Chiolerio's perspective.

The Dolomites research

Back in 2022, in that mountainous study location, Chiolerio built custom sensors to measure the trees' "electrome," which refers to the total electrical activity within a living system. After attaching these "CyberTree" sensors to the spruce, the research team began to measure and record the trees' bioelectric signals.

"We saw that there was, in a certain moment, a synchronization of these waveforms," Chiolerio told Space.com. He likens the moment to an orchestra of instruments, suggesting "sometimes those instruments are playing perfectly in sync."

Indeed, he says on the day of the eclipse, the waveforms exhibited a behavior that was distinct when compared to the measurements on other days. "So, we ascribed the reason to the observation of the eclipse," he said.

A spruce tree with wires attached in the Dolomite mountains in Italy. (Image credit: Monica Gagliano/Southern Cross University)

The team gathered a number of environmental measurements during their research, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, rainfall and solar radiation, but they could not measure everything, such as cosmic rays and magnetic fields.

"We could not measure the environmental electrical fields that, for example, are associated with lightning," Chiolerio says. And Chiolerio also explained that, because the team didn’t measure everything, there could technically be a number of explanations for the synchronization waveforms emitted from the spruce trees.

Despite conceding that there could be other causes, Chiolerio stands by the work he and his team conducted in the Dolomites.

A new perspective

Novoplansky studies plant behavior. After he read Chiolerio's research paper, he says he disagreed with the findings and how the research was conducted, which led him to write the opinion piece.

"You should care about the education of people on the street and the awareness of the scientific community," Novoplansky says. "This is why I bothered and took the time to write this."

Novoplansky explains that there was a storm and lightning strikes that took place nearby and during the same time Chiolerio and his team recorded the tree's heightened activity. While Novoplansky does not definitively attribute the change in the trees' electrical activity to the storm and lightning, he says that this is a much more likely cause for the change in activity.

"This is much more parsimonious, which means it's easier to explain like that [compared to] the elaborate explanations that they give," Novoplansky says.

The older trees showed greater electrical activity compared to the younger trees, which Novoplansky says could also be explained by the lightning theory. This is because, he explains, older trees make "a bigger antenna to perceive this electrical activity."

Novoplansky also questions the trees' ability to anticipate a solar eclipse due to the minimal impact of the sunlight through a forest. "There is no real stress, nothing to get prepared for," Novoplansky said.

The eclipse was also partial, reducing sunlight levels by an average of 10.5% for only a couple of hours. Novoplansky likens this change in sunlight to that of clouds passing before the sun, which is the rule rather than the exception for these trees. Because the change in solar activity was minor, he believes the eclipse was "not sufficient enough for the trees to discern such a situation."

Furthermore, Novoplansky cites the unique trajectories of solar eclipses. While plants can "remember" past experiences, he says it doesn't make sense for the trees to remember a past solar eclipse, because it occurred at a separate location.

The study location in the Dolomite mountains in Italy. (Image credit: Monica Gagliano/Southern Cross University)

Reacting to criticism

Novoplansky goes as far as to call the original research "pseudoscience," but Chiolerio and Gagliano disagree. Chiolerio points out that the research was grounded in measurement.

"I wanted to be totally transparent, so that anybody in the world could replicate what we did," Chiolerio said. "You can find there the schematics of the circuits we developed, and also of the architecture of the system, including the firmware. Everything is there."

Gagliano, who also studies plant behavior, views the opinion piece as a mixed critique. "It is fair in emphasizing what our field dataset cannot establish on its own," she says. "Most importantly, it does not uniquely identify a causal mechanism, and synchrony in an observational dataset is not, by itself, proof of interplant communication. Those are standard limits of field observations, which we acknowledged."

But Gagliano wants people to understand the separation between observation and hypothesis. "What we reported is an empirical observation: a structured electrical-signal pattern and increased synchrony occurred in the eclipse window," she says. "The opinion piece proposes weather/lightning as a plausible alternative hypothesis, which should be tested explicitly."

Chiolerio acknowledges that lightning could be the explanation for the shift in the electric activity. But without testing this theory in the field, there's no way to know for sure.

"I would like people to come to me and say, 'Let's do an experiment together,’ Chiolerio continued. Conducting a similar experiment during a total eclipse could possibly yield different results. "This year in Spain," he says, "there will be a total eclipse, so we could do that."

The total lunar eclipse 2026 dazzles in incredible photos from around the world

Anthony Wood — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:06:50 +0000

The March 3 total lunar eclipse has been and gone, astounding skywatchers around the world with a breathtaking display of orbital mechanics as the lunar disk plunged into Earth's umbral shadow, transforming it into a crimson-hued blood moon.

A total lunar eclipse occurs as Earth passes between the moon and the sun during a full moon phase. No direct sunlight can reach the lunar surface during totality, as the lunar disk passes through the deepest part of our planet's shadow, known as its umbra. Instead, the moon is doused in sunlight that has been filtered by Earth's atmosphere — which is adept at scattering blue light while allowing longer redder wavelengths to pass relatively unhindered — causing it to turn a rusty, blood red color.

Totality was visible across large parts of the Americas, Asia and Oceania, many of whom captured gorgeous photos as Earth's shadow swept across the March full moon, providing a brief reminder of the grand scale of the orbital mechanics governing our solar system.

Read on to see a selection of mesmerizing images of the March 3 blood moon and don't forget to check out our total lunar eclipse live blog if you're looking for a recap of yesterday's spectacular event.

Spectacular photos of the total lunar eclipse 2026

Our first photo of the eclipsed moon was captured by Phil Walter as it hung in the skies over Auckland, New Zealand, as Earth's shadow began its tentative creep over the western edge of the lunar disk during the partial phase. Remember: Images of the moon captured from the southern hemisphere appear "upside down" compared to what northern hemisphere viewers are used to seeing, while shots taken near the equator are more likely to show the moon resting on its side.

The partially eclipsed moon photographed over New Zealand. (Image credit: Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Ted Aljibe took another striking image of the lunar disk as it glowed orange over the city of Manila in the Philippines. Its striking color here isn't a result of the eclipse, but rather the lunar disk's proximity to the horizon in the period directly following moonrise, when its reflected sunlight has to make a prolonged journey through Earth's atmosphere, which scatters blue light.

The partially eclipsed moon shines over the city of Manila in the Philippines. (Image credit: Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP via Getty Images)

That same moon was spotted just a few minutes later from Beijing, China, by photographer Fred Lee. The lunar sea Mare Crisium (the Sea of Crisis) is just visible as a dark circular feature at the top of the sunlit lunar disk, where lava flooded a network of impact craters over a billion years ago, before hardening into a vast basaltic plain.

The moon is transformed into a lunar crescent by the sweeping curve of Earth's shadow. (Image credit: Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)

Lee also snapped a wide-angle shot of the moon as direct sunlight illuminated a thin crescent of its outer disk, mere minutes before the onset of totality, as the Beijing skyline stretched out below, pouring light into the night sky. Sunlight refracted through Earth's atmosphere can already be seen softly illuminating the shadowed part of the lunar disk, making lunar maria visible to the naked eye.

An almost fully eclipsed moon hangs low over a city skyline at night, with a thin crescent of its upper right edge illuminated by sunlight. (Image credit: Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)

The moon took on a foreboding crimson hue as it slipped into the deepest part of Earth's umbral shadow. Tayfun Coskun captured the lunar disk soon after the period of totality began, documenting the deep orange-red hue of its surface. A patch of bluish light can also be spotted on the lower edge of the lunar disk. This fleeting phenomenon, sometimes known as the "turquoise band," occurs when red light is scattered by the ozone layer in Earth's upper atmosphere, which allows the blue wavelengths of light through to bend onto the lunar surface, according to Time and Date.

A blue flash on a red moon. (Image credit: Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Ezra Acayan snapped a glorious photo of the blood moon as it glowed through a gap in the clouds over the city of Santa Rosa in the Philippines, as faint stars fought for attention close by.

The March blood moon shines in a cloudy sky over the Philippines (Image credit: Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Acayan combined several images into a stunning composite view, revealing the sweeping progress of Earth's shadow in impressive detail during the partial and total phases of the blood moon eclipse.

The March 3 lunar eclipse laid bare. (Image credit: Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Astrophotographer Keith Odendahl took a beautifully detailed image of the fully-eclipsed moon as it glowed in the sky over the city of Price in Utah. Bright streaks known as ejecta rays can be seen streaking away from young impact craters in Odendahl's photo, whose existence testifies to the incredible force unleashed in their creation.

The March blood moon shines over the state of Utah in North America. (Image credit: Keith Odendahl)

Trần Hữu Thịnh captured another beautiful composite view of the total and waning partial phases of the blood moon eclipse as they unfolded over Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on March 3, soon after sunset for that part of the world.

The phases of the March blood moon eclipse seen over Vietnam. (Image credit: Trần Hữu Thịnh)

Tang Chhin, meanwhile, took a photo of the waning partial phase of the eclipse, as Earth's curved shadow slipped from the lunar disk, revealing the ancient lava plains of Mare Imbrium, Procellarum, Nubium and Humorum. The 51-mile (82-kilometer) expanse of the Tycho impact crater can also be seen, dominating the brighter right side of the lunar portrait.

The waning partial phase of the eclipse captured over Cambodia. (Image credit: Photo by TANG CHHIN Sothy / AFP via Getty Images)

Finally, Lauren DeCicca captured this gorgeous image of the uneclipsed lunar disk from Chiang Mai, Thailand on March 3.

The full "Worm Moon" shines on March 3, 2026. (Image credit: Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)

With the March blood moon in the rearview mirror, you'll have to wait until New Year's Eve 2028 for the next total lunar eclipse. Thankfully, there's still plenty more eclipse action to come this year, including a spectacular total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, which will see the path of totality fall across Greenland, Iceland and Spain as the lunar disk completely blocks out the face of our parent star.

Hoping to catch a glimpse of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse? Then you're going to need to pick up a pair of quality eclipse glasses to protect your eyes, such as the model listed above, or if you want a closer look, you could opt for a set of specialized sunoculars.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Totality is over — Feast your eyes on the 1st photos of the blood moon total lunar eclipse 2026

Anthony Wood — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:03:39 +0000

An incredible total lunar eclipse is still unfolding across North America, though totality has now come to an end. Earth's shadow transformed the full moon into a dramatic blood moon earlier tonight and the first mesmerizing images are already pouring in.

Breathtaking views of both the partial and spectacular blood moon phases of the total lunar eclipse are already flooding the internet, captured by photographers situated in America and Oceania.

While totality has ended, the eclipse is far from over. Be sure to follow along with our total lunar eclipse live blog and to read our watch live article to discover where to stream the eclipse online for free!

First views of the March 3 total lunar eclipse

Mirko Harnisch and the Dunedin Astronomical Society captured a gorgeous view of the full moon during the partial eclipse phase from New Zealand, as seen in this still from The Virtual Telescope Project livestream.

The image was captured shortly after Earth's curved inner shadow began its slow journey across the lunar disk, darkening the lunar seas sprawling across the western portion of its surface. The March full moon is commonly known as the Worm Moon and is named for the time of year when the ground softens to allow earthworms and burrowing beetles to emerge.

Earth's shadow begins its slow creep across the moon during the March 3 eclipse, as seen from New Zealand in the southern hemisphere. (Image credit: Mirko Harnisch & Dunedin Astronomical Society, (New Zealand) via The Virtual Telescope Project.)

Photographer Ted Aljibe captured a gorgeous view of the partially eclipsed full moon as it rose over the city of Manila in the Philippines, as Earth's shadow veiled the lower part of its disk.

An eclipsed moon rises over Manila. (Image credit: Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP via Getty Images)

Our next view comes courtesy of Time and Date and was taken as a small crescent of the lunar disk peeked out around the massive sweep of our planet's umbral shadow late into the partial phase. The dark basaltic plain of Mare Crisium (the Sea of Crisis) can be seen as a small oval at the top of the sunlit portion, with Mare Fecunditatis (the Sea of Fertility) below, marking regions where liquid lava once flooded the lunar surface.

Earth's shadow darkens the lunar surface shortly before the onset of the blood moon phase during totality. (Image credit: Time and Date.)

Harnisch and the Dunedin Astronomical Society were able to capture another gorgeous view of the lunar disk as it hung over New Zealand during totality, as sunlight filtered by Earth's atmosphere was bent onto its ancient surface, transforming the worm moon into a dramatic blood moon.

The fully eclipsed blood moon shines over New Zealand. (Image credit: Mirko Harnisch & Dunedin Astronomical Society (New Zealand) via the Virtual Telescope Project)

Time and Date provided yet another perspective of the blood moon from its mobile observatory in Yucca Valley, California, in which the outlines of the lunar seas can be seen darkening the crimson orb as it drifted silently behind Earth, hidden from the sun.

A view of totality from Yucca Valley, California (Image credit: Time and Date.)

Finally, photographer Phil Walker snapped this impressive view of the full moon during totality from northern New Zealand, as it bathed in the light of every sunrise and sunset on Earth.

Totality observed from northern New Zealand by photographer Phil Walter. (Image credit: Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Be sure to follow along live with our total lunar eclipse live blog, which will keep you up to date with all of the major milestones as Earth's shadow slips inexorably from the face of its natural satellite. The March 3 eclipse will draw to a close at 9:23 a.m. EST (1423 GMT), when the outer part of Earth's shadow — known as its penumbral shadow — departs the lunar disk.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your photos of the March 3 blood moon eclipse with Space.com's readers, then please send your images along with your comments, name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Total lunar eclipse weather forecast: Will US skies be clear for the blood moon?

Joe Rao — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000

As viewing prospects for Tuesday (March 3) morning's total lunar eclipse are concerned, it seems that about half of the nation will have at least some occasional views of the moon plunging through the Earth's dark shadow. The totality — aka the blood moon phase — will begin at 6:03 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, which corresponds to 3:03 a.m. Pacific time. Totality will last 58 minutes.

The regions of the country that will likely have the best overall weather conditions for the moon show will be southeast New England, much of the Florida peninsula, the northern Rockies, the Southwest deserts, Nevada, and most of California.

In contrast, several weather disturbances will induce considerable cloud cover primarily over the central and eastern states. A quasi-stationary front stretching across the Central Plains through the Upper Midwest east to the Mid-Atlantic region will be accompanied by a broad swath of clouds and wet weather, with the heaviest rains falling over parts of eastern Kansas, northeastern Missouri, central Illinois and west-central Indiana.

Other areas where eclipse weather will be problematic will be over parts of Utah, Wyoming and Colorado, where light rain and snow may fall, as well as portions of the Northern Plains to the upper Great Lakes, where a cold front will be dropping southward from south-central Canada. In addition, an inverted trough of low pressure developing near the coast of the Carolinas will induce a moist flow of air from the Atlantic Ocean that will translate into widespread cloudiness across the Piedmont region of the Southeast U.S.

Also, near and along the Pacific coast of Washington, Oregon, and California, a marine layer of low clouds will be in place at eclipse time, which could hide the moon.

So far as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England are concerned, it is unfortunate that the eclipse does not take place 12 hours sooner. On Tuesday evening, for these locations, skies will likely be beautifully clear and moonlit thanks to a large dome of high pressure sitting over southeast New York. However, as the night progresses, that protective shield of fair skies will rapidly shift to the east and out over the Atlantic Ocean and will allow lowering and thickening cloud cover to move in from the west, which — depending on how rapidly the cloud shield advances — could partially or completely obscure the moon by eclipse time. Those who want to be assured of a good view of this shady little celestial drama should travel to the east to stay ahead of the clouds. Locations that hold the most promise for clear skies include eastern Massachusetts, southeast New Hampshire and southern Maine.

NOAA Sky Cover (%) map for March 3, from the National Digital Forecast Database (Image credit: NOAA National Weather Service)

We have provided a map of the percentage of cloud/sky cover, valid for Tuesday at 7 a.m. EST, from NOAA's National Digital Database. It shows those regions where sky conditions look the best . . . and worse, for eclipse watchers. We can break things down into three categories:

GOOD: Cloud cover ranges from clear to scattered cloud cover; generally, a sky cover of no more than 30%.

FAIR: Cloud cover ranges from scattered to broken cloud cover; generally, 30% to no more than 70%. Despite the existing clouds, there will probably be large breaks and openings that will allow for periodic views of the moon going into eclipse, especially for places with no more than 50% sky cover.

POOR: Cloud cover ranges from 70% to complete overcast. At worst, a complete shut-out of the eclipse. At best, perhaps some occasional views of the moon like what poet Alfred Noyes described in "The Highwaymen": "The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas."

For any late updates in your local weather forecast, of course, check with your local National Weather Service Forecast Office. Just click on that part of the map where you live and you'll be taken to the NWS office that serves your area. There, you will find all the latest weather information pertaining to your area.

Also, check for the latest satellite imagery of your region courtesy of the GOES 16 weather satellite.

If you are clouded out, the next chance at seeing a total lunar eclipse from the contiguous U.S. will come on the night of June 25-26, 2029. It will be an unusually long totality, lasting 102 minutes. Later this year, on the night of August 27-28, an "almost" total lunar eclipse will take place, with 93% of the moon becoming immersed in the Earth's dark umbral shadow.

You can also watch all the action unfold from the comfort of your home with these free lunar eclipse livestreams and follow along with our lunar eclipse live update blog.

A total lunar eclipse will turn the full moon blood red for over 3 billion people tonight

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Editor's note: Totality has come to an end after putting on a spectacular show for billions of stargazers spread across the night side of Earth. Check out our wrap article to see the first gorgeous photos and images of the March 3 blood moon total lunar eclipse!

Tonight, the full moon will slip into Earth's darkest shadow during a total lunar eclipse and create a stunning 'blood moon'. This will take place in the early hours of March 3 for skywatchers in the U.S., so make sure you set your alarm!

Lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye; no filters or special glasses are needed (unlike solar eclipses). All you need to do is make sure you find the moon at the right time, sit back, relax and enjoy the remarkable show.

If you're unable to catch the eclipse in person, you can watch all the action unfold here on Space.com with these free livestreams. You can also follow along with our lunar eclipse live blog.

Where to look

The total lunar eclipse tonight will be visible to skywatchers across North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia, weather permitting. Over 40% of the world's population will be able to see at least some of the blood moon phase, according to Time and Date.

The best views of the lunar eclipse will be from the western half of North America, Australia and the Pacific. U.S. skywatchers in eastern time zones will be able to catch the blood moon just before it sets below the western horizon, but will not be able to watch the entirety of totality.

When to look

The best time to look at the total lunar eclipse will be at 6:33 a.m. EST (1133 GMT) on March 3 during the peak of totality when the moon sits in the deepest part of Earth's shadow.

But if you have the time, it's worth getting comfortable and watching the entire eclipse, at least from the partial eclipse phase beginning around 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT), when you'll be able to see Earth's shadow gradually take bigger and bigger bites out of the moon. It'll feel like you're watching the monthly phases of the moon sped up into just a few hours. Then, at 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT), the moon will turn blood red as it enters the totality phase, which will last for 58 minutes according to Time and Date.

Top viewing tips for tonight

Combat the clouds: Make sure to check your local weather forecast and have a nearby backup spot if you need to change plans.
Take your time: The drama of a total lunar eclipse builds slowly. Plan to watch it before, during and after totality to really appreciate the spectacle.
Low horizon? Across the eastern U.S., the moon will set during the totality phase. Pick an observing spot with a clear view of the western horizon.

Editor's note: If you capture a photo of the total lunar eclipse and would like to share it with us, please email it to spacephotos@space.com along with any comments.

What time is the blood moon total lunar eclipse tonight?

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:53:28 +0000

A total lunar eclipse will occur on March 3, creating a dramatic red "blood moon" for skywatchers across North America, Australia and East Asia.

During the March lunar eclipse, totality — when the moon is fully immersed in Earth's dark umbral shadow and appears blood-red — will begin at 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT) on March 3 and peak at 6:33 a.m. EST (1133 GMT). Totality will last for approximately 58 minutes, after which the moon will begin to exit from Earth's shadow.

Over 40% of the world's population will be able to see at least some of the total phase of the lunar eclipse. That's over three billion people, according to Time and Date. It will be the last total lunar eclipse anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028-2029.

North America - lunar eclipse timings

Penumbral eclipse begins: 3:44 a.m. EST (08:44 GMT)
Partial eclipse begins: 4:50 a.m. EST (09:50 GMT)
Totality: 6:04–7:02 a.m. EST (11:04–12:02 GMT)
Maximum eclipse: 6:33 a.m. EST (11:33 GMT)
Partial eclipse ends: 8:17 a.m. EST (13:17 GMT)

Key viewing times worldwide

Here are some key viewing times for the March 3 total lunar eclipse across different time zones, according to Time and Date. The timings represent when totality will occur, turning our lunar neighbor into a blood moon:

Eastern time: 6:04-7:02 a.m. EST on March 3, 2026 (the moon will set during totality in the Eastern time zone)
Central time: 5:04-6:02 a.m. CST on March 3, 2026
Mountain time: 4:04-5:02 a.m. MST on March 3, 2026
Pacific time: 3:04-4:02 a.m PST on March 3, 2026
Alaska time: 2:04-3:02 a.m. AKST on March 3, 2026
Hawaii time: 1:04-2:02 a.m. HST on March 3, 2026
New Zealand: 12:04-1:02 a.m. NZDT on March 4, 2026
Sydney: 10:04-11:02 p.m. AEDT on March 3, 2026
Brisbane, Australia: 9:04-10:02 p.m. AEST on March 3, 2026
Adelaide, Australia: 9:34-10:32 p.m. ACDT on March 3, 2026
Darwin, Australia: 8:34-9:32 p.m. on March 3, 2026
Perth, Australia: 7:04-8:02 p.m. on March 3, 2026
Tokyo: 8:04-9:02 p.m. JST on March 3, 2026
Seoul: 8:04-9:02 p.m. KST on March 3, 2026
Beijing: 7:04-8:02 p.m. CST on March 3, 2026
Hong Kong: 7:04-8:02 p.m. HKT on March 3, 2026

This total lunar eclipse composite image, captured from Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 7, 2025, shows the stages of a total lunar eclipse. (Image credit: Isura Nimantha/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

If you're unable to catch the lunar eclipse in person, we'll be livestreaming the event on Space.com. You can also follow along with the latest updates in our lunar eclipse live blog.

What will happen?

The eclipse begins at 3:44 a.m. EST (0844 GMT) when the moon enters Earth's penumbral shadow, causing a subtle shading effect. As it moves deeper into the umbra, a dark shadow will creep across the lunar surface and the moon will turn a reddish-orange hue during maximum eclipse. The overall duration of the lunar eclipse will be 5 hours and 39 minutes.

Watch the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse live online tonight with these free livestreams

Anthony Wood — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Stargazers across the U.S. will be treated to a dramatic orbital display in the early hours of March 3, as Earth's shadow falls across its natural satellite, giving rise to a"blood moon" total lunar eclipse.

Over 3.3 billion people across the Americas, Asia and Oceania will get a glimpse of the climactic blood moon phase, as the lunar disk — fully immersed in Earth's inner shadow — is bathed in sunlight filtered by our atmosphere, turning it a coppery red hue.

If your view of the eclipse is ruined by your location or the weather, there's no need to despair! Read on to discover how to watch the entire event online from the comfort of your home, courtesy of a trio of free YouTube livestreams providing real-time views from the U.S., Canada and Australia. You can also stay up to date by following along with our total lunar eclipse live blog!

Time and Date

Time and Date will host live coverage of the March 3 total lunar eclipse on its YouTube channel, starting at 4:30 a.m. EST (0930 GMT). The stream will feature live views from Los Angeles, Western Australia and potentially more, with expert commentary provided by journalist Anne Buckle and astrophysicist Graham Jones.

Virtual Telescope Project

The Virtual Telescope Project will host a livestream of its own, providing a global perspective of the eclipse starting at 3:30 a.m. EST (0830 GMT), with live views coming from a team of astrophotographers in Australia, the United States and Canada. Gianluca Masi, the organization's founder, will provide live commentary.

Griffith Observatory

Our final livestream comes courtesy of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, which will stream views of the eclipse on its YouTube channel beginning at 3:37 a.m. EST (0837 GMT). From its vantage point on the west coast of America, the observatory will be perfectly positioned to provide coverage throughout the eclipse, running from the penumbral phase through totality and beyond, as Earth's shadow retreats from the lunar disk.

Auckland Astronomical Society

The Auckland Astronomical Society will livestream the event starting at 3 a.m. EST (0800 GMT) from its location in northern New Zealand, providing crisp views of the lunar disk as it rises above the northeastern horizon in the hours following sunset.

Photographers hoping to immortalize their own views of the blood moon should read our expert's guide to capturing a total lunar eclipse, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your blood moon photos with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

See the 'impossible' as sunrise and a total lunar eclipse appear at the same time on March 3

Joe Rao — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

This year's first lunar eclipse on Tuesday, March 3, offers a rare chance to see a strange celestial sight traditionally thought impossible: the rising sun and the eclipsed moon in the sky at the same time.

Views of the total phase of this eclipse favor locations near and around the Pacific Rim. For North America, places within the Eastern Time Zone will see the moon set during dawn's early light during the total phase; places farther west will be able to catch the moon emerging from the Earth's shadow as it sets, while for sites out in the Far West, the eclipse will be visible from start to finish. Hawaiians will see the moon almost overhead as totality takes place in the hours after midnight. Meanwhile, during local evening hours, Central Asia and western Australia will see the moon rise as it emerges from the Earth's dark shadow. Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, as well as much of Japan and eastern Siberia, will see it all during convenient evening hours.

The moon passes through the southern part of the Earth's shadow, with totality beginning at 3:03 a.m. PST and lasting 59 minutes. Across the eastern half of the United States and Canada, there will be a chance to observe an unusual effect, one that celestial geometry seems to dictate can't happen. The little-used name for this effect is a "selenelion" (or "selenehelion") and occurs when both the sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen at the same time.

You can stay up to date with everything lunar eclipse in our lunar eclipse live updates blog.

Seeing the impossible

But wait! How is this possible? When we have a lunar eclipse, the sun, Earth and moon are in a geometrically straight line in space, with the Earth in the middle. So, if the sun is above the horizon, the moon must be below the horizon and completely out of sight (or vice versa).

And indeed, during a lunar eclipse, the sun and moon are exactly 180 degrees apart in the sky; thus, in a perfect alignment like this (a "syzygy"), such an observation would seem impossible.

But it is atmospheric refraction that makes a selenelion possible.

Atmospheric refraction causes astronomical objects to appear higher in the sky than they really are.

For example, when you see the sun sitting on the horizon, it is not there. It is, in reality, sitting just below the edge of the horizon, but our atmosphere acts like a lens and bends the sun's image just above the horizon, allowing us to see it.

This effect also lengthens the amount of daylight for several minutes or more each day; we end up seeing the sun for a few minutes in the morning before it has actually risen and for a few extra minutes in the evening after it has actually already set.

The same holds true with the moon, as well.

Because of this atmospheric trick, for many localities, there will be an unusual chance to observe a selenelion firsthand with this impending shadowy event. There will be a short window of roughly 1-to-3 minutes (depending on your location) when you may be able to simultaneously spot the sun rising in the east-southeast and the eclipsed full moon setting in the west-northwest.

Selenelion is when the rising sun and an eclipsed moon are visible at the same time due to atmospheric refraction. (Image credit: Created in Canva Pro)

Regions of visibility

For places to the west of the Continental Divide, this effect, unfortunately, may not be visible. For most places in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones, the moon will have moved completely free of the dark umbral shadow of the Earth before it sets. Those in the Mountain Time Zone will see the moon set while it is still within the Earth's penumbral shadow.

This shadow is so faint that at least 50-70% of the moon must be immersed within it before you have a chance of detecting it visually, either with your naked eyes or using an optical aid. For places in the southern and central Rockies, such as Santa Fe, New Mexico or Denver, Colorado, the lower-right portion of the moon will appear somewhat darker or "smudged" as it begins to disappear beyond the western horizon.

A map of the March 2026 total lunar eclipse. (Image credit: F. Espenak, NASA's GSFC)

Farther north, however, from Jackson, Wyoming and Butte, Montana, the moon will look perfectly normal as it sets.

Across most places in the Central Time Zone, the total phase will have passed, and the moon will be emerging from the Earth's umbra. Depending on your location, the moon may resemble a crescent, a half-moon, or just a "bite" taken out of its lower right limb.

For most locations in the Eastern Time Zone, the moon will set completely immersed in the Earth's shadow, while for the Atlantic Canada provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland), only the opening partial stages will be visible with the moon setting before totality occurs.

Location	Timezone	Sunrise	Moonset	Eclipse
Halifax	AST	6:48 a.m.	6:49 a.m.	81%
Boston	EST	6:16 a.m.	6:17 a.m.	Total Eclipse
New York	EST	6:26 a.m.	6:28 a.m.	Total Eclipse
Montreal	EST	6:29 a.m.	6:30 a.m.	Total Eclipse
Washington, DC	EST	6:38 a.m.	6:39 a.m.	Total eclipse
Atlanta	EST	7:03 a.m.	7:05 a.m.	97%
Chicago	CST	6:22 a.m.	6:24 a.m.	72%*
New Orleans	CST	6:24 a.m.	6:26 a.m.	69%*
Kansas City	CST	6:48 a.m.	6:51 a.m.	35%*
Austin	CST	6:55 a.m.	6:58 a.m.	26%*
Winnipeg	CST	7:07 a.m.	7:10 a.m.	9%*

This table shows the local times of sunrise and moonset, along with the percentage of the moon's diameter that is within the dark umbral shadow at the time of moonset, for 11 selected cities. An asterisk (*) indicates that totality has already occurred and that the moon is emerging from the umbral shadow. Note that locations farther to the west have the moon and sun together in the sky for a noticeably longer interval. That's because after mid-eclipse, the moon's orbital motion has carried it a bit more to the east and thus higher up in the sky, so it remains in view a bit longer.

Important facts to consider

To observe the selenelion, you should make sure that both your eastern and western horizons are free of any tall obstructions that might block your views of the setting moon or rising sun.

Also, be aware that depending on the clarity of your sky, you might lose sight of the moon about 10 or 15 minutes before sunrise, thanks to the brightening morning twilight and the moon sinking into any horizon haze (atmospheric "schmutz").

Keep in mind that this holds only for the uneclipsed portion of the moon. Indeed, if the moon is totally eclipsed at moonset, you will probably have to scan the western horizon as the twilight increases to detect the darkened moon, which will perhaps resemble a dim and eerily illuminated softball.

The total lunar eclipse tonight will be the last until New Year's Eve 2028

Jamie Carter — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Enjoy the total lunar eclipse on March 3 because it will be the last for a long while.

Observers across East Asia, Australia, the Pacific and western North America will see March's full moon — known as the "Worm Moon" — pass through Earth's shadow, turning a reddish-copper color for 58 spell-binding minutes. However, once the moon emerges from Earth's umbra — the deepest part of Earth's shadow — there will be no further total lunar eclipses for almost three years. A lunar lull will commence and won't end until a neatly-timed total lunar eclipse on New Year's Eve 2028-2029. Here's why — and why 2029 will be a year marking not just the end of a drought, but of three spectacular "blood moon" total lunar eclipses.

You can keep up with the latest blood moon news and progress with our total lunar eclispe live blog.

Lunar eclipses: total vs. partial vs. penumbral

A lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon passes through Earth's ever-present shadow. A cone-like shadow extending from the night side of the planet, it has two parts: a lighter outer penumbra and a darker central umbra. That's because the sun is larger than Earth, so Earth blocks its light in different ways.

Total lunar eclipse: when the whole of the moon passes through the umbra, cutting off all direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light that can reach it is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which scatters short wavelengths of light and bends longer red wavelengths inward. The result is the "blood moon."

Partial lunar eclipse: when a portion of the moon passes through the umbra, cutting off all direct sunlight from reaching some of the lunar surface. The result is the sight of Earth's shadow moving across the full moon, turning some of it a dull grey.

Penumbral lunar eclipse: when none of the moon passes through the umbra, just the outer penumbra, causing the moon to lose some of its brightness.

A total lunar eclipse includes all of these phases: penumbral, partial, and total, a process that can take about five hours.

March 3's total lunar eclipse

Lunar totality will last 58 minutes on March 3, 2026. (Image credit: Laurie LaPorte via Getty Images)

The March 3, 2026, total lunar eclipse will see the moon spend 58 minutes and 18 seconds fully inside Earth's umbra. It has an umbral magnitude of about 1.15, meaning the moon just passes full inside Earth's shadow. Total lunar eclipses with magnitudes only slightly above 1 tend to appear lighter copper or reddish in tone rather than a very dark crimson, because the moon does not travel deeply through the shadow.

That's a mere detail; this total lunar eclipse is sure to be a dramatic event, turning a night sky bleached to blue by the full "Worm Moon" to a very dark sky, with stars appearing around the full moon. The entire event, including the long partial phases before and after totality, will last five hours and 38 minutes.

After March 3, the moon won't fully enter Earth's umbra again until the very end of 2028.

Why will total lunar eclipses disappear for a few years?

The no-totality gap after March 2026 is not unusual. Total lunar eclipses require precise alignments, far more so than partial or penumbral events. That's because the moon's orbit is tilted by about five degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the sun, which means most full moons pass above or below Earth's shadow — the reason why there isn't an eclipse every month. In fact, lunar eclipses can only occur during eclipse seasons, brief windows about six months apart when the sun is near one of the moon's orbital nodes. But even then, totality is not guaranteed.

During many eclipse seasons, the moon merely skims Earth's penumbra and umbra. Partial eclipses — when some of the full moon enters the umbra — can be striking events, but at no point does the lunar surface look reddish. Penumbral eclipses are even subtler, with the lunar surface merely dulled. Compared to a total lunar eclipse, partial and penumbral events lack the drama of totality.

There will be a deep partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 28, 2026. This photograph was captured on Sept. 7, 2025 from Vallejos. Málaga, Spain. (Image credit: Javier Zayas Photography via Getty Images)

What happens to lunar eclipses after March 2026?

After March 3, 2026, there will be no occasions when the moon becomes fully immersed in Earth's umbra for 34 months. Eclipse seasons continue, and lunar eclipses still occur, but none will be total. Here's the sequence of partial and penumbral events to expect from 2026 to 2028.

Aug. 28, 2026 — deep partial lunar eclipse (93% of the moon enters the umbra)
Feb. 20, 2027 — penumbral lunar eclipse
July 18, 2027 — penumbral lunar eclipse
Aug. 17, 2027 — penumbral lunar eclipse
Jan. 12, 2028 — shallow partial lunar eclipse
July 6, 2028 — partial lunar eclipse (39% of the moon enters the umbra)

When total lunar eclipses return

The drought finally ends at the close of 2028, when the slow westward drift of the moon's orbital nodes brings full moons back into deeper alignment with Earth's shadow. What follows will be a tetrad of three total lunar eclipses in a 12-month period.

December 31, 2028 — total lunar eclipse (totality for 71 minutes as seen from Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada and Alaska).
June 26, 2029 — total lunar eclipse (totality for 102 minutes as seen from the Americas, western Europe and Africa).
December 20, 2029 — total lunar eclipse (totality for 54 minutes as seen from North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia).

Total lunar eclipses are not rare, but they are episodic, appearing in clusters when the geometry lines up. Are these night-side events worth traveling the world to see? Perhaps not — particularly compared to the geographically much more limited total solar eclipses — but any one location can go many years without one. One thing's for sure about total lunar eclipses: every skywatcher should always know when and where the next one is.

Rare 'ring of fire' eclipse seen by few | Space photo of the day for Feb. 26, 2026

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Annular solar eclipse captured by one of the few observers located at Concordia Research Station, Antarctica. (Image credit: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-A. Traverso)

A blazing 'ring of fire' appeared in the frozen skies above Antarctica during the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026. This spectacle was witnessed by only a handful of people on Earth.

What is it?

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun while it is positioned a bit farther away because of its slightly elliptical orbit around Earth. As a result, it does not completely cover the sun's disk as it would during a total solar eclipse. Instead, a thin ring of sunlight remains visible around the moon's silhouette, a glowing 'ring of fire'.

This particular eclipse was visible to very few people. The narrow path of annularity crossed only a small slice of Antarctica, placing the crew at the Concordia Research Station among the fortunate few able to witness the full effect from the icy plateau.

Peak annularity occurred at 7:47 p.m. local time (6:47 a.m. EST / 1247 GMT) and lasted just two minutes, though the border eclipse — including the partial phases — spanned roughly two hours.

Why is it amazing?

Concordia sits over 680 miles (1,100 kilometers) inland at an altitude of nearly 10,500 feet (3,200 meters), one of the most isolated research stations on the planet. In the summer, the sun barely dips below the horizon and in the winter, it disappears entirely for months as temperatures plunge to -112 degrees Fahrenheit (-80 degrees Celsius).

While spacecraft like Proba-2 got a glimpse of the eclipse from orbit, this ground-based view from Antarctica is among the rarest perspectives of all. A unique view, for the very few, at the bottom of the world.

7 easy tips for photographing the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse tonight

Jamie Carter — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:00:00 +0000

In the early hours of March 3, 2026, skywatchers across the U.S. will be treated to a total lunar eclipse — the only one until the end of 2028. During this "blood moon," the full moon will pass through Earth's shadow and glow a rich coppery red for nearly an hour. It's a beautiful and accessible celestial event — and one that anyone can photograph with a little planning.

You don't need advanced gear to photograph a lunar eclipse. What matters more is being ready: knowing when it happens, where to look, and how to adapt your camera or smartphone to changing light. Whether you're snapping on a smartphone or setting up a carefully composed telephoto shot, the most important things are timing, location, and focus. So check your sky, prep your settings, and make it an early morning worth remembering.

Here are 7 easy tips to help you capture the magic.

1. Get the exact time and schedule for your location

The only total lunar eclipse of 2026 — and the last until New Year's Eve 2028-2029 — will take place at the same global time, 08:44 and 14:22 GMT on Tuesday, March 3. It will be best seen in western North America, the Pacific, New Zealand, Australia and East Asia. Totality — the most photogenic part, when the moon will be completely reddish — takes place at these times:

Eastern time: 6:04-7:02 a.m. EST on March 3, 2026 (the moon will set during totality in the Eastern time zone)
Central time: 5:04-6:02 a.m. CST on March 3, 2026
Mountain time: 4:04-5:02 a.m. MST on March 3, 2026
Pacific time: 3:04-4:02 a.m PST on March 3, 2026
Alaska time: 2:04-3:02 a.m. AKST on March 3, 2026
Hawaii time: 1:04-2:02 a.m. HST on March 3, 2026

Although totality is the headline act, there are partial and penumbral phases on either side, which together make the event last over five hours. Visit Time and Date to get a schedule for your location, which will also include where the moon will be in the sky to help you plan your shot.

2. Go west for the best views

Total lunar eclipse captured from Germany on Sept. 7, 2026. The main image you'll want is of a totally eclipsed moon. (Image credit: fhm via Getty Images)

U.S. states in the east won't have a great view, with the moon setting during totality — a frustrating sight. The farther west you head, the better the view will be, with the West Coast a better option than the Midwest. Although the majority of the eclipse will be visible from Chicago, for example, the moon will set just 20 minutes after totality ends, meaning totality will be viewed close to the western horizon. Even in the western U.S., the moon will be low in the western sky during totality, so it's vital to find a site with an unobstructed view to the west. Elevated spots and open fields are wise choices, as is scouting your location a few days beforehand so you know what to expect.

3. Check the climate, then the weather

Cloud cover is the biggest threat to all kinds of eclipse photography, and in early March, it's likely to be a huge consideration. According to historical cloud cover data (which you can check for any location using NASA Worldview), the clearest skies in the U.S. are typically found in the southwestern U.S., making Arizona and California theoretically the best places to be. However, climate is only useful in pre-planning; from about three days out, use weather apps like Windy and Clear Outside to track local forecasts for cloud cover. If you can, have wheels so you can relocate if your original spot is looking cloudy a day or two before.

4. Practice focusing a camera on the moon

One option is a collage of shots from different stages of the eclipse, like this one captured from Japan during an eclipse on Nov. 8, 2022. (Image credit: Copyright Crezalyn Nerona Uratsuji via Getty Images)

If you've never imaged the moon before, read up on how to photograph the moon using a camera and practice — it will make all the difference. If you're using a long lens (200-600mm), try auto-focus on the moon, but also manual focus, using 'live view' to magnify the moon. Make adjustments and, if you want, mark the exact point on the focus wheel. You can do the same for a wide-angle lens, though turning to the infinity icon (∞) on the dial may suffice. Adjust the focus until it's sharp as a tack — blurry totality images are so common and so disappointing.

After the first-quarter moon on February 24, there will be a bright moon in the south and southeast after sunset each night through the eclipse in March. 3. It will get brighter every night; use any clear skies to practice.

5. Adjust exposure throughout the eclipse

During the eclipse, the moon will be swallowed first by Earth's fuzzy outer penumbral shadow, noticeably losing its brightness, but remaining grey. As it enters the darker inner umbral shadow (the partial phase), it darkens significantly before finally turning reddish. According to the late, great eclipse photographer Fred Espenak on Nikon, those after a close-up of the blood moon should set the camera to ISO 400, open the lens to the widest aperture, and try a variety of exposures, adjusting the shutter speed in five-second increments. You'll likely start with fast shutter speeds like 1/250s, aperture at f/8 to f/11 at ISO 400 as the eclipse begins, but for totality it will be more like 1–2 second exposures, f/2.8 aperture and ISO to 800-1600. Making constant adjustments is key — and it's a 58-minute totality, so you have plenty of time to experiment. Bracketing (taking multiple exposures at different settings) is a wise move during totality, with 0.5-second, 1-second and 2-second exposures — all at the same ISO and aperture — will help retain lots of detail.

6. Know how to use a smartphone

Smartphones are getting really good at astrophotography, but that only applies to wide-angle shots; resist the temptation to zoom in on the moon and instead aim to frame it reflected in a lake or pond, among buildings or above mountains or trees. As well as restricting yourself to landscape shots, use some stabilization, such as a small tripod supporting a universal smartphone holder attachment.

At a pinch, you can prop it up against a bottle or a rock — particularly since the eclipse will be taking place relatively low in the sky. It's also wise to use timed exposures to further reduce the threat of movement. Once you're happy with the composition, tap the moon to focus, then slide your finger down to lower the brightness. Shooting in raw is also a good idea, if that's an option.

7. Other things to think about

A group of people enjoying the total lunar eclipse over Amager Strandpark during a total lunar eclipse in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Sept. 7, 2025. (Image credit: Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Stay warm, always use a tripod, charge your batteries or bring a portable battery, keep spare empty SD cards, and use a shutter release cable or app you trust. Espenak also advises turning on a camera's Long Exposure Noise Reduction feature and, more importantly, placing the moon's image in one corner of the camera's viewfinder. That way, it can drift through the camera's field of view during the exposure, rather than drift out of it. But which corner? For North America, during the eclipse, the moon will move from top-left to bottom-right — it will be on its way to setting in the west.

Photographing a total lunar eclipse — whose totality lasts almost an hour — is so much less frenetic than a total solar eclipse, but take some time between exposures to take in the stunning sight. Total lunar eclipses are like buses; you get none for years, then three come along at once. The blood moon on March 3, 2026, is the last until a trio of total lunar eclipses begins in late 2028, so enjoy it.

What to expect during the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse tonight: Key phases explained

Anthony Wood — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000

On March 3, billions of people across the Americas, Asia and Oceania will witness a blood moon total lunar eclipse as the sun, Earth and moon align, laying bare the orbital mechanics of the solar system in spectacular fashion.

The eclipse occurs as Earth passes between the sun and moon during the full "Worm Moon" phase, casting the lunar disk into shadow while also bathing it in red light that has been filtered through our planet's dense atmosphere during totality.

Read on to discover what to expect from each phase of the March. 3 total lunar eclipse and remember that you can stay up to date with the latest news, photography and information on the blood moon by following along with our eclipse live blog.

Each eclipse occurs at the same universal time for everyone, but the local time at which it unfolds — and your ability to see each phase — is dictated by your location on Earth. Check Time and Date's eclipse tracker for precise timings for your locale, along with details on which phase will be visible to you.

Penumbral phase

The eclipse kicks off at 3:44 a.m. EST (0833 GMT), as the moon begins to slip into Earth's outer shadow, or penumbra. The subtle darkening that creeps across the lunar surface during this phase is incredibly easy to miss, becoming more pronounced as this early stage draws to a close.

The moon pictured during the penumbral phase of a total lunar eclipse. (Image credit: Photo by SSPL/Getty Images)

Partial phase

The curved silhouette of Earth's inner shadow will become visible, eating into the lunar disk at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT), marking the beginning of the partial phase of the eclipse. The umbral shadow will appear black during the first half hour, before transitioning to a brown and later deep red hue, in the moments before totality, as our planet's shadow engulfs the last sliver of the moon's exposed crescent.

Earth's shadow encroaches on the moon during a lunar eclipse. (Image credit: Photo by Necmettin Karaca/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Skywatchers in the eastern U.S. in cities like New York will witness the entirety of the partial phase along with the very beginning of totality before the moon slips below the western horizon around surise on March. 3.

Full eclipse - totality

The moon will sink entirely within Earth's umbral shadow at 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT), marking the beginning of totality and the blood moon phase of the eclipse.

A blood moon shines near Japan's Skytree tower in Tokyo. (Image credit: STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)

This climactic period will last 58 minutes, during which the lunar disk will adopt a dramatic red hue, as a phenomenon called Rayleigh scattering filters out the shorter blue wavelengths of the sun's light, while allowing longer red ones to fall on the lunar surface.

Maximum eclipse

The eclipse will reach a crescendo at 6:33 a.m. EST (1133 GMT), when the moon will pass closest to the center of Earth's shadow — though it will remain relatively close to its edge — during a point known as the eclipse maximum.

A blood moon captured over Vienna, Austria in September 2025. (Image credit: Photo by Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)

Viewers in states as far east as Alabama, Tennessee, western Ohio and Michigan will witness all 58 minutes of totality before the lunar disk sets, while those further west — in Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, for example — will also see the waning partial phase.

A waning eclipse

At 7:02 a.m. EST (1202 GMT), the full eclipse will reach its end, as a thin silvery crescent of the lunar disk slowly emerges from beneath Earth's gigantic shadow. The hours that follow will see it grow ever thicker, until our planet's inner umbral shadow slips fully from the face of the moon at 8:17 a.m. EST (1317 GMT), followed by the outer shadow at 9:23 a.m. EST (1423 GMT).

Earth's shadow is pictured retreating from the lunar disk during a lunar eclipse seen above Turkey. (Image credit: Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Want to immortalize your view of the March 3 blood moon? Then be sure to check out our expert guide to photographing a total lunar eclipse, along with our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography available in 2026. You should also check out our roundup of the top binoculars and telescopes for exploring the lunar disk, if you're hoping to get a closer view of Earth's natural satellite.

Editor's Note: If you snap a picture of the blood moon and want to share it with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Where to see the total lunar eclipse in the early hours of March 3

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

The first lunar eclipse of 2026 will transform the moon into a coppery red "blood moon" in the early hours of March 3 for skywatchers in North America.

The long-lasting and impressive blood moon on March 3 will be visible to billions within the path of the eclipse (weather permitting), but exactly what you'll see depends on where you are watching it from.

You can keep up with the latest lunar eclipse news with our lunar eclipse live blog and watch the eclipse online with these free lunar eclipse livestreams.

What is a total lunar eclipe?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth sits between the moon and the sun. With the moon sitting in Earth's shadow, the only light reaching the lunar surface is filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which turns it red, earning it the name blood moon.

Best places to see the lunar eclipse

Though the blood moon total lunar eclipse will be visible across the night side of Earth on March 3, the best views will be from the western half of North America, Australia and the Pacific.

You'll have the best view if you're able to get yourself somewhere dark with clear skies.

Totality, when the moon is fully immersed in Earth's shadow, will last 58 minutes, from 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT) to 7:02 a.m. EST (1202 GMT).

That translates to the following local times in North America:

Eastern time: 6:04-7:02 a.m. EST on March 3, 2026 (the moon will set during totality in the Eastern time zone)
Central time: 5:04-6:02 a.m. CST on March 3, 2026
Mountain time: 4:04-5:02 a.m. MST on March 3, 2026
Pacific time: 3:04-4:02 a.m PST on March 3, 2026
Alaska time: 2:04-3:02 a.m. AKST on March 3, 2026
Hawaii time: 1:04-2:02 a.m. HST on March 3, 2026

To find out whether the eclipse will be visible from your location, visit Time and Date, where you can enter your city to see local visibility details and exact timings. In New York, for example, observers will see the moon slip into totality and turn blood red but maximum eclipse, when the moon moves deepest into Earth's shadow, will occur after moonset and won't be visible.

What to expect

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye. When the eclipse unfolds, you'll gradually see the shift from a bright silver moon to a deep red as Earth's shadow sweeps across it. It's like watching all the phases of the moon at high speed!

Total lunar eclipse March 3 2026: Live updates

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 16:09:50 +0000

The next lunar eclipse will be a total lunar eclipse on March 3, 2026. It is the first lunar eclipse of the year.

It will be visible in North America and will be the last total lunar eclipse anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028-2029.

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon will appear to take on a red hue, giving rise to the "blood moon".

Where is it visible? | What time? | Watch online

One week to the blood moon! We're ready, are you?

A blood moon captured over South Africa. (Image credit: WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images)

In just one week, a spectacular display of orbital mechanics will be visible to billions of people across the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, as Earth's shadow sweeps across the lunar disk, triggering the onset of an awe-inspiring 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse.

Who will be able to see the total lunar eclipse?

The 'blood moon' will be visible to skywatchers across western North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia, weather dependent. (Image credit: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

The March 2026 total lunar eclipse will bring a dramatic blood moon to skies across North America, Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia — if you know where to look.

Though the blood moon total lunar eclipse will be visible to billions of people across the night side of Earth on March 3, the best views will be from the western half of North America, Australia and the Pacific.

Planning on heading somewhere for the blood moon? We've got you covered

The total lunar eclipse will be visible to billions of people worldwide, weather permitting. (Image credit: Created in Canva Pro)

Still unsure of where you'll be for the last total lunar eclipse until New Year's Eve 2028-2029? We've compiled a list of 10 of the best places to head for great views of the blood moon on March 3, from dark sky reserves to remote deserts.

A blood moon is coming, but what will actually happen?

(Image credit: Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

In the early hours of March 3, skywatchers across the Americas, east Asia and Oceania will witness a blood moon total lunar eclipse. Totality, during which the moon will sit in the deepest part of Earth's shadow, the umbra, will last for 58 minutes.

But the show goes on for much longer than that.

Read more: What to expect during each phase of the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse on March 3

Want to photograph the upcoming lunar eclipse but don't know where to start?

(Image credit: Igor Alecsander via Getty Images)

We've rounded up seven easy tips for photographing the total lunar eclipse on March 3 so you're not left in the dark come the big day!

You may not need advanced gear to photograph a lunar eclipse, but preparation is key.

Why does the moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?

The moon turn's a coppery blood red hue during a total lunar eclipse. (Image credit: imagodevita via Getty Images)

On March 3, a total lunar eclipse will turn the moon red for billions of skywatchers around the world. But what causes the blood moon? Why doesn't the moon turn completely black during a total lunar eclipse?

The answer lies in the way Earth's atmosphere bends and filters sunlight, scattering blue light while allowing red and orange wavelengths to reach the moon. It's as if all the world's sunrises and sunsets are projected onto the moon at once.

Read more: Why does the moon turn red during a total lunar eclipse?

The total lunar eclipse will be the last one for nearly 3 years

(Image credit: Created in Canva Pro)

If you're planning to wake up early for the total lunar eclipse on March 3, here's something to keep in mind: after this blood moon, we won't see another for nearly 3 years! So it's worth catching this one if you can.

There are no total lunar eclipses in 2027. The next time the moon fully enters Earth's shadow won't be until Dec. 31, 2028 — New Year's Eve — kicking off a rare run of three total lunar eclipses between 2028 and 2029.

See the 'impossible' during March 3's total lunar eclipse

See the 'impossible' during March 3's total lunar eclipse (Image credit: Created in Canva Pro)

Can you really see a sunrise and a blood moon at the same time?

On March 3, some skywatchers may witness a rare atmospheric effect called a selenelion, when the rising sun and an eclipsed moon briefly share the sky.

Read more: See the 'impossible' as sunrise and a total lunar eclipse appear at the same time on March 3

What time is the eclipse and where can I watch it online?

(Image credit: Created in Canva Pro)

The blood moon is almost upon us! It will be the last total lunar eclipse until New Year's Eve 2028, so catch it if you can!

Check out our handy guides below on where to watch the action online and also what time to catch the main event.

T-24 hours until the total lunar eclipse!

The total lunar eclipse will be visible to skywatchers across North America in the early hours of March 3 (weather permitting). (Image credit: Canva Pro)

Heads up skywatchers!

Set your alarm — the total lunar eclipse of March 3 is almost here, and for many North American skywatchers it unfolds in the early hours before sunrise (weather permitting!)

Some observers may even witness a rare atmospheric illusion called a selenelion, an 'impossible' moment when the rising sun and eclipsed moon appear in the sky at the same time!

Key resources:

Total lunar eclipse weather forecast

Will clouds conspire to spoil your view? (Image credit: Giuliano Domenichini via Getty Images)

The blood moon total lunar eclipse is mere hours away, but your ability to actually lay eyes on the shadowy display will depend entirely on your location and, of course, the weather. The latest weather forecast reveals that around half of the U.S. will have at least occasional clear skies to reveal the orbital drama, but central and eastern states will face the worst of the cloud cover.

Check out our total lunar eclipse weather forecast below to discover your viewing prospects for the March 3 blood moon eclipse.

The total lunar eclipse 2026 has officially begun!

(Image credit: Virtual Telescope Project/ Karim Jaffer (Montreal Centre, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada & John Abbott College)

Good morning space fans!

The total lunar eclipse is now underway. The moon has begun slipping into Earth's outer shadow, known as the penumbra. Currently, there is a very subtle dimming of the lunar surface, easy to miss at first, but the shading will gradually become more noticeable. Keep your eyes peeled!

If you're unable to watch in person, then why not watch online! We've rounded up the best total lunar eclipse livestreams for you, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

I've also made a big pot of coffee, so I'm here for the long haul and will be keeping you up to date with all the lunar eclipse shenanigans here on our live blog. Stay tuned!

Related: Total lunar eclipse weather forecast: Will US skies be clear for the blood moon?

Can you spot it yet?

Screengrab from Time and Date's livestream. (Image credit: Time and Date)

The upper left portion of the moon is starting to look darker. Can you see it?

The shading will become more noticeable as we move towards the partial eclipse phase at 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT).

Totality will occur between 6:04 and 7:04 a.m. EST (11:04–12:03 GMT), during which the moon will appear a dramatic blood red, weather permitting.

The lunar eclipse has entered the partial phase

The lunar eclipse has now entered the partial lunar eclipse phase. (Image credit: Time and Date)

The eclipse has now entered the partial phase. From here on, Earth's deepest shadow, known as the umbra, begins to sweep across our lunar companion. A curved, dark bit is beginning to appear on the moon's edge, slowly growing as our planet's shadow advances.

Deepening partial eclipse as we head toward totality

View of the lunar eclipse from New Zealand. (Image credit: Mirko Harnisch & Dunedin Astronomical Society / Virtual Telescope Project)

As more of the moon moves into the umbra, the shadow will appear dark gray at first. But watch closely as it won't stay that way! As totality approaches (beginning at 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT), the eclipsed portion will begin to take on a coppery, rusty hue.

Because observers in New Zealand are viewing the moon from the opposite side of Earth compared to those in U.S., the lunar disk appears effectively rotated — making the deepening partial eclipse look "upside down," with Earth's shadow falling on the opposite side of the moon.

T-20 minutes until the start of totality!

(Image credit: Time and Date)

Heads up skywatchers! There is not long to wait until the blood moon phase of the total lunar eclipse, with totality starting at 6:04 a.m. EST (1104 GMT).

Maximum eclipse will occur at 6:33 a.m. EST (1133 GMT) and totality will end at 7:02 a.m. EST (1202 GMT).

But it doesn't end there! The lunar eclipse will continue through the partial lunar eclipse phase until 8:17 a.m. EST (1317 GMT).

The lunar eclipse will officially end at 9:23 a.m. EST (1423) with the end of the penumbral phase, but this is very subtle, so it's unlikely you'll notice much of a difference.

Totality has begun!

Totality has started. (Image credit: Time and Date)

Heads up, skywatchers, totality is here! The moon is now fully immersed in Earth's darkest shadow, known as the umbra. Sunlight refracting through Earth's atmosphere is tinting the moon red.

Behold the spectacular blood moon phase. Totality will last for 58 minutes in total, so sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Follow along with these eclipse livestreams.

Maximum eclipse reached

(Image credit: Time and Date)

The eclipse has reached maximum. The moon is closest to the center of Earth's shadow, glowing its richest red of this event.

The end of the blood moon phase

(Image credit: Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Totality has now ended. A thin, bright sliver of moonlight is beginning to reappear as the lunar disk slowly emerges from the umbra. Though the blood moon is fading, now is a great time to keep watching as the thin silvery crescent glows along one edge. Over the next hour or so, you'll see the crescent grow and sweep across the lunar disk; it's like watching all the phases of the moon sped up to mere minutes in front of your very eyes.

The partial lunar eclipse phase is now over

(Image credit: Footage by Perth Observatory via Time and Date.)

The moon has now completely exited Earth's inner shadow. The dramatic dark bite is gone and only a faint shading from the penumbra remains. The most visually striking part of the eclipse is now over.

The lunar eclipse is now over

(Image credit: Time and Date.)

The total lunar eclipse has officially concluded. The moon has fully left Earth's penumbral shadow and returned to its usual full brightness. This total lunar eclipse lasted 5 hours and 39 minutes from start to finish!

Total lunar eclipse 2026: Best photos

(Image credit: Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

What a night! From the first subtle penumbral shading to almost an entire hour of dramatic red totality, this blood moon was visible to billions across the Americas, Asia and Oceania. Thank you for following along with our live coverage. If you missed it — or want to relive the magic — check out our full story featuring the best lunar eclipse photos from around the world.

1 week until a breathtaking blood moon rises over the US during total lunar eclipse 2026

Anthony Wood — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Celestron Inspire 100AZ

(Image credit: Jamie Carter)

The Celestron Inspire 100AZ is, in our opinion, a great telescope for beginners looking to get crisp views of the moon and planets of the solar system. It features a 70mm aperture, a 660mm focal length, it comes with a stable tripod and a smartphone adaptor for astrophotography. Why not take a look at our Celestron Inspire 100AZ review?

A total lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the moon and the sun during a full moon phase, plunging the moon into Earth's shadow. The next such event will take place on March. 3 with the rising of the full "Worm Moon", named for the time when the ground softens, allowing earthworms and beetle larvae to emerge.

You can learn more about the total lunar eclipse on March 3 with our blood moon lunar eclipse 2026 guide and keep up to date with the latest lunar eclipse content with our lunar eclipse live blog.

This phenomenon — commonly known as the blood moon — happens because Earth's atmosphere is particularly good at scattering the shorter blue wavelengths of light while allowing longer red wavelengths to pass through relatively unhindered. This effect, known as Rayleigh scattering, is the same reason that the sky takes on magnificent shades of red and orange around sunset.

Totality will last for 58 minutes and will be visible to more than 3 billion people across parts of the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, weather permitting.

The eclipse will kick off at 3:33 a.m. EST (0833 GMT) on March. 3 for viewers in the U.S., as Earth's outer shadow, or penumbra, encroaches on the lunar surface, almost too subtle to be noticed with the naked eye. At 4:50 a.m. EST (0950 GMT), the more defined curve of Earth's umbral silhouette will begin to creep steadily across the face of the moon before fully engulfing it at 6:04 a.m. EST (11:04 GMT), marking the beginning of totality.

A map of the March 2026 total lunar eclipse. (Image credit: F. Espenak, NASA's GSFC)

Skywatchers in New York will witness the very beginning of the blood moon phase in the half hour before the lunar disk slips below the horizon opposite the glow of the rising sun on March. 3. Those on the West Coast in states including California, Oregon and Washington D.C. will get to witness the entirety of the eclipse, with the orbital show starting in the early hours and running through to dawn. Exact eclipse timings will vary based on your location, so be sure to check out Time and Date for a schedule tailored to your locale.

Want the best possible view of the lunar disk as it transforms into a jaw-dropping blood moon? Then be sure to read our roundup of the best telescopes and binoculars for viewing the night sky. If photography's your thing, then you may also want to read our guide to photographing a lunar eclipse, along with our picks of the top cameras and lenses for astrophotography.

Editor's Note: If you capture a photo of the blood moon and want to share it with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Why do some places wait 1000 years for a solar eclipse, while others get two in a decade?

Jamie Carter — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

On Aug. 2, 1153, Jerusalem — one of the oldest cities in the world — experienced a total solar eclipse for the last time until Aug. 6, 2241, according to the book Totality by the late Fred Espenak, NASA's eclipse calculator extraordinaire. That's a gap of 1,108 years. Meanwhile, people living in a quadrant covering about 32,400 square miles (52,200 square kilometers) in Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky experienced totality twice in just 6 years, 7 months, and 18 days.

Why are generation after generation of people in Jerusalem so unlucky, while those in Perryville, Cape Girardeau, Paducah, Carbondale, Makanda, Harrisburg and Metropolis are overfamiliar with totality from their backyards? Why do some locations on Earth never see a total solar eclipse within multiple human lifetimes, while others have a path of totality — typically about 100 miles wide — cross their home regularly?

Why are eclipses "unfairly" distributed around the world? The answers come in the form of numbers, but also in orbital cycles operating over more than mere millennia.

How often do total solar eclipses occur?

The frequency of total solar eclipses is difficult to pin down because the intervals between them occurring at any one place are highly irregular. The reference work is a 1982 paper by Belgian astronomer Jean Meeus, a legend of mathematical astronomy. Using an HP-85 personal computer — one of the first available — Meeus calculated paths of totality over the next 600 years to arrive at an answer. The received wisdom was that a total solar eclipse occurs at a given place on Earth once every 360 years, on average, but that figure traced back to a 1926 astronomy textbook that offered no supporting calculation. Meeus' calculations refined the figure to an average of 375 years. This number has been the standard ever since, but given advances in computing, recent efforts have sought to refine it by crunching more data in different ways.

NASA's 5,000-year heat map

NASA's heatmap showing the frequency of total solar eclipses over the 5,000 years from 2,000 BCE to 3,000 CE. (Image credit: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio)

In March 2024, just before the second "Great American Eclipse" in seven years, Ernie Wright at NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio published a heat map of paths of totality across Earth. It contains the paths of 3,742 total solar eclipses across the 5,000 years between 2,000 B.C. and 3,000 C.E. It was created using the Five Millennium Canon of Solar Eclipses, a list of eclipses calculated by Jean Meeus and the late Fred Espenak, published in 2006. "It's evident from the heatmap that a total solar eclipse can happen absolutely anywhere on Earth," wrote Wright. "In fact, there isn't a single pixel in the map that isn't visited by at least one eclipse — not a single goose egg in any of the 14.6 million points sampled by the map." Every pixel on Wright's map experiences between one and 35 total solar eclipses in the 5,000-year period.

Time and Date's 14,999-year study

A paper submitted to arXiv in February and accepted for publication in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association later this year — is the most comprehensive attempt, covering 35,538 solar eclipses across 14,999 years, a computing job that used 662,000 gigabyte-hours of memory and 147,000 core hours over 102 days of continuous calculations. It found that a new, refined figure — 373 years. "Meeus' number is so widely quoted, and we thought it would be interesting to see what would happen if you let a modern computer loose on the same problem," lead author Graham Jones, an astrophysicist and science communicator at Time and Date, told Space.com. However, as well as refining Meeus's work, this research uncovered deeper patterns in where and when total solar eclipses occur, tied to Earth's orbital mechanics.

The 'latitude effect'

More total solar eclipses occur around the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, such as this one in Svalbard, in 2015. (Image credit: Photo by NTB SCANPIX / AFP) (Photo by -/NTB SCANPIX/AFP via Getty Images)

Both recent papers reveal patterns of where and when total solar eclipses occur that were previously only suspected. A striking finding from Time and Date's paper is a "latitude effect," whereby the frequency of solar eclipses of any type peaks around the Arctic and Antarctic Circles and is lowest near the equator. The reason is simple — near the polar circles, the sun's path skims along the horizon during certain times of the year, increasing the window during which an eclipse can occur.

Wright's research for NASA found that more total eclipses happen in the northern hemisphere than in the southern hemisphere, mostly because of Earth's slightly elliptical orbit around the sun. They're also more frequent in summer because the sun is up longer then. "Summer in the northern hemisphere happens when the Earth is near aphelion, its farthest distance from the sun for the year, and this makes the sun a bit smaller in the sky, giving the moon a better chance of covering it completely," writes Wright. However, the dates of aphelion and perihelion (when Earth is its closest to the sun for the year) drift over the centuries. "There's a 21,000‑year cycle where the dates of aphelion and perihelion drift through the calendar, so about 4,500 years from now, aphelion and perihelion coincide with the equinoxes, and at that stage, neither hemisphere has this advantage in terms of getting the sun closer or further away during the summer months," says Jones. In about 9,500 years, this alignment will reverse, shifting the advantage to the Southern Hemisphere.

Nevertheless, although eclipses follow predictable cycles at a global level, the actual interval between total solar eclipses in any one place remains highly irregular when compared to the average.

What about 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipses?

"Ring of fire" annular solar eclipses will one day be the only kind of central eclipse. This image was captured during an annular solar eclipse over Oregon on Oct. 14, 2023. (Image credit: Philip Yabut Getty Images)

The frequency of annular solar eclipses — when a new moon that's farthest from Earth blocks only the center of the sun's disk to cause an annulus (ring) eclipse — was also covered by Meeus and Time and Date. The research reveals that an annular solar eclipse occurs at a given place on Earth once every 224 years (Meeus) or 226 years, on average, respectively. Why are they more frequent than total solar eclipses? "There are more annular eclipses because if you just take the average size of the sun and the moon across all the eclipses, then generally the sun is more often just a bit bigger than the moon," says Jones.

That's a trend that's only going to increase. Total solar eclipses occur because the moon and the sun can have the same apparent size in Earth's sky — the sun is about 400 times wider than the moon, but the moon is about 400 times closer. However, the moon is slowly moving away from Earth by 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) per year, which has devastating consequences for eclipse chasers. "If you look at really long time scales, as the moon slowly moves away, total eclipses eventually come to a halt altogether." The good news? That won't happen for about 600 million years.

Blazing 'ring of fire' eclipse seen from space | Space photo of the day for Feb. 20, 2026

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:08:16 +0000

Annular solar eclipse captured on Feb. 17, 2026 by ESA's Proba-2 satellite. (Image credit: ESA/Royal Observatory of Belgium)

On Feb. 17, 2026, the moon slipped directly between Earth and the sun, creating a spectacular 'ring of fire' visible to very few people on Earth, but ESA's Proba-2 had had the best seat in the house.

From its vantage point in orbit, the satellite was able to witness the annular solar eclipse in striking detail — not once, but four times during its orbit, including a perfect 'ring of fire' at 6:31 a.m. EST (1131 GMT) when the moon occulted just over 93% of the sun's disk.

The stunning image was captured with Proba-2's SWAP instrument, which views the sun in extreme ultraviolet light, revealing details of the sun's corona — the outermost layer of the sun's atmosphere.

What is it?

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun while positioned farther from Earth during its slightly elliptical orbit. Because the moon appears a bit smaller in the sky at that distance, it doesn't completely cover the sun's disk (like we see during a total solar eclipse). Instead, a bright ring of sunlight encircles the moon's silhouette, often called a 'ring of fire'.

While Proba-2 had an unobstructed view from space, on Earth the full annular phase was only visible from remote locations in Antarctica, limiting the spectacle to just a small number of researchers stationed at remote scientific outposts … and a lot of penguins. Observers in the southern tip of Chile and Argentina, along with parts of southern Africa, witnessed a partial solar eclipse instead.

Why is it amazing?

Unlike observers on Earth, Proba-2 wasn't limited to a single view. Thanks to its fast sun-synchronous orbit, the spacecraft crossed the eclipse zone four times and was able to witness the event from several perspectives.

See the moon's shadow darken Antarctica in epic satellite imagery of the Feb. 17 solar eclipse (video)

Anthony Wood — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:18:37 +0000

Satellites have captured incredible views of the Feb. 17 annular solar eclipse as the moon's shadow swept across a remote region of Antarctica, while at the same time a U.S. weather satellite captured the silhouette of Earth's satellite as it traversed across the face of the sun.

An annular solar eclipse takes place when the moon — at a distant point in its elliptical orbit — passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the vast majority of its surface while leaving a thin sliver of its outer disk visible to appear as a burning halo in the sky.

Sadly, the only humans on hand to see the full glory of the Feb. 17 "ring of fire" eclipse were those who were crewing isolated research stations in a 383-mile-wide (616 kilometer) swathe of Antarctica.

Thankfully for us in warmer locations, a number of satellites were able to witness the enormity of the event from orbit, including spacecraft from the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (Eumetsat), which captured imagery of the moon's shadow (above) as it swept over the frozen continent.

The moon's immense shadow was also spied by South Korea's GEO-KOMPSAT-2A weather satellite from its perch 22,370 miles (36,000 km) above Earth in geostationary orbit, close to the shadowy line of the night-day terminator.

The moon's shadow passes over Antarctica during the Feb. 17 annular solar eclipse. (Image credit: CIRA/NOAA)

NOAA's GOES-19 satellite captured a different perspective as it stared directly into the sun using its Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) instrument from high above Earth. Bright looping structures can be seen playing throughout the sun's atmosphere in the ultraviolet realm of the electromagnetic spectrum as plasma is shaped by our star's strong magnetic field while the moon's silhouette roams left-to-right across the solar disk.

The moon transits across the face of the sun during the Feb. 17 solar eclipse. (Image credit: NOAA)

Solar eclipses don't occur in isolation, but rather as the opening — or sometimes closing — act of a two-part eclipse "season". The second half of this current orbital ballet will occur on March 3, when our planet slips between the sun and moon, bathing the latter with sunlight that has been filtered and scattered by Earth's atmosphere to give rise to a dramatic "blood moon" total lunar eclipse.

Totality will be visible to approximately 2.5 billion people spread throughout Australia, New Zealand, East Asia, parts of the Pacific and North America, the latter of which will get to see the moon slip into the deepest part of Earth's shadow as it slips below the horizon at sunrise.

Then, on Aug. 12, stargazers in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, Spain and Russia will be treated to a dramatic total solar eclipse — where the moon briefly hides the entirety of the solar surface in the path of totality — while hundreds of millions elsewhere will witness a lesser partial eclipse.

Hoping to see the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse for yourself? Then be sure to read our top tips and travel advice for planning an eclipse trip along with our picks of the best solar viewing gear and guidance on how to check and safely use eclipse glasses.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your eclipse photography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

A 'ring of fire' just appeared in the sky over Antarctica. Here's what happened during today's annular solar eclipse

Anthony Wood — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:05:45 +0000

A magnificent annular solar eclipse just swept over Antarctica, putting on an impressive display of orbital mechanics as the moon passed in front of the sun at the perfect distance from Earth to create a fiery halo in a darkened sky — at least for the few souls lucky enough to be in a position to see it.

Feb. 17's annular solar eclipse occurred as the lunar disk slipped between the sun and Earth during its new moon phase. The alignment occurred as the moon travelled through a distant point in its elliptical orbit, making it appear smaller than usual in Earth's sky.

Today's eclipse got underway at 4:56 a.m. EST (0956 GMT), as the moon took an ever greater bite out of the solar disk, transforming its burning orb into a glowing crescent, before finally diving entirely within its fiery expanse. The moon — appearing fractionally smaller than usual — was unable to cover the entirety of the sun's disk, leaving a thin sliver of its outer edge visible to surround Earth's natural satellite to create a ring in the skies over Antarctica.

This phase — known as annularity — lasted a little over two minutes and was visible across a remote, 383-mile-wide (616 kilometer) corridor of the Antarctic continent containing the Concordia research station, which hosts less than a hundred scientists and visitors at any one time.

A lesser partial eclipse was estimated to have been visible to roughly 176 million people — or 2% of the world's population — spread across the southern tip of South America and southern African nations including Madagascar, according to Time and Date. The eclipse came to a global end at 9:27 a.m. EST (1427 GMT), when the moon's silhouette exited the solar disk, returning it to its former glory.

LUNT 6x30 mini SUNoculars

(Image credit: LUNT)

LUNT 6x30 mini SUNoculars are a great affordable pair of sun-safe binoculars for casual solar viewers and those who want to be able to safely look at a solar eclipse. They are great for younger users too but make sure they have adult supervision. The CE-certified film lenses guarantee zero UV and IR exposure, so you can look at the sun in safety.

The next eclipse will be a spectacular "blood moon" total lunar eclipse, which will unfold early on March. 3, as our planet glides between the sun and its natural satellite, bathing its shadowed disk in the light of every sunrise and sunset on Earth. Over 2.5 billion people will be treated to a front-row seat to totality, including skywatchers in North America, who will witness the blood moon slip below the horizon as the sun rises.

You won't need any eye protection to gaze upon the moon but it's an absolute necessity if you're hoping to view the total solar eclipse on Aug. 12! Be sure to check out our guide to checking the safety of eclipse glasses, along with our top 10 tips for planning your 2026 solar eclipse trip.

Editor's Note: If you would like to share your eclipse photography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a dramatic 'ring of fire' today! Here's what you need to know

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Editor's note: The annular solar eclipse is over. Read our wrap story to learn what happened today during the 'ring of fire' eclipse!

Today (Feb. 17), an annular solar eclipse will commence its journey across a remote region of Antarctica where it will be visible to more penguins than people. The partial solar eclipse portion of the event will be visible to observers in parts of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America.

You can keep up with the latest eclipse news with our annular solar eclipse live blog, which will be updated throughout the event.

The annular phase of the eclipse, whereby the largest proportion of the sun is covered, occurs at 7:12 a.m. EST (1212 GMT).

During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a lunar shadow upon our planet. The moon's orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical; sometimes it's farther from Earth, sometimes it's closer. During an annular solar eclipse, the moon is relatively far from Earth and does not fully cover the sun's disk as we see during a total solar eclipse. Instead, it produces a distinct ring of light in the sky, the "ring of fire".

The path of the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

When can we next see a solar eclipse?

The next solar eclipse visible to more people than penguins will be a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026.

The total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain, bringing a maximum of 2 minutes and 18 seconds of totality, the day before the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower.

If you're looking for some inspiration for planning an eclipse 2026 trip, check out our roundup of the best cruises for the total solar eclipse 2026 and the 16 best places to view the total solar eclipse 2026.

Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

What time is the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17?

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Editor's note: The Feb. 17 annular solar eclipse has come and gone, conjuring a "ring of fire" over Antarctica that was visible to a few humans and a great many penguins. Check out our article on these spectacular satellite views of the moon's shadow darkening the frozen content from space, along with imagery of the lunar disk transiting across the face of our parent star!

An annular solar eclipse will turn the sun into a dramatic "ring of fire" on Feb. 17, as the moon passes between Earth and the sun, leaving a thin outer ring of sunlight visible. This striking effect will last up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds at the greatest eclipse.

The eclipse will progress as follows, according to Time and Date:

Partial eclipse begins — 4:56 a.m. EST (0956 GMT)
Maximum "ring of fire" annularity — 7:12 a.m. EST (1212 GMT)
Partial eclipse ends — 9:27 a.m. EST (1427 GMT)

Only a very small region of Antarctica lies in the path of annularity, a roughly 2,661-mile-long and 383-mile-wide (4,282 by 616 kilometers) corridor where the moon will cover about 96% of the sun's disk. Viewers elsewhere in Antarctica and across parts of southern Africa and southernmost South America will see a partial solar eclipse rather than a full "ring of fire".

What is an annular solar eclipse?

An annular solar eclipse happens when the moon moves between Earth and the sun, but is too far from Earth to completely cover the sun's disk. The smaller-looking moon leaves a bright outer ring of the sun visible — often called a "ring of fire" — at maximum eclipse.

REMEMBER to NEVER look directly at the sun. To view this solar eclipse safely, you must use solar filters at all times. Whether your location will experience a partial solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse, the dangers are the same. Observers will need to wear solar eclipse glasses, and cameras, telescopes and binoculars must have solar filters placed in front of their lenses at all times.

Our how to observe the sun safely guide tells you everything you need to know about safe solar observations. Keep up with the latest solar eclipse news with our solar eclipse live blog.

Composite image showing the stages of an annular solar eclipse as the moon takes an increasingly bigger "bite" our of the sun. (Image credit: Allexxandar via Getty Images)

When can I next see a solar eclipse?

After Feb. 17, the next solar eclipse will be a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. This total eclipse will be visible from parts of Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain, with a partial eclipse seen across broader regions of Europe and Africa.

If you can't wait that long, there's another major event coming up in just a few weeks. On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red for skywatchers across North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific.

Why solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs — and what an eclipse season really is

Jamie Carter — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

We tend to hear about solar and lunar eclipses only in the days before they happen, often with the impression that they are unfolding in far-off or exotic parts of the world. For months, the sky follows the familiar rhythm of new and full moons, and then — seemingly out of nowhere — the sky delivers two major eclipses just weeks apart.

In reality, eclipses are neither random nor one-off events. Every eclipse is part of a predictable pattern — and they almost always arrive in pairs during a short and recurring window known as an eclipse season.

There are typically two eclipse seasons each calendar year. We're almost upon the next one. Between Feb. 17 and Mar. 3, 2026, the second of two eclipse seasons in 2026 will be a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, followed by a deep partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28.

What is an eclipse season?

An eclipse season is a period of 31 to 37 days, during which eclipses become possible. These seasons occur about every 173 days, or roughly twice per year — and every solar eclipse and every lunar eclipse you've ever heard about has taken place within one. Outside these windows, eclipses cannot occur.

Why? Because eclipses can only happen at new moon (solar eclipse) and full moon (lunar eclipse), when the Earth, moon and sun line up in space — an alignment astronomers call syzygy.

An eclipse season occurs when this alignment also happens close to the plane of Earth's orbit around the sun, according to NASA. That plane defines the apparent path of the sun across Earth's sky, and it has a special name — the ecliptic. When a new moon falls during an eclipse season, the moon's shadow can fall on Earth to produce some kind of solar eclipse. When a full moon falls during the same window, the moon can pass into Earth's shadow, causing a lunar eclipse.

Why isn't there an eclipse every month?

At first glance, eclipses might seem as though they should be monthly events. After all, there is a new moon every 29.5 days and a full moon just two weeks later. So why are eclipses relatively rare?

The reason lies in the tilt of the moon's orbit. The moon orbits Earth on a path inclined by about 5 degrees relative to the ecliptic. As a result, most new moons pass slightly above or below the sun from our point of view, and most full moons pass above or below Earth's shadow. In most cases, the precise alignment needed for an eclipse is missed.

Understanding the moon's nodes

As Earth revolves around the sun, the approximate axial parallelism of the moon's orbital plane (tilted five degrees to the Earth's orbital plane) results in the revolution of the lunar nodes relative to the Earth. This causes an eclipse season approximately every six months. (Image credit: By Nela (nyabla.net) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126239384)

The key to understanding eclipse seasons lies in two invisible points in space known as the lunar nodes. These are the points where the moon's tilted orbit crosses the ecliptic.

An eclipse season begins when the sun moves close to one of these nodes. For about a month, the geometry works out — new moons can produce solar eclipses and full moons can produce lunar eclipses. When the sun moves away from the node, the season ends, and eclipses become impossible again. According to long-term orbital calculations by NASA, the lunar nodes slowly regress westward by 19.3 degrees per year, shifting eclipse seasons by about 19 days each year.

Why solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs

Once an eclipse season begins, a pair of eclipses becomes almost inevitable. A new moon occurring near a node produces a solar eclipse when the moon passes between Earth and the sun. Roughly two weeks later, when the moon reaches full phase near the opposite node, Earth moves between the sun and the moon, producing a lunar eclipse. Or vice versa.

Occasionally, the timing works out so that a third eclipse can occur before the season ends, but most eclipse seasons deliver a pair.

2026's first eclipse season: February-March 2026

'Ring of fire' phase of an annular eclipse of the sun, as seen from Klamath County, Oregon, on October 14, 2023. An annular solar eclipse 'ring of fire' occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. And was followed by a total lunar eclipse on Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2026. (Image credit: Philip Yabut via Getty Images)

This eclipse season opened in mid-February 2026, providing a clear illustration of how eclipse pairing works in practice.

It began on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, with an annular solar eclipse, during which the moon covered 96% of the sun to leave a slim "ring of fire" for up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds. However, it was only seen from a small region of Antarctica, with a partial eclipse visible across Antarctica and parts of south-eastern Africa and South America.

Exactly 14 days later, on Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2026, the same eclipse season produced a total lunar eclipse, with the moon spending 58 minutes and 18 seconds fully inside Earth's dark umbral shadow. Those in East Asia, Australia, the Pacific and western North America got the best views of the moon, which took on a reddish-coppery hue during totality.

2026's second eclipse season: August 2026

Total solar eclipse captured in October 2017. A total solar eclipse will occur on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, and be followed by a partial lunar eclipse on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Image credit: john finney photography via Getty Images)

The second and final eclipse season of 2026 is in August, and is arguably the more dramatic one because it includes something not seen on Earth since Apr. 8, 2024 — a total solar eclipse.

The eclipse season begins and peaks on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, with a total solar eclipse. On that day, the moon will completely cover the sun for several minutes along a narrow path of totality that sweeps across Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain. For observers within that path, daylight will briefly give way to darkness, temperatures will dip, and the sun's outer atmosphere — the corona — will become visible to the naked eye. A deep partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of Europe, North Africa and the North Atlantic.

Just over two weeks later, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2026, the same eclipse season produces a partial lunar eclipse. Although less visually dramatic than a total lunar eclipse — a "blood moon" — the event will still see Earth's shadow move across a significant portion of the moon's surface, a special sight in itself. Observers across North America, South America, Europe and Africa will be well placed to watch the moon darken as it moves into the umbra.

Here's what will happen during each phase of the Feb. 17 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse

Anthony Wood — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

A breathtaking annular solar eclipse is set to sweep across Antarctica on Feb. 17. Here's what to expect from each phase of the "ring of fire" eclipse as it plays out above one of the most remote regions on Earth.

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun's disk during the new moon phase while at a distant point from Earth in its elliptical orbit. Around this time, the lunar disk appears slightly smaller than the sun in Earth's sky. As a result, a sliver of the sun can be seen surrounding the moon during annularity — the equivalent to totality during a total solar eclipse.

The only humans likely to see this ring of fire in person will be those crewing isolated Antarctic research stations such as Concordia, which will witness the event low on the southwestern horizon from the interior of the frigid continent. As with each eclipse, the exact timing for each phase is dependent on your location. Precise timings for any given location can be found on Time and Date's eclipse tracker.

Partial eclipse

The moon will take its first bite out of the sun — a moment known to eclipse chasers as "first contact" — at 4:56 a.m. EST (0956 GMT) on Feb. 17. This will mark the global start time of the eclipse as the lunar disk begins to roll from left to right onto the sun's surface, blocking its light.

The moon pictured taking a "bite" out of the sun in the partial phase of a solar eclipse. (Image credit: Photo by LUIS ROBAYO/AFP via Getty Images)

Over the following hours, the moon's silhouette will delve ever deeper into the sun's disk, transforming the fiery orb into a glowing crescent, which will grow razor-thin in the moments approaching annularity as it hangs low over the ice-dominated landscape.

Annularity begins

The moon's silhouette will pass entirely within the sun's disk at the beginning of the path of annularity at 6:42 a.m. EST (1142 GMT), after which this phase of quasitotality will sweep across Antarctica, marking the beginning of annularity.

The sun's disk photographed during annularity during a 2024 solar eclipse over Easter Island. (Image credit: Photo by JONATHAN MARTINS/AFP via Getty Images)

This climactic phase, the start of which is known as "second contact," will last a shade over two minutes at Concordia Station, which is one of just two research facilities that sit in the path of annularity. During this time, the vast majority of the solar disk will be occulted, leaving only its outermost rim visible as a golden ring shining in a darkened sky.

Point of maximum eclipse

The point of maximum eclipse will occur at 6:47 a.m. EST (1147 GMT) on Feb. 17 at Concordia, according to Time and Date, when the moon will be positioned at the heart of the sun from the viewer's perspective, while haloed by the outer rim of our parent star's disk.

The sun's disk forms a perfect ring around the moon during an annular eclipse. (Image credit: Photo by Huang Shan/VCG via Getty Images)

Remember, staring at the sun with the naked eye can lead to immediate and permanent damage to your vision. To view an eclipse safely, you'll need to pick up a pair of eclipse glasses, dedicated solar binoculars or a telescope filter sold from a trusted brand. Be sure to read our guide detailing how to check eclipse glasses and use them properly to ensure a safe viewing experience.

Partial eclipse

The period of annularity ends when the moon's silhouette makes contact with the outer edge of the solar disk — "third contact" — breaking the golden ring and heralding the start of another partial eclipse phase. The following hour will see the moon retreat from the solar disk, which will transition from a crescent to its usual glorious orb. "Fourth contact" occurs as the last sliver of the moon leaves the sun altogether.

Eclipses always occur in pairs, with a lunar eclipse following a solar eclipse, or vice versa. February's annular solar eclipse will be followed by a dramatic "Blood Moon" total lunar eclipse on March 3, when Earth passes directly between the full moon and sun, bathing the natural satellite in its shadow. Totality for the lunar eclipse will be visible to over a billion people spread across swathes of North America, East Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

Editor's Note: If you capture an image of the Feb. 17 eclipse and want to share it with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Editor's Note: This article was corrected on Feb. 13 to reflect the correct timings for annularity as viewed from Concordia station.

Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible on Feb. 17?

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

The first solar eclipse of 2026 will be a dramatic annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17. The downside for most of us is that the stunning 'ring of fire' will be witnessed by more penguins than people.

Stretching 2,661 miles (4,282 kilometers) long and 383 miles (616 km) wide, the path of annularity — where the 'ring of fire' will be visible — cuts across western Antarctica and skims the Davis Sea coast of the Southern Ocean.

Many more people will, however, be able to witness the partial phase of the solar eclipse. This stage will be visible across Antarctica, southeastern Africa, the southern tip of South America, and over parts of the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic and Southern oceans.

Path of annularity

The eclipse will rise over mainland Antarctica and set off the Davis Sea coast of the Southern Ocean.

The path of the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

Where to see the partial solar eclipse

A far greater number of people will be able to witness the partial stage of the annular solar eclipse during which the moon appears to take a 'bite' out of the sun.

Remember that it's unsafe to look directly at the sun during the partial phases of a solar eclipse. At all times, you must wear solar eclipse glasses. Read our guide on how to observe the sun safely.

Location	Percentage of the sun's disk covered
Heard and McDonald Islands, Australia	88%
French Southern and Antarctic Lands, France	88%
Mascarene Islands, Mauritius/France	35%
Port Louis, Mauritius	32%
Saint-Denis, Reunion, France	31%
Antananarivo, Madagascar	20%
Durban, South Africa	16%
Maputo, Mozambique	13%
Maseru, Lesotho	11%
Gaborone, Botswana	4%
Harare, Zimbabwe	3%
Ushuaia, Argentina	3%

Next eclipse

Just two weeks after the annular solar eclipse, Earth will experience a total lunar eclipse on March 3-4, when Earth's shadow will turn our lunar neighbor blood red.

The blood moon will be visible for about 58 minutes across western North America, Australia, New Zealand and East Asia.

Unlike the few people who will witness the annular solar eclipse, nearly 31% of the world's population — around 2.5 billion people — will be able to see the eclipse in totality, when the moon turns blood red.

A map of where the March 2026 total lunar eclipse will be visible. (Image credit: F. Espenak, NASA's GSFC)

After the Feb. 17 'ring of fire', the next annular solar eclipse will occur on Feb. 6, 2027, and will be visible from locations in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.

10 best places to see the 'blood moon' total lunar eclipse on March 3

Jamie Carter — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:00:00 +0000

On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across the night side of Earth, with the best views from Australia, the Pacific, and the western half of North America. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon drifts into Earth's shadow, with the only light reaching its surface filtered through Earth's atmosphere, which turns it a reddish color that earns it the nickname "blood moon."

A global event happening at the same time across the world, the epicentre is the Pacific, where the eclipse takes place overhead around midnight early on March 3. To the west (Australia), it occurs late on March 3, and to the east (North America), it occurs early on March 3.

You don't need a dark sky to watch a total lunar eclipse — but it helps. The event stars as a full moon bleaching the night sky, making all but the brightest stars hard to see. However, by the time totality begins, the night sky will have darkened so much that it's possible to see not just stars, but faint clusters and the Milky Way — just as you might experience during a new moon. So while using a light pollution map or the Dark Sky Place finder isn't strictly necessary, it will bring an extra dimension to the experience.

The best places to watch the eclipse will be those with clear skies. Weather forecasts can only be relied upon about three days out, but you can stack the odds by studying a potential location's historical climate data for average cloud cover. That's what we've done here, using Eclipsophile.com — which specialises in global cloud cover data for solar and lunar eclipses — to select locations most likely to have a clear sky, which in March, may be a challenge. All times and cloud statistics come from Time and Date.

Here are 10 spectacular viewing locations for this rare celestial event, which won't be repeated anywhere on Earth until New Year's Eve 2028-2029.

1. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, U.S.

The Grand Canyon is now a fabulous place for stargazing and lunar eclipses. (Image credit: Carlos Fernandez/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 04:04-05:02 MST on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 63% (historical average)

Grand Canyon National Park has been an International Dark Sky Park since 2015, when light fixtures in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim were replaced to reduce light pollution. Great places to stargaze on the south rim include Grand Canyon Visitor Center (the most convenient), Mather Point, Hermit's Rest and the many pullouts on the flat Rim Trail.

2. Horsetooth Mountain, Colorado, U.S.

Horsetooth Reservoir is located in northern Colorado near Fort Collins and offers dark sky views for eager stargazers. (Image credit: marekuliasz/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 4:04-5:02 a.m. MST on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 60% (historical average)

This public stargazing event at Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, organised by the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society and publicised by NASA, will be held from 3:30-5:30 a.m. MST.

3. Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary

Arkaroola in South Australia has a protected dark sky. (Image credit: John White Photos/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 21:34-22:32 ACDT on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 24% (historical average)

The remote area in the Flinders Ranges and Outback of South Australia has been protected since 2012, when it became a sanctuary for both wildlife and darkness. There are lodges and astronomy experiences.

4. Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park, Australia

Milky Way captured from Warrumbungles Mountain Motel near Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia. (Image credit: VW Pics / Getty Images)

Time of totality: 22:04-23:02 AEDT on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 45% (historical average)

Australia will get a fabulous view of this total lunar eclipse, but observers will have a much greater chance if they get inland. A good choice is Warrumbungle Dark Sky Park near Coonabarabran (aka 'Australia's Astronomy Capital') in central western New South Wales, Australia's first and only Dark Sky Park. It's home to Australia's famous Siding Spring Observatory, with Warrumbungle Observatory located in Coonabarabran.

5. Saguaro National Park, Arizona, U.S.

Saguaro National Park is open 24 hours. (Image credit: Jonathan Thier / 500pxGetty Images)

Although Tucson itself doesn't fare too well on a light pollution map, it's surrounded by glorious stargazing opportunities (check out the Tucson Astro Trail map) and world-class observatories at Kitt Peak, Mount Graham and Mount Lemmon. Just east of the city, in the Sonoran Desert, is Saguaro National Park, the world's ninth Urban Night Sky Place. The park is open 24 hours.

6. Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, New Zealand

Wairarapa offers stargazers incredible views of the night sky. (Image credit: new zealand transition/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 00:04- 01:02 NZDT on March 4, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 64% (historical average)

Outdoor lighting is regulated throughout the Wairarapa Valley on the North Island of New Zealand, where lunar totality will occur just after midnight. Most of the dark-sky reserve is easily accessible for night-sky viewing.

7. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, U.S.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest in California. (Image credit: Eric Lowenbach/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 03:04-04:02 PST on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 40% (historical average)

The largest state park in California, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in the Colorado Desert, has been a dark sky park since 2018, with Borrego a dark sky community.

8. Big Island, Hawaii, U.S.

A full moon illuminates the dramatic volcanic landscape above the clouds on Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. (Image credit: BARTON/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 01:04-02:02 HST on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 37% (historical average)

With the eclipse overhead as seen from Hawaii, you will get a great view anywhere. If you're after a dark sky, the best places to be on the Big Island are either on Maunakea (the destination of many stargazing tours) or on the darker south or northeast coasts.

9. Joshua Tree National Park, California, U.S.

Joshua Tree will be a popular location for the eclipse. (Image credit: Mimi Ditchie Photography/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 03:04-04:02 PST on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 43% (historical average)

Although there's been a recent wildfire and some concerns about astrophotography workshops, independent travel to one of the most renowned stargazing destinations in California should still be possible if well planned. Make a camping reservation in advance on recreation.gov.

10. Death Valley National Park, Nevada, U.S.

Death Valley never closes, with 24/7 access guaranteed. (Image credit: Buena Vista Images/Getty Images)

Time of totality: 03:04-04:02 PST on March 3, 2026.

Chance of clouds: 47% (historical average)

With no closing time and a spectacularly dark sky, Death Valley National Park is worth considering for a great view of the total lunar eclipse. Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes or Harmony Borax Works are recommended for astrophotographers.

1 week until an annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a 'ring of fire' over Antarctica

Anthony Wood — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

We're just one week away from the first solar eclipse of 2026! Here's what you need to know before a dramatic "ring of fire" annular eclipse darkens the sky over Antarctica on Feb. 17, likely confusing millions of penguins.

The eerie dimming is possible thanks to an extraordinary bit of celestial geometry. Earth's moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, which happens to be, on average, 400 times farther from our planet than its natural satellite — a wondrous cosmic coincidence that causes both celestial objects to appear the same size in our sky.

This allows us to see breathtaking solar eclipses when the lunar disk passes directly in front of the sun during its new moon phase, blocking its light. Some eclipses occur when the moon is further from Earth in its elliptical orbit, setting the stage for a spectacular annular solar eclipse. During these events, the smaller lunar disk passes in front of the sun, occulting most of its surface, while leaving a sliver of its outer rim on show.

When is the next solar eclipse?

Feb. 17 will see a spectacular annular solar eclipse unfold over a swathe of Antarctica, as the moon glides between the sun and Earth, occulting the vast majority of our parent star while leaving its outer rim visible to form a burning halo in the southern sky.

The period of maximum eclipse — an event known as annularity — is set to begin at 7:12 a.m. EST (1212 GMT) and will last for 1 minute and 52 seconds, after which the moon's silhouette will slide inexorably off the solar disk.

The path of the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

Sadly, the full ring of fire will only be witnessed by the few human beings inhabiting research stations in the path of annularity, along with the millions of penguins who call the frozen continent home. Skywatchers in the southern extreme of South America, southeastern Africa and in parts of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean will also bear witness to a lesser— yet still breathtaking — partial solar eclipse, during which the lunar disk will be seen to take a "bite" out of the sun.

Remember, it's never safe to stare at the sun with the naked eye, even for a second, as doing so risks immediate and permanent damage to your eyes. To observe the sun safely, you'll need a pair of eclipse glasses designed to block out the lion's share of the harmful ultraviolet and infrared solar radiation, or — for a closer look — a pair of dedicated solar binoculars, like the Lunt SUNoculars and Celestron Eclipsmart. And with the upcoming total solar eclipse coming on Aug. 12, it's never too early to get all your solar viewing equipment ready!

Editor's Note: If you capture a photo of the Feb. 17 solar eclipse and want to share it with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Annular 'ring of fire' solar eclipse February 2026: Live updates

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:49:48 +0000

The first solar eclipse of the year was an annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026.

During an annular solar eclipse, the moon covers a majority of the sun, leaving a distinct ring of light, hence the nickname 'ring of fire' eclipse.

Safety tips

Countdown begins: Feb. 17’s annular solar eclipse is just over a week away

The 'ring of fire' phase captured during an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023 from Oregon, U.S. (Image credit: Philip Yabut via Getty Images)

We're just over a week away from the first solar eclipse of 2026! An annular solar eclipse will take place on Feb. 17, 2026. During this dramatic event, the moon will slide in front of the sun but won't cover it completely, leaving a glowing 'ring of fire' around the edges. That dramatic view will only be visible from a remote part of Antarctica, where up to 96% of the sun will be eclipsed for a little over 2 minutes — meaning very few people on Earth will witness annularity in person.

More people will see a partial solar eclipse, with the moon covering a smaller portion of the sun across Antarctica, parts of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America.

To find out more, check out our annular solar eclipse 2026 guide.

One week to go! We're ready, are you?

(Image credit: Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Where will the annular solar eclipse be visible from?

(Image credit: Created in Canva Pro.)

The first solar eclipse of 2026 will be a dramatic annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17. The downside for most of us is that the stunning 'ring of fire' will be witnessed by more penguins than people.

What happens during the annular solar eclipse?

(Image credit: Photo by SADIQ ASYRAF/AFP via Getty Images)

Why do solar and lunar eclipses come in pairs?

(Image credit: Brett Tingley)

Eclipses often feel like sudden, one-off spectacles, appearing out of nowhere after months of familiar moon phases. In reality, they arrive in predictable pairs during brief periods called eclipse seasons. The next one runs from Feb. 17 to March 3, 2026, bringing both a solar and a lunar eclipse. Here we explore why.

Want to know more about the annular solar eclipse?

(Image credit: Paul Souders via Getty Images)

On Feb. 17, 2026, a dramatic annular solar eclipse will trace a narrow path across Antarctica, briefly turning the sun into a burning "ring of fire" as the moon passes almost completely in front of it. While only a handful of humans will see the full effect, much of Antarctica, along with parts of southern Africa and South America, will experience a partial solar eclipse, as the lunar disk occults a smaller section of the solar orb.

Annular solar eclipse T-2 days

(Image credit: Goh Keng Cheong via Getty Images)

On Feb. 17, an annular solar eclipse will transform the sun into a breathtaking "ring of fire." To mark this precise celestial alignment — and the orbital choreography behind it — here are three fascinating facts about solar eclipses you might not know.

1 - Not all "ring of fire" eclipse look the same

The thickness of the glowing ring depends on how far the moon is from Earth. During this annular solar eclipse, the moon will be near its farthest point, making the ring appear especially bright and narrow.

2 - Eclipses only happen during short seasonal windows

Even though we get a new moon every month, eclipses are only possible during eclipse seasons, which occur roughly twice a year when the moon's orbit lines up with the sun and Earth.

3 - Solar eclipses are slowly changing over time

The moon is drifting away from Earth at about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) per year. Far in the future, total solar eclipses will disappear, leaving only annular and partial solar eclipses behind.

What time is the annular solar eclipse?

(Image credit: Created in Canva Pro by Daisy Dobrijevic)

An annular solar eclipse will turn the sun into a dramatic "ring of fire" on Feb. 17, as the moon passes between Earth and the sun, leaving a thin outer ring of sunlight visible. This striking "ring of fire" effect will last up to 2 minutes and 20 seconds on the path of annularity.

Today is the day!

(Image credit: Alan Dyer/Stocktrek Images via Getty Images)

Today (Feb. 17), an annular solar eclipse will commence its journey across a remote region of Antarctica, where it will be visible to more penguins than people. The partial solar eclipse portion of the event will be visible to observers in parts of southern Africa and the southern tip of South America.

We'll be keeping you all up to date with everything annular solar eclipse throughout the day, so stay tuned!

Eclipse begins: Partial phase starts

The partial phase of an annular eclipse captured over Argentina in 2024. (Image credit: Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)

The annular solar eclipse has begun! The moon has started to move in front of the sun, marking the start of the partial phase over Antarctica and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

If you're outside these regions, you won't see the eclipse directly — this event is playing out over some of the most remote parts of Earth. As such, we'll be using imagery from previous eclipses to show what's happening in the skies over Antarctica.

Eclipse deepens

A deepening eclipse viewed in the skies over Chile in 2024. (Image credit: Photo by JONATHAN MARTINS/AFP via Getty Images)

The moon is covering more of the sun as the partial eclipse deepens across Antarctica and the surrounding southern oceans.

The most dramatic stage of this eclipse is still to come — but it will only be visible from Antarctica.

What would the eclipse look like from the south pole?

A partial eclipse phase photographed from Patagonia. (Image credit: Photo by JONATHAN MARTINS/AFP via Getty Images)

Earth's south pole sits outside of the path of annularity for the Feb. 17 eclipse, so a person sitting there watching it unfold wouldn't get to see the dramatic "ring of fire" visible to those in Concordia research station, for example, at the height of the event.

Instead, you would witness a partial eclipse culminating at 6:24 a.m. EST (1124 GMT), when the moon's silhouette occults the upper section of the solar disk, leaving a smiling crescent to shine out from beneath Earth's natural satellite.

Annularity begins (Antarctica)

The beginning of annularity during a 2010 eclipse over India. (Image credit: Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)

Annularity has begun. From remote regions of Antarctica, the moon now appears slightly smaller than the sun, creating a thin "ring of fire" around its edges.

This phase is not visible from anywhere else on Earth.

Maximum eclipse

Annularity seen during an eclipse over Panama in 2023. (Image credit: Photo by LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images)

This is the peak of the annular solar eclipse. The alignment between the sun and moon is at its closest, producing the most complete "ring of fire" during this event over Antarctica.

Outside the path of annularity, the eclipse remains partial or not visible.

A live view of the partial eclipse

You can stream a live view of the eclipse from outside the corridor of annularity courtesy of the South African National Space Agency (SASNA)'s YouTube channel. From South Africa, the moon's silhouette will appear to take a "bite" out of our parent star as it skims left-to-right across the upper edge of the solar disk.

Annularity ends

An annular eclipse partial phase captured over Texas in 2023. (Image credit: Rick Kern/Getty Images)

The annular phase is now over. The moon has begun to move away from its central alignment with the sun and the ring of fire wanes over Antarctica.

Elsewhere, the eclipse continues only as a partial event.

Partial solar eclipse winds down

The lunar disk takes a bite out of the sun during a 2023 eclipse. (Image credit: Photo by LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images)

The moon continues to slide away from the sun, which appears as an ever thickening crescent as the partial eclipse gradually ends across Antarctica and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

Eclipse ends

The phases of an annular eclipse seen over Argentina in 2017. (Image credit: ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP via Getty Images)

The moon has now fully cleared the sun's disk, bringing the remote annular solar eclipse to a close — likely with no-one on hand to witness its final act. Why not check out our wrap article below for a recap of events and to discover what lies ahead!

An epic eclipse seen from space

An animation of the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2025, showing the shadow of the moon sweeping over Earth's surface as the line separating night from day moves right to left. (Image credit: CIRA/NOAA)

Thanks for joining us as we tracked this remote annular eclipse across Antarctica! While views from the ground were (understandably) scarce, we did get stunning orbital imagery of the moon's colossal shadow as it swept over the frozen continent from space!

Be sure to stick with us for all the latest news, viewing tips and more for the upcoming "blood moon" total lunar eclipse on March 3, phases of which will be visible from Australia, New Zealand, East Asia, parts of the Pacific and North America. That'll be followed by a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, which will sweep through Greenland, Iceland, Portugal, Spain and Russia, while treating a wider swathe of the northern hemisphere to a lesser partial eclipse!

How to use the moon on Feb. 4 to plan your view of March's total lunar eclipse

Joe Rao — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:00:00 +0000

Should the weather be clear early on Tuesday morning, March 3, sky watchers across most of the Americas will have an opportunity to view one of nature's most beautiful spectacles: A total eclipse of the moon.

Unlike a total eclipse of the sun, which often requires a long journey to the path of totality, those of the moon can usually be observed from one's own backyard. The passage of the moon through the Earth's shadow is equally visible from all places within the hemisphere where the moon is above the horizon. This event favors locations near and around the Pacific Rim. For North America, places within the Eastern Time Zone will see the moon set during dawn's early light during the total phase; places farther west will be able to catch the moon emerging from the Earth's shadow as it sets, while for sites out in the Far West, the eclipse will be visible from start to finish. Hawaiians will see the moon almost overhead as totality takes place in the hours after midnight. Meanwhile, during local evening hours, Central Asia and western Australia will see the moon rise as it emerges from the Earth's dark shadow. Eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea, as well as much of Japan and eastern Siberia, will see it all during convenient evening hours.

There is nothing complicated about how to view this celestial spectacle. Unlike an eclipse of the sun, which necessitates special viewing precautions to avoid eye damage, an eclipse of the moon is perfectly safe to watch. All you'll need to watch is your eyes, but binoculars or a telescope will give a much nicer view.

Where will the moon be?

It's not too early to begin preparing for viewing next month's total lunar eclipse. One of the things to consider is the moon's location in the sky during the eclipse. As we have noted, for those who live in the eastern U.S. and Canada, this will be an important factor, since the moon will be moving into totality as it approaches its setting. Will tall trees or nearby buildings block your view of the moon?

Use Feb. 4 to check if you have a good view of the moon with no trees blocking your view. (Image credit: M.A.Ortega/Getty Images)

You can get a very good idea about where the moon will be in the sky during the eclipse by looking for it on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Early that morning, the moon — 2½ days past full — will be very near to that region of the sky where it will be on March 3 for the eclipse. But on Feb. 4, rather than looking for the moon at the prescribed times given for March 3, you will need to look two hours and 8 minutes later.

For example, on March 3, for an observer in Salt Lake City, the moon will begin to enter the dark central shadow of Earth (called the umbra) at 2:49 a.m. Mountain Time. At that moment, the moon will stand 44° above the southwest horizon; that's roughly halfway up in the sky.

Now, on Wednesday, Feb. 4, if you add 2 hours 8 minutes to 2:49 a.m., you'll come up with 4:57 a.m. At that hour, on that morning, you'll be able to get a very good approximation of where the moon will be in the sky at the start of the eclipse as seen from Salt Lake City.

This method will be especially helpful for easterners who might want to determine roughly where the moon will be relative to their western horizon (and local landmarks) as it sets during the total phase of the eclipse. The table below provides details on the corresponding positions of the moon on Feb. 4, relative to where it will appear in the sky for various stages of the eclipse on March 3.

Moon's eclipse location on Feb. 4, 2026
	EST	CST	MST	PST
Eclipse Starts	6:57 a.m.	5:57 a.m.	4:57 a.m.	3:57 a.m.
Totality Starts	8:11 a.m.	7:11 a.m.	6:11 a.m.	5:11 a.m.
Mid-Eclipse	8:41 a.m.	7:41 a.m.	6:41 a.m.	5:41 a.m.
Totality Ends	9:10 a.m.	8:10 a.m.	7:10 a.m.	6:10 a.m.
Eclipse Ends	Not visible	9:25 a.m.	8:25 a.m.	7:25 a.m.

Take note that if you live in the Eastern Time Zone, the farther to the west you go, the higher in the sky the moon will appear and the longer you will be able to prolong your view of the totally eclipsed moon before it sets. As an example, from Portland, Maine, the moon will set only one minute after the start of totality. However, as seen from Indianapolis, Indiana — which also observes Eastern Time, but is positioned 860 miles (1,380 km) to the west — the entire total phase will be visible, with the moon not setting until five minutes after totality ends.

Space.com will provide more details about the lunar eclipse in the weeks to come, so stay tuned!

A blood moon is coming: 1 month until a total lunar eclipse takes to the skies over North America

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000

On Tuesday, March 3, our lunar neighbor will turn into a dramatic 'blood moon' during the first and only total lunar eclipse of 2026. You won't want to miss this event as the next total lunar eclipse won't happen until New Year's Eve 2028!

The blood moon phase of the lunar eclipse will be visible to approximately 31% of the world's population, about 2.5 billion people, across North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific.

You can learn more about the total lunar eclipse on March 3 with our blood moon lunar eclipse 2026 guide and keep up to date with the latest lunar eclipse content with our lunar eclipse live blog.

What time is the total lunar eclipse?

The total lunar eclipse will take place between 3:44 and 9:22 a.m. EST (0844-1422 GMT) on March 2.

The totality phase, during which the moon will sit in the deepest region of Earth's shadow and turn blood red, will occur between 6:04 and 7:02 a.m. EST (1104-1202 GMT), lasting for a spectacular 58 minutes.

It's worth keeping an eye on the moon about 75 minutes before totality, to see the edge of Earth's shadow inch across the lunar surface during the partial phases (and vice versa after totality, though for North America the moon will be setting).

Stages of a total lunar eclipse captured in a composite image. (Image credit: ANITA BLAKER via Getty Images)

Where to watch

The total lunar eclipse will be best viewed from western North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia and the Pacific.

Viewing conditions are dependent on local weather, but northwest Mexico, the southwest U.S. and inland Australia offer the best odds of clear skies when looking at historical averages.

For those not in the path of totality and unable to watch the event in person, we will be livestreaming the total lunar eclipse here on Space.com. Further details will be released closer to the time.

Total solar eclipse 2030: Everything you need to know about totality in southern Africa and southeast Australia

Jamie Carter — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:00 +0000

On Monday, Nov. 25, 2030, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the Southern Hemisphere. Although it will occur almost entirely over the Indian Ocean, totality will nevertheless happen just after sunrise in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho, before being glimpsed close to sunset from southeast Australia.

From remote areas of Queensland, Australia, it will be possible to witness a dramatic sunset eclipse if skies are clear. With spectacular stargazing and safari opportunities available, the 2030 total solar eclipse is bound to be popular and, for eclipse chasers in North America and Europe, rather expensive.

What's special about the Nov. 25, 2030 total solar eclipse?

Namibia is famous for safaris and stargazing. (Image credit: Buena Vista Images/Getty Images)

The Nov. 25, 2030, total solar eclipse presents the opportunity to combine the stunning celestial event with a safari and stargazing. In Namibia, the path of totality is conveniently placed between the giant dunes of Sossusvlei and Deadvlei and the spectacular Etosha National Park.

If you're looking for something extremely remote (and likely more expensive), the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in Botswana would make an excellent option.

There are two important marine mammal colonies in the path of totality. Cape Cross Seal Reserve, the world's largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals, on Namibia's Skeleton Coast, will get 1 minute, 22 seconds of totality, and Point Labatt Conservation Park (which features the Australian sea lion, one of Australia's most endangered marine mammals), in South Australia, will get 1 minute, 57 seconds of totality.

Path of totality for the Nov. 25, 2030 total solar eclipse

The path of totality for the total solar eclipse on Nov. 25, 2030Created using MapHub.net. Sources: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS user community

The path of totality for the Nov. 25, 2030, total solar eclipse will span 9,033 miles (14,538 kilometers). The eclipse will begin at sunrise in the Atlantic Ocean; pass over Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho; cross the Indian Ocean; and finish as a low eclipse from southeastern South Australia and northwestern New South Wales, Australia. Those in the path of southeast Queensland will see a sunset eclipse, with the small rural town of Surat seeing the eclipsed sun just 2 degrees above the western horizon.

The maximum duration of totality will be 3 minutes, 44 seconds. However, not many observers will experience that because the eclipse takes place north of the remote Kerguelen Islands in the southern Indian Ocean. The maximum totality on land will be 2 minutes, 32 seconds, from just north of Durban, South Africa. From Australia, the eclipse will be on the wane by the time it hits Streaky Bay in South Australia, just south of Ceduna (the epicenter of a total solar eclipse in 2002). In total, about 10.6 million people live in the path of totality, according to Time and Date.

The path of totality passes just north of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS), a cosmic-ray-hunting telescope in Namibia's Khomas highlands. The same fate befalls the HAKOS Astro Guest Farm, a remote mountainous escape for amateur astronomers. Both get a 99.9% partial solar eclipse. However, that's not the case for Tivoli Southern Sky Guest Farm, southeast of Windhoek, which will see totality for 1 minute, 53 seconds.

Where and when can I see the Nov. 25, 2030 total solar eclipse?

The Milky Way behind a rock arch at Spitzkoppe in Namibia. (Image credit: VisualStories/Getty Images)

Here are some of the places eclipse chasers will gather for the total solar eclipse on Nov. 25, 2030:

Location	Totality duration	Time	Sun height
Spitzkoppe, Namibia	1 minute, 53 seconds	7:17 a.m. CAT	14.6 degrees above east
Brandberg Mountain, Damaraland, Namibia	1 minute, 38 seconds (south side of the mountain)	7:17 a.m. CAT	13.6 degrees above east
Windhoek, Namibia	1 minute, 52 seconds	7:19 a.m. CAT	16.7 degrees above east
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Botswana	Up to 2 minutes, 7 seconds	7:21 a.m. CAT	21.3 degrees above east
Afriski Mountain Resort, Lesotho	2 minutes, 11 seconds	7:30 a.m. CAT	31 degrees above east
Schweizer-Reneke, South Africa	1 minute, 57 seconds	7:26 a.m. SAST	26.8 degrees above east
Durban, South Africa	2 minutes, 22 seconds	7:33 a.m. SAST	33.6 degrees above east
Surfers Beach; Streaky Bay, Australia	2 minutes, 1 seconds	6:49 p.m. AEST	17.3 degrees above west
Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Australia	1 minute, 53 seconds	6:52 p.m. ACDT	13 degrees above west
Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia	1 minute, 13 seconds	6:24 p.m. AEST	5 degrees above west

What will the weather be like for the Nov. 25, 2030 eclipse?

A time lapse of cloud cover on the path of the 2030 total solar eclipse over southern Africa from Nov. 10 to Dec. 10, 2023. (Image credit: NASA Worldview application (https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov))

There's a saying among eclipse chasers: "Climate is what you expect; weather is what you get." Although you can maximize your chances of finding a clear sky if you're mobile, some regions have higher chances than others.

Inland Namibia is a good bet, with even the capital, Windhoek, having a cloudy day on Nov. 25 only 23% of the time since 2000, according to Timeanddate.com. Between Windhoek and the Skeleton Coast, there's a very low risk of clouds, but that changes dramatically on the coast itself.

Botswana has a very low chance of clouds. In the North West region of South Africa, there's around a 33% chance of a cloudy day. As you approach Durban, however, those odds rise to an alarming 67%. In Australia, Streaky Bay on the southern coast has a 48% chance of clouds, but the odds are about 33% for the rest of the track.

Where to see the partial solar eclipse on Nov. 25, 2030

The HESS telescope in Namibia will get a 99.9% partial solar eclipse. (Image credit: killapooky /550 px/Getty Images)

A partial solar eclipse will be visible from central and southern Africa, the Indian Ocean, Australia and New Zealand. Here's what will be seen from major cities and destinations in the partial eclipse zone:

Location	Percentage of the sun's disk covered
Maseru, Lesotho	98%
Johannesburg, South Africa	97%
Brisbane, Australia	96%
Gaborone, Botswana	95%
Alice Springs, Australia	95%
Mbabane, Eswatini	92%
Maputo, Mozambique	89%
Kerguelen Islands	82%
Sydney, Australia	79%
Perth, Australia	76%
Melbourne, Australia	75%
Cape Town, South Africa	71%
Adelaide, Australia	70%
Heard and McDonald Islands	68%
Luanda, Angola	61%
Hobart, Australia	58%
Antananarivo, Madagascar	41%
Saint-Paul, Reunion	37%
Broome, Australia	36%
Queenstown, New Zealand	33%
Port Louis, Mauritius	31%
Darwin, Australia	29%

After Nov. 25, 2030, when is the next total solar eclipse?

After the total solar eclipse on Nov. 25, 2030, these are the dates and locations for the next total solar eclipses:

Nov. 14, 2031: Pacific Ocean (hybrid-totality) and Panama (hybrid-annularity)
March 30, 2033: Russia and the U.S. (Alaska)
March 20, 2034: Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China
Sept. 2, 2035: China, North Korea and Japan
July 13, 2037: Australia
Dec. 26, 2038: Australia and New Zealand
Dec. 15, 2039: Antarctica

Additional resources

You can find a concise summary of solar eclipses out to 2030 on NASA's eclipse website. Read more about solar and lunar eclipses on EclipseWise.com, a website dedicated to predictions of eclipses, and find beautiful maps on eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler's EclipseAtlas.com, as well as interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website and Timeanddate.com's Eclipse Central hub. You can see climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on Eclipsophile.com and get photography advice from expert eclipse photographer Alan Dyer at AmazingSky.com.

Bibliography

Bakich, M. and Zeiler, M. (2022). Atlas Of Solar Eclipses 2020-2045.

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/books/atlas-of-solar-eclipses-2020-to-2045

Jubier, X. (n.d.). Solar eclipses: Interactive Google Maps. Retrieved Jun. 24, 2025, from http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleMaps.html

NASA Worldview application, part of the NASA Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Retrieved Jun. 24, 2025 from https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov

Time and Date. (n.d.). Nov. 25, 2030 Total Solar Eclipse. Retrieved Jun. 24, 2025, from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2030-november-25

1 month until a 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse puts on a show — mostly for penguins

daisy.dobrijevic@space.com (Daisy Dobrijevic) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Heads up, skywatchers! There's just one month to go until the annular solar eclipse of 2026.

At 4:56 a.m. EST (0956 GMT) on Feb. 17, the moon will begin to turn the sun into an impressive "ring of fire" during an annular solar eclipse. Maximum eclipse, whereby the largest proportion of the sun is covered, will occur at 7:12 a.m. EST (1212 GMT)

The striking phenomenon will be visible only to those watching from within the path of annularity, a 2,661-mile-long and 383-mile-wide (4,282 by 616 kilometers) route where the moon will cover about 96% of the sun's disk. Few will witness this eclipse, as the annular stage will only be visible from a remote region of Antarctica.

Viewers across the rest of Antarctica, along with parts of southern Africa and the southernmost regions of South America, will be treated to a partial solar eclipse. The rest of us will be able to follow the event online: official livestream details have not yet been released, but we'll share them as soon as they become available. You can also track the event as it happens via our solar eclipse live blog.

An observation platform at Concordia Station in Antarctica. The Concordia Station is in the path of annularity. (Image credit: IPEV/PNRA - E. Bondoux)

Solar eclipses happen at new moon, when the moon lines up perfectly between Earth and the sun, casting its shadow onto our planet. In a total solar eclipse, the moon is close enough to Earth that it appears the same size as — or slightly larger than — the sun, allowing it to fully cover the sun's disk and briefly turn day into night.

An annular eclipse, by contrast, occurs when the moon is farther from Earth in its slightly elliptical orbit and looks a little smaller than the sun. Instead of blocking the sun completely, it leaves a bright ring of sunlight encircling the moon — the striking "ring of fire" effect.

Where and when can I see the Feb. 17, 2026 annular solar eclipse?

The path of the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

Here are the very limited places the ring of fire may be seen during the annular solar eclipse on Feb. 17, 2026:

Location: Concordia Research Station (French-Italian)

Annularity duration: 2 minutes, 1 second

Time: 11:46 GMT

Sun height: 5 degrees above 241 degrees azimuth

Location: Mirny Station, Queen Mary Land, Antarctica (Russia)

Annularity duration: 1 minute, 52 seconds

Time: 12:07 GMT

Sun height: 10 degrees above west 264 degrees azimuth

2026 begins a golden age of solar eclipses: How to see 3 total solar eclipses and 3 'ring of fire' eclipses in 3 years

Jamie Carter — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

2025 saw a lull in solar eclipse excitement. Sure, there was a dramatic sunrise solar eclipse in the northeast U.S. and Canada back in March, and another in New Zealand in September. But the year lacked the kind of eclipse everyone should see at least once in their lives: a total solar eclipse.

That drought is about to end. From 2026 to 2028, Earth will experience a double eclipse cascade — three total solar eclipses (August 2026, August 2027 and July 2028) and three annular solar eclipses (February 2026, February 2027 and January 2028) — a repetition of a pattern last seen from 2008 to 2010.

For eclipse chasers who want to experience one of nature's greatest events — and for anyone who missed the 2024 total solar eclipse in North America — the coming years offer multiple chances for immersion and redemption in the shadow of the moon. One thing's for sure: 2026 marks the start of a brief golden age of opportunities for solar eclipse chasers.

Three total solar eclipses in two years

The path of totality on Aug. 12, 2026. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

The excitement begins with a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026. It will be the first total eclipse visible from Europe since 2015 and the first from mainland Europe since 1999.

Planning guides for 2026:

— Best total solar eclipse 2026 cruises for the ultimate adventure

— 16 best places to see the 2026 total solar eclipse

— 16 best places to see the 2027 total solar eclipse

The path of totality for the August 2026 solar eclipse will begin in remote Siberia, cross eastern Greenland and western Iceland, and then sweep across northern Spain, before exiting just east of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. Observers in Greenland's Scoresby Sund, Iceland's Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes peninsulas, and the Spanish cities of Leon, Burgos and Valladolid will be within the path and see the sun's ghostly corona. While totality will last just over two minutes at its maximum, the low position of the eclipsed sun — particularly in Spain — will offer some dramatic photographic opportunities.

Then comes the really big one.

Planning guides for 2027

—Eclipse experts' best travel tips for the total solar eclipse 2027

—10 unique tours and experiences for the 2027 'eclipse of the century'

—16 best places to see the 2027 total solar eclipse

On Aug. 2, 2027, a total solar eclipse lasting up to 6 minutes, 22 seconds will see the moon's shadow move slowly across southern Spain, North Africa and the Middle East. Totality will be visible from historic and cultural landmarks, including the temple- and monument-strewn Luxor, Egypt, offering a near-guaranteed view of the sun's corona in clear skies (although dust storms are possible). No wonder it's being dubbed the "eclipse of the century."

The path of totality on Aug. 2, 2027. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

Less than a year later, on July 22, 2028, another total solar eclipse will cut across the Australian Outback and New Zealand. For the first time since 1857, totality will grace Sydney, Australia's largest city, while remote parts of Western Australia will enjoy over five minutes of totality, with clear skies likely.

The path of totality on July 22, 2028. (Image credit: Michael Zeiler/EclipseAtlas.com)

A rare opportunity

Most people consider themselves lucky to see just one total solar eclipse in their lifetime. But from August 2026 to July 2028, dedicated eclipse chasers can experience three shows across three continents.

The trio also offers a range of travel styles, such as chasing eclipses from Arctic and Mediterranean cruise ships in 2026, photographing the eclipsed sun above ancient temples in 2027, and combining stargazing and Outback road trips in 2028. All three eclipses occur during the Northern Hemisphere summer, a time when many can travel more easily.

Although it's rare, this sequence of three total solar eclipses within a two-year period is not unique. In fact, a trio of total solar eclipses begins every 18 years, 11 days and eight hours — the length of one Saros, the cycle of the sun and moon that determines when and where solar eclipses occur. After one Saros cycle, the Earth-moon-sun geometry is almost the same, so a similar eclipse happens again.

From 2026 to 2028, three separate Saros cycles — each producing a total solar eclipse — are in resonance. Looking back in time, there are similar trios, from 1990 to 1992 and from 2008 to 2010, although most of these eclipses took place in remote regions and were difficult to access or troubled by clouds. A trio will occur again from 2044 to 2046, and two are in North America.

Although it may not be unprecedented, the eclipse trio we're about to encounter is the most travel-friendly and geographically spectacular in decades. This is generational.

Best places to see the 2026, 2027 and 2028 total solar eclipses

Planning ahead is crucial for witnessing the three total solar eclipses, each of which has a unique character.

Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse: Choose a cruise near Greenland, urban comforts in Reykjavik, a trip to rural Spain, or a sunset eclipse over the sea from Majorca.
Aug. 2, 2027 total solar eclipse: From southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, expect clear skies and a very long totality. However, head to Luxor, Egypt (home of the longest totality of the remaining 21st century), for the ultimate bragging rights.
July 22, 2028 total solar eclipse: Sydney will be busy, but head to the Kimberley region of Western Australia or north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory for the best clear-sky experience.

Beyond the "big three"

This golden age isn't limited to total solar eclipses. The timeline also includes a trio of annular — or "ring of fire" — solar eclipses in three consecutive years, within just 708 days. Annular eclipses may not be as interesting as total solar eclipses, but they are special.

There's a quiet start on Feb. 17, 2026, with an annular solar eclipse visible only from a remote region of Antarctica. But after that, there's a classic Atlantic-to-Africa track in 2027 and, in 2028, a travel editor's dream when the Galápagos Islands and Spain see a ring of fire. For Spain in 2028, it will be the third major solar eclipse in just 532 days — a gift like no other for European eclipse chasers.

Upcoming annular solar eclipse:

Feb. 17, 2026 annular solar eclipse: This event is for extreme adventurers only, though Antarctic cruises may offer views of a partial solar eclipse.
Feb. 6, 2027 annular solar eclipse: This annular eclipse will be visible from parts of Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria (sunset). Choose between a high eclipse over Patagonia's likely clear skies and a risky sunset view from West Africa.
Jan. 26, 2028 annular solar eclipse: The path of annularity crosses the Galápagos Islands, mainland Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana, Morocco, Portugal and Spain (sunset), presenting an amazing opportunity for a Galápagos cruise or a trip to southern Portugal or Spain.

The total solar eclipse 2024 tricked birds into singing a 'false dawn chorus'

Stefanie Waldek — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:00:00 +0000

As the April 2024 solar eclipse crossed North America, humans weren't the only ones affected by the dimming of the midday sun. A new study revealed that at least 29 bird species showed changes in their vocalizations before, during and after the eclipse. Some even burst into a "false dawn chorus" as full sunlight returned.

In the lead-up to the eclipse, educators at Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington, Indiana — which was located in the eclipse's path of totality — brainstormed ways to get the public involved with eclipse-related science. They conceived of a mission to study how changes in light affect wild birds.

The team developed a free smartphone app called SolarBird to crowdsource observations all over North America. "Scientists can't be in a thousand places at once," IU Ph.D. student Liz Aguilar, who led the study, said in a statement. "The app gets around this problem by leveraging the public as scientists. It also encourages people to look around and listen, adding to the show in the sky."

Users were asked to observe a bird in their location for 30 seconds before, during and after totality, checking boxes that indicated the birds' behaviors (for instance, singing or flying). The results? More than 1,700 users contributed nearly 11,000 observations.

The team also deployed automated recorders around Bloomington to monitor bird vocalizations. Using the artificial neural network BirdNET, which powers the popular bird-identification app Merlin, researchers analyzed almost 100,000 vocalizations.

Ultimately, the team discovered that 29 of 52 of species of birds demonstrated vocal changes during the eclipse, though each species did not respond in the same way. For instance, of the 12 species that responded to totality, some fell silent while others sang more than usual.

The team noted that the strongest change in vocalization behavior occurred after totality, as the sun returned to its normal strength: 19 species engaged in a false dawn chorus, mimicking the usual birdsong they sing at sunrise.

"It's crazy that you can turn off the sun, even briefly, and birds' physiology is so tuned to those changes that they act like it’s morning," said IU professor Kimberly Rosvall, who advises Aguilar. "This has important implications on the impact of urbanization or artificial light at night, which are much more widespread."

The research was published in the journal Science on Oct. 9.

Total solar eclipse 2028: Everything you need to know about totality in Australia and New Zealand

Jamie Carter — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

On July 22, 2028, the moon's shadow will cut a 143-mile-wide (230 kilometer) path across Australia and New Zealand. According to NASA, it will mark the first total solar eclipse visible from Sydney since 1857 and the last until 2858, making it a once-in-a-lifetime event for the city's 5 million residents.

Sydney's Opera House and Harbour Bridge will form a spectacular backdrop and grab the headlines before and after the event. However, eclipse chasers will likely head far to the northwest to the remote Kimberley region and the Australian Outback, where probable cloud-free winter skies promise over five minutes of totality. Meanwhile, New Zealand's South Island will catch the final act of the eclipse close to sunset.

What's special about the July 22, 2028, total solar eclipse?

This eclipse will feature a long totality over some iconic locations, including Sydney Harbour, as well as the Bungle Bungles and Karlu Karlu (Devil's Marbles) in the Australian Outback. Sydney will attract the media attention and crowds, but the remote regions will have the highest chance of clear skies. Add Cocos Islands and Christmas Island, and there's something for every kind of eclipse chaser, whether they're looking to experience it with others or in lonelier surroundings.

The Bungle Bungles in Purnululu National Park, Western Australia, will experience totality. (Image credit: Francesco Riccardo Iacomino via Getty Images)

For those bound for the Outback, there's also the promise of dark skies and views of the Milky Way's core. There, Kununurra, Western Australia, and Alice Springs, Northern Territory, will be the logical bases. Get there a week before the eclipse if you want to make the best of dark skies, although the Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks a week after the eclipse.

Path of totality for the total solar eclipse 2028

The totality phase whereby the moon blocks the entirety of the sun's disk is only visible when viewed from within the path of totality.Created using MapHub.net. Source: Esri, Maxar, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS user community

The eclipse path for the July 22, 2028, total solar eclipse spans 7,442 miles (11,976 km). The eclipse will begin at sunrise in the Indian Ocean; pass over the Cocos and Christmas islands; sweep across Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales; and then finally cross the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

The eclipse will last 2 hours, 49 minutes from first landfall to final contact, with a maximum totality of 5 minutes, 10 seconds occurring near the Drysdale River in Western Australia. About 6.3 million people live in the path of totality, according to Time and Date, with the vast majority residing in Sydney and its suburbs.

Totality will visit Karlu Karlu/Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve in Northern Territory, Australia, on July 22, 2028. (Image credit: John White Photos via Getty Images)

Where and when can I see the July 22, 2028 total solar eclipse?

Here are some of the places eclipse chasers will gather for the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028:
Location	Totality duration	Time	Sun height
Direction Island, Cocos Islands	3 minutes, 26 seconds	8:12 a.m. CCT	23.4 degrees northeast
South Point, Christmas Island	4 minutes, 5 seconds	8:54 a.m. CXT	34.3 degrees northeast
Scott Reef, Indian Ocean	4 minutes, 48 seconds	9:37 a.m. AWST	50.8 degrees northeast
Lamarck Island, Australia	5 minutes, 8 seconds	10:47 a.m. AWST	52.2 degrees northeast
Wyndham, Australia	3 minutes, 20 seconds	10:57 a.m. AWST	53.2 degrees northeast
Bungle Bungles, Australia	3 minutes, 18 seconds	11:00 a.m. AWST	51.5 degrees northeast
Kununurra, Australia	2 minutes, 50 seconds	10:59 a.m. AWST	53.2 degrees northeast
Karlu Karlu, Australia	4 minutes, 50 seconds	12:48 p.m. ACST	49.2 degrees northeast
Siding Spring Observatory, Coonabarabran, Australia	1 minute, 47 seconds	1:56 p.m. AEST	32.5 degrees northeast
Dubbo, Australia	3 minutes, 46 seconds	1:55 p.m. AEST	32 degrees northeast
Sydney, Australia	3 minutes, 44 seconds	1:59 p.m. AEST	29.1 degrees northeast

What will the weather be like for the total solar eclipse?

There's a saying among eclipse chasers: "The climate is what you expect; the weather is what you get." While you can maximize your chances of finding a clear sky if you're mobile, you can also choose to visit the Outback, where clouds are less likely. According to Time and Date, Kununurra has had a cloudy day on July 22 about 11% of the time since 2000, compared with 10% for the Bungle Bungles and 23% for Karlu Karlu. Expect the one-lane roads in the Outback to be VERY busy.

The riskiest regions for clouds are, as usual, near the coast, with the highest chance of clouds being on Cocos Island (65%), Christmas Island (57%) and, annoyingly, Sydney (47%). This eclipse takes place in the Southern Hemisphere's winter.

A timelapse of cloud cover on the path of the 2028 total solar eclipse from July 8 to Aug. 7, 2023. (Image credit: NASA Worldview application https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov)

Where to see the partial solar eclipse on July 22, 2028

A partial solar eclipse will be visible across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia on July 22, 2028.

What will be seen from major cities and destinations in the partial eclipse zone:
Location	Percentage of the sun's disk covered
Alice Springs, Australia	95%
Broome, Australia	91%
Jakarta, Indonesia	89%
Darwin, Australia	88%
Wellington, New Zealand	83%
Brisbane, Australia	81%
Melbourne, Australia	81%
Adelaide, Australia	76%
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia	73%
Singapore	60%
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	52%
Perth, Australia	50%
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam	27%
Phnom Penh, Cambodia	24%
Bangkok, Thailand	16%
Manila, Philippines	13%

After July 22, 2028, when is the next total solar eclipse?

After the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028, these are the dates and locations for the next total solar eclipses:

Nov. 25, 2030: Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho and Australia
Nov. 14, 2031: Pacific Ocean (totality) and Panama (annularity)
March 30, 2033: Russia and the U.S. (Alaska)
March 20, 2034: Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and China
Sept. 2, 2035: China, North Korea and Japan
July 13, 2037: Australia
Dec. 26, 2038: Australia and New Zealand

Additional resources

You can find a concise summary of solar eclipses out to 2030 on NASA's eclipse website. Read more about solar and lunar eclipses on EclipseWise.com, a website dedicated to predictions of eclipses, and find beautiful maps on eclipse cartographer Michael Zeiler's EclipseAtlas.com and interactive Google Maps on Xavier Jubier's eclipse website and Timeanddate.com's Eclipse Central hub. You can find climate and weather predictions by meteorologist Jay Anderson on Eclipsophile.com and advice on photography from expert eclipse photographer Alan Dyer at AmazingSky.com.

Bibliography

Bakich, M. and Zeiler, M. (2022). Atlas Of Solar Eclipses 2020-2045.

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/books/atlas-of-solar-eclipses-2020-to-2045

Jubier, X. (n.d.). Solar eclipses: Interactive Google Maps. Retrieved Jun. 24, 2025, from http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleMaps.html

NASA Worldview application, part of the NASA Earth Science Data and Information System (ESDIS). Retrieved Jun. 24, 2025 from https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov

Time and Date. (n.d.). July 22, 2028 Total Solar Eclipse. Retrieved Jun. 24, 2025, from https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2028-july-22