When Is the Next Solar Eclipse?

From once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipses to partial eclipses that turn the Sun into a Moon-like crescent, every eclipse is a breathtaking opportunity to see our solar system in action. Here's how to tell these awe-inspiring cosmic events apart, plus why they happen, when and where they're visible, and how to watch them safely.

What Is a Solar Eclipse?

The term “solar eclipse” refers to a phenomenon in which the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. There are three types of solar eclipse: partial, annular, and total.

• Partial solar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly lined up, making it appear that only part of the Sun is “missing.”

• During an annular eclipse, the Sun, Moon, and Earth are perfectly lined up, but the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth, making it appear somewhat small compared with the Sun. This produces what ...