Total solar eclipse
The Moon covers the Sun completely, and along a narrow path day turns to darkness for a few minutes. Outside that path it is seen as a partial eclipse.
ECLIPSE CALENDAR · 22 October 2026
Solar and lunar eclipses
Every year brings at least four and at most seven eclipses. Here you will find the next eclipse, every solar and lunar eclipse year by year, the signs they fall in and the different types of eclipse.
Eclipse dates and signs
Eclipses in 2025
| Date and time | Eclipse type | Sign |
|---|---|---|
| 14 March 2025, 06:57 UTC | Total lunar eclipse | 23° Virgo |
| 29 March 2025, 10:46 UTC | Partial solar eclipse | 9° Aries |
| 7 September 2025, 18:10 UTC | Total lunar eclipse | 15° Pisces |
| 21 September 2025, 19:41 UTC | Partial solar eclipse | 29° Virgo |
Eclipses in 2026
| Date and time | Eclipse type | Sign |
|---|---|---|
| 17 February 2026, 12:11 UTC | Annular solar eclipse | 28° Aquarius |
| 3 March 2026, 11:32 UTC | Total lunar eclipse | 12° Virgo |
| 12 August 2026, 17:45 UTC | Total solar eclipse | 20° Leo |
| 28 August 2026, 04:12 UTC | Partial lunar eclipse | 4° Pisces |
Eclipses in 2027
| Date and time | Eclipse type | Sign |
|---|---|---|
| 6 February 2027, 15:58 UTC | Annular solar eclipse | 17° Aquarius |
| 20 February 2027, 23:12 UTC | Penumbral lunar eclipse | 1° Virgo |
| 18 July 2027, 16:02 UTC | Penumbral lunar eclipse | 25° Capricorn |
| 2 August 2027, 10:05 UTC | Total solar eclipse | 9° Leo |
| 17 August 2027, 07:12 UTC | Penumbral lunar eclipse | 24° Aquarius |
Eclipses in 2028
| Date and time | Eclipse type | Sign |
|---|---|---|
| 12 January 2028, 04:12 UTC | Partial lunar eclipse | 21° Cancer |
| 26 January 2028, 15:06 UTC | Annular solar eclipse | 6° Aquarius |
| 6 July 2028, 18:18 UTC | Partial lunar eclipse | 15° Capricorn |
| 22 July 2028, 02:54 UTC | Total solar eclipse | 29° Cancer |
| 31 December 2028, 16:51 UTC | Total lunar eclipse | 10° Cancer |
Eclipses in 2029
| Date and time | Eclipse type | Sign |
|---|---|---|
| 14 January 2029, 17:11 UTC | Partial solar eclipse | 24° Capricorn |
| 12 June 2029, 04:04 UTC | Partial solar eclipse | 21° Gemini |
| 26 June 2029, 03:21 UTC | Total lunar eclipse | 4° Capricorn |
| 11 July 2029, 15:35 UTC | Partial solar eclipse | 19° Cancer |
| 5 December 2029, 15:01 UTC | Partial solar eclipse | 13° Sagittarius |
| 20 December 2029, 22:41 UTC | Total lunar eclipse | 29° Gemini |
The time shown is the moment of greatest eclipse (UTC). Where an eclipse can be seen from differs from one eclipse to the next.
What is an eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens at New Moon, when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and its shadow falls on part of the Earth. A lunar eclipse happens at Full Moon, when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, and it can be seen from anywhere the Moon is above the horizon.
The Moon's orbit is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to the Earth's orbit, so not every New Moon or Full Moon brings an eclipse. Eclipses only happen when the Moon is close to the points where the two orbits cross. These periods are called eclipse seasons, and they come round roughly every six months.
Types of eclipse
Annular solar eclipse
The Moon is at a point far from Earth and cannot cover the Sun completely. At mid-eclipse the Sun appears as a bright ring around the Moon.
Partial solar eclipse
The Moon covers only part of the Sun. For a while the Sun looks like an apple with a bite taken out of it; the sky does not noticeably darken.
Total lunar eclipse
The full Moon passes entirely into Earth's full shadow, the umbra. Because of light bent through Earth's atmosphere, the Moon often turns a coppery or reddish colour, which is why it is popularly called a blood moon.
Partial lunar eclipse
Only part of the full Moon enters Earth's full shadow. A dark shadow appears across one edge of the Moon.
Penumbral lunar eclipse
The full Moon passes only through Earth's partial shadow, the penumbra. The Moon fades slightly; it takes a careful eye to notice, and it is often hard to make out with the naked eye.
Eclipses in astrology
In astrology, eclipses are seen as New Moons and Full Moons with a stronger effect. Solar eclipses are associated with new beginnings, lunar eclipses with endings, realisations and things that need to be let go. The sign an eclipse falls in, and the area of your birth chart where that sign sits, point to the themes that may come to the fore.
Eclipses move through the zodiac in pairs, along axes formed by two opposite signs. In 2026 and 2027 eclipses fall mainly on the Leo–Aquarius axis; from 2028 they shift to the Cancer–Capricorn axis. These years may be more eventful for people whose Sun sign or rising sign is one of these signs.
How to watch a solar eclipse safely
Never look directly at the Sun with the naked eye, through sunglasses, binoculars or a telescope; even a small part of the Sun can cause permanent eye damage. To watch a solar eclipse, use safe methods such as eclipse glasses that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard or pinhole projection.
Watching a lunar eclipse, on the other hand, is completely safe; you can enjoy it with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next eclipse?
The next eclipse takes place on 6 February 2027: Annular solar eclipse at 17° Aquarius. Where it can be seen from varies from eclipse to eclipse.
How many eclipses are there in a year?
Every year has at least four and at most seven eclipses, and at least two of them are solar eclipses. Eclipses happen during eclipse seasons, which come round roughly every six months, usually in pairs about two weeks apart.
Is it safe to watch a lunar eclipse with the naked eye?
Yes. A lunar eclipse is the Earth's shadow falling on the full Moon, and it is completely safe to watch. During a solar eclipse, however, you should never look at the Sun without protective eclipse glasses.
How do eclipses affect the zodiac signs?
In astrology, eclipses symbolise change and turning points in matters linked to the sign they fall in and to that sign's area in your birth chart. Solar eclipses are associated with fresh starts, lunar eclipses with completion. These interpretations are symbolic and meant for entertainment.
Sky data is based on astronomical calculations. Astrological interpretations are for entertainment and personal reflection.