Solar eclipses are among the most fascinating and awe-inspiring celestial events that capture the imagination of people worldwide. These events, where the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily obscuring the Sun, have been observed and revered throughout history.
In 2024, the first solar eclipse, or Surya Grahan, occurred on April 8, 2024. According to NASA, this was a total solar eclipse visible across North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The first solar eclipse of 2024 was not visible in India.
(TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2024 AS SEEN FROM ISS; Image: NASA)
The image above is a photograph of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 that was clicked by NASA astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) Cupola's. In the image, it can be seen that the Moon's shadow covers portions of the Canadian provinces of Quebec and New Brunswick and the American state of Maine during the eclipse.
In this article, we will explore the upcoming solar eclipses in 2024, 2025, and 2026, providing detailed information on their dates, types, and regions of visibility. We will also delve into the science behind solar eclipses and their different types.
Purple Rain on Mars: What Is It? What Caused It? Know Significance
What is a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on the Earth and either partially or completely blocking the Sun's light in some areas. This alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth can only happen during a new moon when the Moon is directly between the Sun and Earth.
In a solar eclipse, the Moon's shadow on Earth consists of two parts: the umbra, where the Sun is completely obscured, and the penumbra, where only a part of the Sun is blocked. The type of solar eclipse—total, partial, annular, or hybrid—depends on the distances between the Earth, Moon, and Sun, as well as their alignment.
For example, a day before a total solar eclipse, the Moon might be 360,000 kilometres away from Earth—the closest distance between the Moon and the Earth. This proximity ensures that the Moon appears large enough in the sky to completely cover the Sun, leading to a total solar eclipse.
Types of Solar Eclipses
From left to right, these images show a total solar eclipse, annular solar eclipse, and partial solar eclipse. (Image: NASA)
Solar eclipses come in four main types, each offering a unique viewing experience: total, partial, annular, and hybrid. Depending on the distances between the Earth, Moon, and Sun, as well as their alignment, different types of solar eclipses can be observed.
Total Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon's apparent diameter is larger than the Sun's, blocking all direct sunlight and turning day into night for a brief period. The path of totality, where the total eclipse is visible, is usually narrow, and only those in this path can observe the total eclipse. The sky darkens, temperatures drop, and it is an unforgettable spectacle. In favourable weather conditions, viewers in the path of a total solar eclipse can witness the Sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere, which is normally hidden by the Sun's bright surface.
Partial Solar Eclipse
In a partial solar eclipse, only a portion of the Sun is obscured by the Moon. This occurs when the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth is not perfectly straight, so the Moon only partially covers the Sun, giving it a crescent shape. Partial solar eclipses are more common than total solar eclipses and can be seen over a larger area.
Annular Solar Eclipse
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun's, causing the Sun to look like a ring (an annulus) surrounding the Moon. This happens because the Moon is farther from the Earth and thus appears smaller in the sky. Annular eclipses are also known as "ring of fire" eclipses due to their distinctive appearance.
Hybrid Solar Eclipse
A hybrid solar eclipse, also known as an annular-total eclipse, shifts between a total and an annular eclipse along its path. This type of eclipse is relatively rare and occurs when some sections of the Earth's surface observe a total eclipse while others see an annular eclipse.
What is a Black Hole? Which Is The Biggest Black Hole In The Universe?
List of Solar Eclipses in 2024, 2025, and 2026
Below is the table that provides the list of solar eclipses in 2024, 2025, and 2026. Check the details of the type of solar eclipse and where they will occur across the world.
| Date | Solar Eclipse Type | Geographic Region of Visibility |
| Oct. 2, 2024 | Annular | An annular solar eclipse will be visible in South America, and a partial eclipse will be visible in South America, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, North America |
| March 29, 2025 | Partial | Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean |
| Sept. 21, 2025 | Partial | Australia, Antarctica, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean |
| Feb. 17, 2026 | Annular | An annular solar eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, and a partial eclipse will be visible in Antarctica, Africa, South America, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean |
| Aug. 12, 2026 | Total | A total solar eclipse will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal, while a partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean |
Explained: What Is A Solar Flare?
WATCH: 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Through NASA's Telescopic Feed
Here is a telescope feed of a total solar eclipse across North America on April 8, 2024.
Credits: NASA
When was last Surya Grahan visible in India? When will Solar Eclipse be visible in India?
Last Annular Solar Eclipse in India
The last annular solar eclipse visible in India occurred on December 26, 2019. It lasted for three minutes and 39 seconds. This spectacular celestial event was visible not only in India but also in parts of Asia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Next Annular Solar Eclipse in India
The next annular solar eclipse visible in India is scheduled for May 21, 2031. Cities such as Kochi, Alappuzha, Chalakudy, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta, Painavu, Gudalur (Theni), Theni, Madurai, Ilaiyangudi, Karaikudi, and Vedaranyam will witness this event. Known as the "ring of fire," this eclipse will grace the skies of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with the maximum eclipse covering approximately 28.87 percent of the Sun.
Chandrayaan-3: Why is it important to land on the South Pole of the Moon?