Solar eclipse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely covers the Sun. You can see bright Solar prominences and the Sun's outer atmosphere, called the solar corona. (August 11, 1999)
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An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away to fully cover the Sun. This leaves a bright ring of sunlight visible. (October 14, 2023)
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During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon blocks only a part of the Sun. (October 25, 2022)
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A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun. This blocks the Sun's light, making it look like the Sun disappears, either completely or partly. This amazing event can only be seen from a small part of Earth.
Solar eclipses usually happen about every six months. This is when the Moon is in its new moon phase and its path around Earth lines up with Earth's path around the Sun. If the Moon's orbit was perfectly flat, we would see a total solar eclipse every month! But the Moon's orbit is slightly tilted, so its shadow usually misses Earth.
Because of this tilt, we get at least two, and sometimes up to five, solar eclipses each year. However, only two of these can be total eclipses. Total eclipses are quite rare in any one spot. They only happen in the same place about once every 360 to 410 years.
People have watched solar eclipses for thousands of years. In the past, some cultures thought eclipses were caused by magic or were signs of bad luck. Today, scientists can predict eclipses with great accuracy, even hundreds of years in advance.
It is very important to protect your eyes during a solar eclipse. Looking directly at the Sun can cause serious and lasting eye damage. Special glasses or safe viewing methods are needed to watch an eclipse safely, except during the brief moment of a total eclipse. People who love eclipses, called eclipse chasers, travel all over the world to see these spectacular events.
Contents
Understanding Solar Eclipses
How Eclipses Happen
Imagine the Sun, Moon, and Earth lining up perfectly. That's what causes a solar eclipse! The Moon casts two main shadows:
- The umbra is the darkest, inner part of the shadow. If you are in the umbra, you see a total eclipse.
- The penumbra is the lighter, outer part of the shadow. If you are in the penumbra, you see a partial eclipse.
- Beyond the umbra is the antumbra. If you are in this part, you see an annular eclipse.
The Moon's path around Earth is tilted by about 5 degrees compared to Earth's path around the Sun. This is why we don't have an eclipse every new moon. An eclipse only happens when a new moon occurs near where the Moon's orbit crosses Earth's orbital plane. These crossing points are called nodes.
The Moon's orbit is also not a perfect circle; it's an ellipse. This means the Moon's distance from Earth changes. When the Moon is closer to Earth, it looks bigger in the sky. When it's farther away, it looks smaller. This change in apparent size is why we have different types of solar eclipses.
The Path of an Eclipse
During a central eclipse, the Moon's dark shadow moves quickly across Earth from west to east. Earth also spins from west to east. But the Moon's shadow moves faster than Earth's rotation. So, the shadow always appears to travel across the map in a west-to-east direction.
The width of this shadow path can change. In the best conditions, during a total eclipse, the path can be up to 267 kilometers (166 miles) wide. The total darkness can last for over 7 minutes. Outside this narrow path, a partial eclipse is visible over a much wider area.
How Long Eclipses Last
Several things affect how long a total solar eclipse lasts:
- The Moon being as close to Earth as possible (at its perigee). This makes the Moon look biggest.
- Earth being far from the Sun (at its aphelion). This makes the Sun look smallest.
- The eclipse happening near Earth's equator. Here, Earth's rotation speed helps lengthen the eclipse.
- The eclipse path moving directly east, matching Earth's rotation.
The longest total solar eclipse ever calculated happened on July 16, 2186. It lasted 7 minutes and 29 seconds over northern Guyana.
Types of Solar Eclipses
The Sun is about 400 times farther away from Earth than the Moon. The Sun is also about 400 times bigger than the Moon. Because of this amazing coincidence, the Sun and Moon look almost the same size in our sky! They both appear to be about half a degree wide.
However, the Moon's and Earth's orbits are slightly elliptical. This means their distances from each other change, which affects how big they look.
- If the Moon is closer to Earth, it looks bigger and can completely cover the Sun. This causes a total eclipse.
- If the Moon is farther from Earth, it looks smaller and cannot completely cover the Sun. This causes an annular eclipse.
There are three main types of solar eclipses:
Total Solar Eclipse
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A total eclipse happens when the Moon completely blocks the Sun's bright face. This allows us to see the Sun's beautiful, faint outer atmosphere, called the solar corona. Total eclipses occur about every 18 months. The total darkness is only visible along a very narrow path on Earth, called the path of totality.
Annular Solar Eclipse
An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are perfectly aligned, but the Moon is too far away to completely cover the Sun. Instead of total darkness, you see a bright ring of sunlight around the Moon's dark disk. This ring is called an "annulus." The word "annular" comes from the Latin word anulus, meaning "ring." Annular eclipses happen once every one or two years.
Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial eclipse happens when the Sun and Moon are not perfectly aligned. The Moon only blocks a part of the Sun. This type of eclipse can be seen from a much larger area of Earth. Sometimes, the Moon's shadow passes over Earth's polar regions, so only a partial eclipse is visible anywhere. You might not even notice a partial eclipse unless more than 90% of the Sun is covered. Even at 99% coverage, it would only look like a cloudy day.
Hybrid Solar Eclipse
A hybrid eclipse is a rare type that changes between a total and an annular eclipse. At some points on Earth, it looks like a total eclipse. At other points, it appears as an annular eclipse. This happens because Earth's curved surface means some locations are slightly closer to the Moon than others. The hybrid eclipse on April 20, 2023, had a totality that lasted over a minute in some places.
Central Eclipse
The term "central eclipse" refers to total, annular, or hybrid eclipses. It means the very center of the Moon's shadow touches Earth's surface. It is very rare for the shadow to hit Earth but not its central line. This is called a non-central total or annular eclipse. The last non-central annular eclipse was on April 29, 2014. The next non-central total solar eclipse will be on April 9, 2043.
Eclipse Phases
During a total solar eclipse, you can see several amazing visual phases:
- First contact is when the Moon's edge first touches the Sun's edge.
- Second contact begins with Baily's Beads. These are bright spots of sunlight shining through valleys on the Moon's surface. Then comes the diamond ring effect, where one bright spot remains, looking like a diamond on a ring. Almost the entire Sun is covered.
- Totality is the main event! The Moon completely covers the Sun's bright disk. Only the beautiful solar corona is visible. You might also see the chromosphere (a reddish layer), solar prominences (loops of gas), and coronal streamers.
- Third contact is when the first bright light from the Sun reappears. The Moon's shadow starts to move away. You might see another diamond ring effect.
- Fourth contact is when the Moon's trailing edge completely moves off the Sun's disk, and the eclipse ends.
How Often Eclipses Occur
A total solar eclipse is a rare sight for any single location. While one happens somewhere on Earth every 18 months, it only returns to the same spot about once every 360 to 410 years. The total darkness lasts only a few minutes because the Moon's shadow moves very fast, over 1,700 kilometers per hour (1,056 mph).
Currently, totality can never last more than 7 minutes and 32 seconds. This maximum duration slowly decreases over thousands of years. The last time an eclipse lasted longer than 7 minutes was on June 30, 1973. Observers on a Concorde jet even extended their view of totality to about 74 minutes by flying along the shadow's path! The next total eclipse lasting over seven minutes will not happen until June 25, 2150.
Scientists use eclipse cycles to predict eclipses. The saros is a famous one, lasting about 18 years and 11 days. After this period, a very similar eclipse will occur, just shifted a bit westward on Earth. A saros series starts with partial eclipses near one of Earth's poles, then moves to total or annular eclipses, and ends with partial eclipses at the opposite pole. A single saros series can last for over 1,200 years!
How Many Eclipses Each Year?
Each year, there are between two and five solar eclipses. There is always at least one during each eclipse season. Since the year 1582, years with five solar eclipses included 1693, 1758, 1805, 1823, 1870, and 1935. The next year with five solar eclipses will be 2206. On average, about 240 solar eclipses happen every century.
| January 5 | February 3 | June 30 | July 30 | December 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partial (south) |
Partial (north) |
Partial (north) |
Partial (south) |
Annular (south) |
 Saros 111 |
 Saros 149 |
 Saros 116 |
 Saros 154 |
 Saros 121 |
When Total Eclipses Will End
Total solar eclipses are a special sight on Earth. This is because the Moon is just the right size and distance to cover the Sun perfectly. However, this won't last forever! The Moon is slowly moving farther away from Earth, about 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) each year.
Millions of years in the future, the Moon will be too far away to completely block the Sun. Then, there will be no more total solar eclipses. All central eclipses will be annular. Scientists estimate this will happen between 650 million and 1.4 billion years from now.
Safe Viewing of Eclipses
It is extremely dangerous to look directly at the Sun's bright disk, even for a few seconds. The Sun emits strong visible and invisible radiation that can cause permanent eye damage. This damage can lead to blurry vision or even blindness. Your retina, the back of your eye, doesn't feel pain, so you won't know if you are hurting it.
Normally, the Sun is too bright to stare at. But during an eclipse, when much of the Sun is covered, it's easier and more tempting to look. Looking at the Sun during an eclipse is just as dangerous as looking at it any other time. The only exception is during the brief period of totality in a total solar eclipse, when the Sun is completely covered.
Never look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, or a camera viewfinder without a special solar filter. This can cause instant and irreversible eye damage.
Viewing Partial and Annular Eclipses
To safely view partial and annular eclipses, you need special eye protection or indirect viewing methods. Regular sunglasses are not safe for looking at the Sun. Only use specially designed and certified solar filters or eclipse glasses. Do not use homemade filters like floppy disks, CDs, or smoked glass, as these are not safe.
A very safe way to watch is by indirect projection. You can make a simple pinhole camera with two pieces of cardboard. Poke a small hole in one piece and let the sunlight shine through it onto the other piece. You will see a projected image of the eclipsed Sun. You can also use a kitchen colander to project many small images of the eclipse onto the ground. Just remember, never look directly through the pinhole or projector!
If you watch the Sun's disk on a video screen from a camera, it is safe for your eyes. However, the camera itself might be damaged by direct sunlight unless it has a proper solar filter on its lens.
Viewing Totality
It is only safe to look directly at the Sun during the total phase of a solar eclipse. This is when the Moon completely covers the Sun's bright disk. During this short time, the Sun is too dim to be seen through filters. You can remove your eclipse glasses to see the Sun's beautiful, faint stellar corona. You might also see the chromosphere, bright solar prominences, and coronal streamers. As totality ends, put your eclipse glasses back on immediately when the first bright light reappears.
Eclipse Chasing
Some people are so fascinated by solar eclipses that they travel all over the world to see them. These dedicated observers are called "umbraphiles," which means "shadow lovers." They use special eclipse glasses and telescopes to enjoy these rare events.
Photographing an Eclipse
You can photograph an eclipse with common camera equipment. You will need a long lens (at least 200mm) to make the Sun and Moon appear large enough in your picture. Just like with direct viewing, never look through your camera's optical viewfinder without a proper solar filter. The Sun's rays can damage your eyes and even your camera's digital sensor. Using a camera's live view screen is safer for your eyes, but the lens still needs a solar filter.
Historical Solar Eclipses
Solar eclipses have been recorded throughout history. These records help historians date ancient events very precisely. One of the oldest recorded eclipses was found on a clay tablet from Ugarit, in modern Syria. It likely happened on May 3, 1375 BC, or March 5, 1223 BC. An eclipse on June 15, 763 BC, mentioned in an Assyrian text, is very important for dating events in the ancient Near East.
In ancient China, solar eclipses were called "eating of the Sun." The earliest records of eclipses there date back to around 720 BC. The astronomer Shi Shen, in the 4th century BC, described how to predict eclipses.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote that Thales of Miletus predicted an eclipse that occurred during a battle. Both sides stopped fighting and made peace because of the eclipse. This event likely happened on May 28, 585 BC.
The first known telescopic observation of a total solar eclipse was made in France in 1706. Nine years later, English astronomer Edmund Halley accurately predicted and observed the solar eclipse of May 3, 1715. Scientists learned a lot about the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, by observing it during eclipses. The corona was identified as part of the Sun in 1842. The first photograph of a total eclipse was taken in 1851.
Eclipse Phenomena and Impact
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A total solar eclipse offers a rare chance to see the solar corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere. Normally, the Sun's bright surface hides the corona. During an eclipse, the corona can look small and even, or large and fuzzy, depending on the Sun's activity.
Other interesting things happen during an eclipse:
- Shadow bands are wavy, faint lines of light and dark that can be seen on flat surfaces just before and after totality. They are like shadows at the bottom of a swimming pool.
- Light filtering through tree leaves during a partial eclipse creates natural pinholes. These project many tiny crescent-shaped images of the eclipsed Sun onto the ground.
Confirming Einstein's Theory
The observation of a total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, helped confirm Einstein's theory of general relativity. Scientists measured how much starlight bent as it passed near the Sun. This bending of light was exactly what Einstein's theory predicted. This observation was only possible during totality when the stars near the Sun became visible.
Eclipses and Planets
It is extremely rare for a solar eclipse to happen at the same time as a planet passing in front of the Sun (a transit). The next time a solar eclipse and a transit of Mercury will happen together is on July 5, 6757. A solar eclipse and a transit of Venus is expected on April 5, 15232.
Sometimes, a planet like Mercury or Venus can be seen very close to the eclipsed Sun. Without the eclipse, the Sun's glare would hide these planets.
Satellites and Space Observations
Artificial satellites can also pass in front of the Sun from Earth's view. However, none are big enough to cause a full eclipse. These "transits" are very quick, usually lasting about a second. They do not make the sky dark.
Astronauts have observed solar eclipses from space. The crew of Gemini 12 saw a total solar eclipse from orbit in 1966. Astronauts on the International Space Station have seen partial eclipses and the Moon's shadow moving across Earth.
Spacecraft near the Moon have also observed eclipses. The crews of Apollo 11 in 1969 and Apollo 15 in 1971 saw the Moon eclipse the Sun. The Apollo 12 crew saw Earth eclipse the Sun as they returned from the Moon. Astronaut Alan Bean called it the most spectacular sight of his mission. During the Artemis II lunar flyby in 2026, the spacecraft experienced a 57-minute solar eclipse. The astronauts observed the solar corona and even "impact flashes" from meteoroids hitting the dark side of the Moon.
Some spacecraft use special tools called coronagraphs to create artificial eclipses. These block the Sun's bright disk so scientists can study the corona. The Proba-3 mission, launched in 2024, used two satellites to create an artificial eclipse between them.
Impact on Earth
The solar eclipse of March 20, 2015, was the first eclipse that scientists thought might significantly affect power systems. Many countries in Europe use a lot of solar power. It was estimated that electricity production would temporarily drop by up to 34 gigawatts during the eclipse. Power companies took steps to manage this change.
Eclipses can also cause the temperature to drop by about 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit). Wind speeds might also decrease.
Animals often react to an eclipse. Birds and squirrels might return to their nests, and crickets might start chirping, thinking it's nighttime.
Recent and Upcoming Solar Eclipses
Eclipses happen during "eclipse seasons," when the Sun is near one of the Moon's nodes. Each eclipse is separated by one, five, or six synodic months (the time between new moons). The middle of each season is about 173.3 days apart.
The saros cycle, which lasts about 18 years and 11 days, helps predict when similar eclipses will happen again. This is because 223 synodic months are roughly equal to other important lunar cycles. Each saros cycle starts with the Moon's shadow crossing Earth near a pole. Then, the eclipses move across the globe, and the cycle ends with partial eclipses at the opposite pole. Currently, saros cycles 117 to 156 are active.
Eclipses from 2022 to 2025
| Solar eclipse series sets from 2022 to 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending node | Descending node | |||||
| Saros | Map | Gamma | Saros | Map | Gamma | |
119 Partial in CTIO, Chile |
April 30, 2022 Partial |
−1.19008 | 124 Partial from Saratov, Russia |
October 25, 2022 Partial |
1.07014 | |
129 Totality in Timor-Leste |
April 20, 2023 Hybrid |
−0.39515 | 134 Annularity in Hobbs, NM, USA |
October 14, 2023 Annular |
0.37534 | |
139.jpg) Totality in Dallas, TX, USA |
April 8, 2024 Total |
0.34314 | 144 Annularity in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina |
October 2, 2024 Annular |
−0.35087 | |
149 Partial from Halifax, NS, Canada |
March 29, 2025 Partial |
1.04053 | 154 Partial from Auckland, New Zealand |
September 21, 2025 Partial |
−1.06509 | |
Eclipses from 2026 to 2029
| Solar eclipse series sets from 2026 to 2029 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascending node | Descending node | |||||
| Saros | Map | Gamma | Saros | Map | Gamma | |
| 121 | February 17, 2026 Annular |
−0.97427 | 126 | August 12, 2026 Total |
0.89774 | |
| 131 | February 6, 2027 Annular |
−0.29515 | 136 | August 2, 2027 Total |
0.14209 | |
| 141 | January 26, 2028 Annular |
0.39014 | 146 | July 22, 2028 Total |
−0.60557 | |
| 151 | January 14, 2029 Partial |
1.05532 | 156 | July 11, 2029 Partial |
−1.41908 | |
See Also
In Spanish: Eclipse solar para niños
- Lists of solar eclipses
- List of films featuring eclipses
- Apollo–Soyuz: The first joint U.S.–Soviet space flight. This mission included an arranged eclipse of the Sun by the Apollo module. This allowed instruments on the Soyuz to photograph the solar corona.
- Eclipse chasing: Traveling to different locations to observe solar eclipses.
- Occultation: A general term for when one object blocks the view of another.
- Eclipses in history and culture: How different societies and religions have viewed eclipses.
- Solar eclipses in fiction
- Solar eclipses on the Moon: How Earth eclipses the Sun, as seen from the Moon.
- Lunar eclipse: A solar eclipse of the Moon, as seen from Earth. This is when Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
- Transit of Venus: When the planet Venus passes between the Sun and Earth. This is technically a partial eclipse.
- Transit of Deimos from Mars: When Mars's moon Deimos passes between the Sun and Mars.
- Transit of Phobos from Mars: When Mars's moon Phobos passes between the Sun and Mars.
