Solar and Lunar Eclipses 2026–2027

The total solar eclipse of 2 August 2027

NASA’s table gives this eclipse a central duration of 6 minutes 23 seconds, the longest of any total solar eclipse in NASA’s table for 2021–2030 (the next longest, on 22 July 2028, lasts 5 minutes 10 seconds). Greatest eclipse occurs at 10:07:49 TD (about 10:06 UTC) near the Nile valley at Luxor, where the Sun stands high in the sky in the middle of the northern summer.

The path of totality begins in the Atlantic, passes through the Strait of Gibraltar, runs east along the length of North Africa, crosses the Nile valley and the Red Sea, sweeps over the Arabian Peninsula and reaches the Horn of Africa before ending in the Indian Ocean. A partial eclipse is visible across much of Africa, Europe, the Middle East and western and southern Asia.

Watching safely

Never look at the Sun directly or through binoculars, a camera or a telescope without a proper solar filter, even when most of it is covered. Only use eclipse glasses or filters made for looking at the Sun, and check them for scratches before use.

Lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, because you are looking at the Moon in Earth’s shadow.

Types of eclipse

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon covers the whole disc of the Sun; for a few minutes the sky darkens and the corona appears. It is only total inside a narrow path; outside it you see a partial eclipse.

An annular eclipse happens when the Moon is too far from Earth to cover the Sun completely and leaves a bright ring. A partial eclipse is one where no place on Earth sees the Moon centred on the Sun.

Lunar eclipses are seen from the whole night side of Earth at once. In a total lunar eclipse the Moon enters Earth’s dark umbra entirely and often turns copper-red; in a partial one only part of it does; in a penumbral one it only passes through the faint outer shadow.

• Full Moons
• Meteor Showers