Infographic: Solar Eclipses to Hit Major U.S. Metros Within the Century (2024)

FAQs

When was the last major solar eclipse in USA? ›

Notable eclipses

The solar eclipses on June 8, 1918; May 10, 1994; August 21, 2017; October 14, 2023; April 8, 2024; August 12, 2045; and September 14, 2099 each have long paths stretching from coast to coast.

The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century took place on July 22, 2009, when totality lasted 6 minutes and 39 seconds.

During the period 1801 to 1900 there were 242 solar eclipses of which 87 were partial, 77 were annular, 63 were total, and 15 were hybrids. The greatest number of eclipses in one year was five, in 1805, and two months, January 1805 and December 1880, had two eclipses.

Only two total solar eclipses have been visible from the United States during the 21st century. The first was the total solar eclipse of 2017, which was visible across the country. This was the first time such an event had occurred since 1918, and millions gathered to watch.

In any given location on Earth, a total eclipse happens only once every hundred years or so, though for selected locations they can occur as little as a few years apart. An example is the August 21, 2017 and April 8, 2024 eclipses, which will be viewed at the same spot near Carbondale, Illinois.

Why was the 2024 total solar eclipse so special? The 2024 total solar eclipse was a major event. Totality could last twice as long as in 2017, depending on the observer's location. It was also the longest totality on land for over a decade, so eclipse-chasers from around the world flocked to the path of totality.

During the period 1901 to 2000 there were 228 solar eclipses of which 78 were partial, 73 were annular (two non-central), 71 were total (three non-central) and 6 were hybrids. The greatest number of eclipses in one year was five, in 1935, and one month, July 2000, had two eclipses.

There are 224 solar eclipses within the 21st century. Of these, 68 are total solar eclipses, 73 are annular solar eclipses, 7 are hybrids of total and annular solar eclipses, and 77 are partial solar eclipses.

On September 17, 1811 there was another solar eclipse—which, again, was predicted by The Prophet. The brothers' center of operations was at Prophet's Town, located near the junction of the Wabash and Tippecanoe Rivers in northern Indiana.

Was there a solar eclipse in the year 2000? ›

A partial solar eclipse occurred on July 31, 2000. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth.

The total solar eclipse of -1776 Nov 30 is followed two weeks later by a partial lunar eclipse on -1776 Dec 15. These eclipses all take place during a single eclipse season.

The longest historical total eclipse lasted 7 minutes 27.54 seconds on June 15, 743 BC. The longest eclipse theoretically possible is 7 minutes and 32 seconds.

The 2024 total eclipse will last the longest in Mexico and Texas, with some locations along the center line seeing totality for over 4 minutes and 25 seconds.

The path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse.

1979. On February 26, 1979, eclipse viewers in the Pacific Northwest caught sight of a total solar eclipse. Totality was experienced in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota.

On Feb. 26, 1998, hundreds of people gathered to watch a total solar eclipse. The crowd gasped as the moon gobbled up the sun. They oohed and aahed as the feathery streams of the top of the solar atmosphere burst into view.

There were 8 solar eclipses between February 26, 1979 and July 20, 1982.