With the latest total solar eclipse happening on Tuesday and Wednesday, stargazers are already gearing up to look to the skies to witness this rare celestial event. However, not everyone will be able to see the moon make its transit in front of the sun on Wednesday because its timing only favors those living in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Fans of space events in North America will get their chance to see the next solar eclipse next year on Aug. 21. This is slated to be the first such total solar eclipse to be visible in the continental United States since the last one occurred in 1979.
If you happen to miss the event next year, you'd have to wait seven years for the next one, which is expected to occur on April 8, 2024.
What Is An Eclipse?
An eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon where an object in space either passes in front or behind another body, effectively blocking the viewer's sight of that object.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon moves behind the Earth and settles into its shadow, while a solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves directly between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow over the planet and obscuring people's view of the sun.
Solar eclipses happen only when the dark side of the moon is facing the planet during a new moon phase.
How To Find Out When The Next Solar Eclipse Will Be
Researchers at NASA have developed a comprehensive map that shows when and where the next few solar eclipses will occur over the next three decades. One map in particular features upcoming events that will be visible to residents of the United States.
The solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017 will be most visible to people living in Kentucky and Missouri, where it is expected to reach its greatest point and longest duration. Residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon can also catch a glimpse of this celestial event.
The next solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 can be seen by Americans living Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and Maine. Its greatest point and longest duration, however, is set to occur over the Mexican state of Durango.
Photo: Yutaka Tsutano | Flickr
