Solar eclipses 2026–2028: dates and where to see them
Next solar eclipse
🌑 February 6, 2027 — annular solar eclipse
Ring over southern Chile and Argentina and the South Atlantic; partial phases in South America and West Africa
By Emily Hart, professional astrologer · updated September 13, 2026
A solar eclipse happens when a new moon crosses the Sun–Earth line exactly and its shadow touches our planet. Whether you see a total darkness, a ring of fire or just a bite from the Sun depends on where you stand — the visibility column shows each eclipse's geography.
Never look at a partial or annular eclipse without certified eclipse glasses: even 1% of the Sun burns the retina. Only the brief total phase of a total eclipse is safe to watch unfiltered.
Solar eclipse calendar 2026–2028
| Date | Eclipse | Where it's visible |
|---|---|---|
| February 17, 2026 | annular solar | Ring visible from Antarctica; partial phases across southern South America and southern Africa |
| August 12, 2026 | total solar | Totality over Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain; deep partial across Europe and eastern North America |
| February 6, 2027 | annular solar | Ring over southern Chile and Argentina and the South Atlantic; partial phases in South America and West Africa |
| August 2, 2027 | total solar | Totality across southern Spain, North Africa and Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula — up to 6 min 23 s, the century's longest on land |
| January 26, 2028 | annular solar | Ring from Ecuador and Peru across northern Brazil and the Atlantic to Spain and Portugal at sunset |
| July 22, 2028 | total solar | Totality across Australia (including Sydney) and the South Island of New Zealand |
Rows in grey have already passed.
What eclipses mean in astrology — honestly
Astronomically an eclipse is precise geometry: a new moon crossing the Sun–Earth line (solar) or a full moon slipping through Earth's shadow (lunar). Astrologically, the tradition reads eclipses as accelerated turning points — they always happen near the lunar nodes, the axis linked with course corrections. Practically: eclipse seasons are strong moments to review direction, and poor ones for irreversible impulsive decisions.
That's tradition, presented honestly as such. The dates and visibility above are pure astronomy, computed with the Swiss Ephemeris — the same tables professional astrologers use.
What a solar eclipse means in astrology
A solar eclipse is a supercharged new moon: the Sun and Moon meet right on the lunar nodes — the axis tradition associates with the past you're leaving and the direction you're growing into. Astrologers read these dates as accelerated beginnings: doors that open around an eclipse tend to have longer corridors behind them than an ordinary new moon's.
The traditional advice is calmer than the internet suggests: don't force major launches on the exact day — the energy is considered unstable — but watch closely what leaves and what arrives within a couple of weeks around it. That window often shows, with unusual clarity, which chapter is actually closing. We mark this honestly as tradition, not physics; the physics is pure orbital geometry.
Why eclipses come in pairs — and repeat every 18 years
Eclipses travel in seasons: twice a year the new and full moons line up near the nodes, so a solar eclipse almost always arrives about two weeks before or after a lunar one. That's the «eclipse corridor» you'll see mentioned — simply two eclipses of one season.
And they repeat: after one saros — 18 years and 11 days — the same geometry returns and produces an eclipse of a very similar kind, shifted a third of the globe west. Every eclipse in our table belongs to a saros family that has been running for centuries.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next solar eclipse?
February 6, 2027 — a annular eclipse. Visibility: Ring over southern Chile and Argentina and the South Atlantic; partial phases in South America and West Africa.
When is the next total solar eclipse?
August 2, 2027: Totality across southern Spain, North Africa and Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula — up to 6 min 23 s, the century's longest on land.
What's the difference between total and annular?
Both are central eclipses. In a total eclipse the Moon covers the Sun completely — day turns to twilight for a few minutes. In an annular one, the Moon is slightly farther away and looks a touch smaller, leaving a blazing ring; the sky stays bright and glasses stay on.
Why isn't there a solar eclipse every month?
The Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° to Earth's, so most new moons pass above or below the Sun. Eclipses only happen when a new moon lands near an orbital node — two eclipse seasons a year.
See also: all eclipses 2026–2028 · lunar eclipses · when is the next new moon