But unless you're willing to travel long distances, it will be a while before the next total solar eclipse occurs in the continental United States. Not until August 23, 2044, to be exact. However, if you are willing to travel to a far-flung location, the wait time may be much shorter.
Total solar eclipses over the next 50 years
Carson Terbush/Washington Post
Total solar eclipses over the next 50 years
Carson Terbush/Washington Post
Total solar eclipses over the next 50 years
Carson Terbush/Washington Post
The next total solar eclipse will occur outside the United States
If you're willing to leave the United States, your next chance to experience the moon's shadow will be on August 12, 2026. The total solar eclipse will begin in a remote location in Russia's far north, pass near the North Pole, and then move southeast. It passes over eastern Greenland, cuts through western Iceland, and finally ends up over the Iberian Peninsula.
This will be the first time that Iceland will see a total solar eclipse since 1954, and the last one will be until June 26, 2196. It will then pass through northern Spain, sneaking between Madrid and Barcelona and ending in a spectacular sunset eclipse on the island of Palma. (I plan to rent a house in Zaragoza)
Conveniently, the weather in August will likely be cooperative. The weather in Spain tends to be particularly dry, with a 70-80% chance of clear skies. More importantly, the Perseid meteor shower will be in full swing during the eclipse. During totality, several Perseid meteor shower “fireballs,” or particularly bright shooting stars, may streak across the sky.
There will then be a total solar eclipse on August 2, 2027, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, northern Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and then across the western Arabian Peninsula. Totality will be visible from western Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The shadow will drift across the Gulf of Aden and over northern Tunisia. The total solar eclipse lasts particularly long, with a total solar eclipse lasting more than 6 minutes and 22 seconds on the banks of the Nile River near Luxor, Egypt. (I am planning to travel here as well.)
It will also be held in Australia on July 22, 2028. A good option would be to fly into Alice Springs and drive north through the Northern Territory. (I'll be staying in Tennant Creek. By now you know that I'm a full-fledged umbraphil, a solar eclipse addict and eclipse chaser. Umbraphil literally means “shadow.” (means “enthusiast”)
The next total solar eclipse will occur in the United States.
The next total solar eclipse in the United States will occur in northwest Alaska on March 30, 2033. It can also be seen in eastern Russia. Nome, on Alaska's Seward Peninsula, is on the center line and will receive a 2 1/2-minute totality. (Nome is home to the Iditarod's finish line.) The country's northernmost town, Utchagvik, formerly known as Barrow, is also very close to the center line, giving a total time of 2 minutes and 35 seconds. Unfortunately, Alaska's weather in March is notoriously fickle, and it is possible for the entire observation area to be cloudy.
In the Lower 48, the next solar eclipse will occur on August 23, 2044. During that eclipse, totality will begin in the Arctic highlands and he will trace a C-shaped path along Greenland, northwestern Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and British Columbia. Border of Alberta, Canada. Calgary is on the way. The shadow then spreads over far northwestern Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota at sunset.
If you're looking for a cross-country solar eclipse, there's little need to wait another year. A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2045. The shadow will stretch from California to Florida, and the total solar eclipse will last just over six minutes. The total wave then passes through the Bahamas, Hispaniola, and northeastern South America.
Sure, you'll have to wait a few decades on American soil, but consider booking your plane tickets and arranging your adventure. Each encounter with the moon's shadow is special and some type of alignment takes place between you and the universe. And the best part? Chasing its shadow may take you to a remote, unknown place.