People watch the eclipse on the campus of Southern Illinois University on April 08, 2024. … [+]
Have you recovered from the April 8th total solar eclipse? It may have been an important day for millions of Americans, but few will realize that the events of that day—the strange darkness, the view of the solar corona (if the skies were clear where you are), and the incredible frenzy among eclipse chasers—were not a one-off. .
Everyone wants to know when the next total solar eclipse is, but the “great North American” total solar eclipse will actually happen again.
You may know the date of the next total solar eclipse in the US. It is March 30, 2033, when the island of St. Lawrence, Barrow/Utkiagwick, Kotzebue, or Nome in Alaska will be the places to witness a total solar eclipse lasting a maximum of 2 minutes 37 seconds just after sunrise.
All in 2078
You might even know the date of the next total solar eclipse in the contiguous US (contiguous refers to the 48 contiguous US states and the District of Columbia). That will be August 23, 2044, when Montana and North Dakota will experience a total eclipse before sunset. Notably, next year will see a coast-to-coast total solar eclipse, with a long six-minute total eclipse coming to California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
However, none of them is a repeat of what happened on April 8. For that, the US will have to wait until May 11, 2078, when Mexico and the US (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia) will again experience totality.
Saros 139
Saros cycle
What will this have to do with the recent total solar eclipse? It is the Saros cycle that determines when the moon’s shadow will strike Earth. Works like clockwork. A total solar eclipse from the same Saros occurs on Earth every 18 years, 11 days and 8 hours. Those eight hours are crucial. Since 24 hours are divisible by three, this means that every fourth Saros eclipse – so every 54 years, 33 days – returns to the same spot on the planet.
May 11, 2078 is exactly 54 years and 33 days after April 8, 2024. On that day, 5 minutes and 40 seconds of totality will occur over the Gulf of Mexico, with the Louisiana coast having the best view. Cities plunged into darkness will include New Orleans, Mobile, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbia, Charlotte, Raleigh and Norfolk.
Saros 139 over the decades.
When is the next eclipse?
Both the 2024 and 2078 eclipses are part of Saros 139, a family of eclipses that will improve over time. Until July 16, 2186, in fact, when it will cause totality lasting 7 minutes and 29 seconds off the coast of Brazil. This will be the longest total solar eclipse ever to occur on Earth in the estimated 5,000 years.
Not that it’s all about Saros 139 for eclipse chasers in the US. Here are the six total solar eclipses coming to the US before 2080 that an entire generation of Americans will enjoy:
- March 30, 2033: Alaska (2 minutes 37 seconds)
- August 22-23, 2044: Montana and North Dakota (2 minutes 4 seconds)
- August 12, 2045: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (6 minutes 6 seconds)
- March 30, 2052: Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina (4 minutes 8 seconds)
- May 11, 2078: Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina (5 minutes 40 seconds)
- May 1, 2079: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine (2 minutes 55 seconds)
I’m an eclipse expert — editor of WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com and author of When is the next eclipse? A Guide to Total Solar Eclipses 2024-2034.
Wishing you clear skies and wide-open eyes.
