When will the next total solar eclipse in the US be?
Some fortunate parts of the United States will witness the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8. When is the next such phenomenon taking place?
North America is preparing to witness one of the most fascinating astronomical phenomena that takes place on Earth: a total eclipse of the Sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, obscuring the Sun’s entire disk and casting a shadow on the Earth.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the event taking place on Monday, April 8 will be visible from some regions of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
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How often does a total solar eclipse occur?
According to NASA calculations, a solar eclipse can occur two to three times per year. A total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the Sun, usually occurs approximately once every 18 months somewhere on Earth. For these to occur in the same place is almost impossible.
“On average, about 375 years elapse between the appearance of two total eclipses in the same place. But the interval can sometimes be much longer,” according to the space agency. This rarity is due to the precise alignment required of the Earth, Moon, and Sun for a total solar eclipse to happen.
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When will the next total solar eclipse in the US be?
The next total solar eclipse that will be visible to the Earth will occur twenty years from now, in August 23, 2044, according to NASA. Once more, parts of the US will be fortunate, and will be on the trajectory of the event.
According to NationalEclipse.com, the phenomenon will be seen in Greenland, Canada and the midwestern part of the United States. Other states will get to see it this time, as the path of totality is projected to cross Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.