Solar eclipses have captivated humanity since time immemorial. These celestial events transform briefly dim daylight. The next solar eclipse occurs on March 29, 2025. I will be a partial eclipse.
This post provides details of the next solar eclipse. After those details, some interesting details exist on what causes them and their effects.
This Next Solar Eclipse
As stated, the next solar eclipse will occur on March 29, 2025. It will be a partial eclipse with a maximum coverage of 93%. However, this will be only visible in sparsely populated areas of northern Quebec in Canada. The area from which the maximum coverage will be visible has only about 45,000 residents.
Timing and Visibility
This eclipse will be visible from north-east Canada through Greenland, northwestern Africa. western and norther Europe. The area and how much coverage will be visible is shown below.
The eclipse will start at 08:51 and end at 12:44 UTC. Those in northwest Africa will be the first to see any part of it. As the event unfolds, the area from where it will be observed will expand to the east and west and progress northwards. The last to see the eclipse will be those in the sparsely populated areas of northern Russia.
What Makes This Eclipse Special
This will be the first solar eclipse of 2025.
The Mechanics: What Causes a Solar Eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking some or all of the Sun’s light. This alignment of the three celestial bodies is known as syzygy. For an eclipse, the Moon must be in its new moon phase when positioned between Earth and the Sun. This differs from a lunar eclipse (&link) when the Earth is between the Sun and Moon.
The Orbital Dance
Both Earth and the Moon follow elliptical orbits. Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one revolution in approximately 365.25 days. Meanwhile, the Moon orbits Earth, completing one revolution in about 27.3 days (the sidereal month). However, because Earth is simultaneously moving around the Sun, it takes the Moon about 29.5 days to return to the same phase (the synodic month).
The Moon’s orbital plane is tilted by about 5 degrees relative to Earth’s orbital plane around the Sun (the ecliptic). This tilt means that during most new moons, the Moon’s shadow passes either above or below Earth, and no eclipse occurs. Solar eclipses can only happen when the Moon crosses the ecliptic during its new moon phase, which occurs at points called nodes.
The Shadow Geometry
When the Moon blocks the Sun, it casts two types of shadows on Earth:
Umbra: The dark, central portion of the Moon’s shadow where the Sun is completely obscured. Observers within the umbra experience a total solar eclipse.
Penumbra: The lighter, outer portion of the shadow where the Sun is partially obscured. Observers within the penumbra experience a partial solar eclipse.
The Moon’s umbral shadow creates a path of totality. It is typically only 100-200 kilometers (60-120 miles) wide but can traverse thousands of kilometers across Earth’s surface.
Types of Solar Eclipses
Not all solar eclipses are created equal. Depending on various factors—primarily the distances between Earth, Moon, and Sun at the time of the event—different types of eclipses can occur.
Total Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s disk. This happens when the Moon is at or near perigee (its closest approach to Earth) and appears large enough in the sky to block the Sun fully. During totality, the sky darkens dramatically, stars and planets become visible, temperatures drop noticeably, and the Sun’s outer atmosphere—the corona—becomes visible as a ghostly, pearlescent halo around the black disk of the Moon.
The path of totality is relatively narrow, and the duration at any given location is brief, typically between a few seconds and a maximum of about 7.5 minutes. The brevity and rarity of total solar eclipses at any specific location make them among the most sought-after astronomical events to witness.
Annular Solar Eclipse
An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun but is too far from Earth (near its apogee or farthest point) to cover the Sun’s disk completely. This results in a ring or “annulus” of sunlight visible around the moon’s dark silhouette.
Because the Sun is never completely covered during an annular eclipse, the corona remains invisible, and the sky doesn’t darken as dramatically as during a total eclipse. Still, the “ring of fire” effect can be spectacular.
Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a portion of the Sun’s disk. This happens when the alignment of Earth, Moon, and Sun is imperfect or when observers are located in the penumbral region of the Moon’s shadow rather than in the umbra’s path.
Partial eclipses are more common than total or annular eclipses and can be visible over a much larger geographical area.
Hybrid Solar Eclipse
The rarest type is the hybrid or annular-total eclipse. This occurs when the eclipse appears annular in some locations and total in others. This phenomenon results from Earth’s curvature—at some points along the eclipse path, the Moon appears large enough to cover the Sun completely (creating a total eclipse). In contrast, at other points, it appears too small (creating an annular eclipse).
The Eclipse Cycle
Solar eclipses don’t occur randomly but follow predictable patterns. The Saros cycle, with a period of approximately 18 years and 11 days, allows astronomers to predict when and where eclipses will occur. After one Saros cycle, the Sun, Moon, and Earth return to approximately the same relative positions, and a nearly identical eclipse occurs.
Between two and five solar eclipses can occur each year. However, a maximum of seven solar and lunar eclipses may occur in any calendar year.
Cultural Significance of Solar Eclipses
Throughout history, solar eclipses have inspired awe, fear, myths, and scientific inquiry across cultures worldwide.
Ancient Interpretations
For many ancient civilizations, eclipses were unexpected and terrifying events that demanded explanation:
In ancient China, people believed a celestial dragon was devouring the Sun. They would bang drums and make loud noises to frighten away the dragon.
Norse mythology attributed eclipses to sky wolves chasing and swallowing the Sun and Moon.
The ancient Maya were accomplished astronomers who could predict eclipses. They viewed these events as times when cosmic forces were in perfect balance.
In ancient India, the demon Rahu was believed to swallow the Sun temporarily, causing eclipses.
Ancient Greek astronomers, including Aristarchus and later Hipparchus, used eclipses to calculate distances between celestial bodies and developed early heliocentric theories.
Cultural Practices and Superstitions
Many cultures developed practices and superstitions related to eclipses:
Some cultures advised pregnant women to stay indoors during eclipses to prevent birth defects.
In some parts of India, people fast during eclipses and take ritual baths afterward to purify themselves.
Various indigenous cultures temporarily cease normal activities during eclipses, considering them spiritually significant times.
Eclipse-watching parties and tourism have become modern cultural phenomena, with people traveling great distances to experience totality.
Scientific Milestones
Solar eclipses have contributed significantly to scientific advancement:
During the total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, Sir Arthur Eddington tested Einstein’s theory of general relativity by measuring the bending of starlight near the Sun. The observations confirmed Einstein’s predictions and revolutionized our understanding of gravity and spacetime.
Modern eclipse observations enable detailed study of the Sun’s corona, which is otherwise overwhelmed by the brightness of the photosphere. These studies have advanced our understanding of solar wind, coronal mass ejections, and space weather that affects Earth.
Helium was first discovered during an analysis of the Sun’s spectrum during a solar eclipse in 1868, before it was found on Earth.
The Future of Total Solar Eclipses
One of the most fascinating aspects of solar eclipses is that total eclipses are temporary phenomena in Earth’s history. They will not always occur, due to a fundamental fact about our Moon: it is gradually moving away from Earth.
The Receding Moon
Due to tidal interactions, the Moon is receding from Earth at a rate of approximately 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) per year. As the Earth rotates, its tidal bulges exert a gravitational torque on the Moon, transferring angular momentum from Earth’s rotation to the Moon’s orbit. This causes the Moon to move to a higher orbit and Earth’s rotation to slow down gradually.
When the Moon formed about 4.5 billion years ago, it was much closer to Earth than it is today—perhaps as little as 22,500 kilometers (14,000 miles) away, compared to its current average distance of about 384,400 kilometers (238,900 miles).
The End of Total Eclipses
As the Moon recedes, its apparent size in our sky diminishes. Currently, the Moon and Sun have nearly identical apparent sizes as viewed from Earth—an astronomical coincidence that makes total solar eclipses possible. The Sun’s diameter is about 400 times larger than the Moon’s, but the Sun is also about 400 times farther away.
However, as the Moon continues to recede, its apparent size will become too small to cover the Sun’s disk completely. When this happens, total solar eclipses will no longer be possible on Earth. Instead, all central eclipses will be annular eclipses—the “ring of fire” variety where the Moon cannot completely cover the Sun.
Calculations suggest that this transition will occur in roughly 600 million years. After that point, Earth’s inhabitants (if any exist) will never again experience the unique phenomenon of totality during a solar eclipse.
The Last Total Eclipse
Before total eclipses cease forever, they will become increasingly rare. The final total eclipses will likely last only a few seconds and will be visible from increasingly smaller areas on Earth’s surface. The transition will be gradual, with hybrid eclipses (part annular, part total) becoming more common before total eclipses disappear entirely.
This perspective adds poignancy to our current era—we live at a time when one of the most spectacular astronomical phenomena is possible. Future generations, hundreds of millions of years hence, will know of total solar eclipses only through historical records.
Observing Solar Eclipses Safely
While eclipses are fascinating to observe, looking directly at the Sun—even during an eclipse—can cause permanent eye damage or blindness. Safe viewing methods include:
Eclipse glasses with certified solar filters that meet the ISO 12312-2 international standard
Pinhole projectors that project an image of the Sun onto another surface
Solar filters for telescopes and cameras
It’s important to note that regular sunglasses, smoked glass, exposed film, CDs, or other homemade filters are NOT safe for direct solar viewing.
During the brief period of totality in a total solar eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright face, it is safe to look directly at the eclipse without filters. However, as soon as any portion of the Sun begins to reappear, eye protection must be used again.
Conclusion: A Cosmic Perspective
Solar eclipses remind us of our place in the cosmos and the dynamic nature of our solar system. They connect us to our ancestors, who gazed up at the same phenomena with wonder and sometimes fear. They unite humanity in a shared experience that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries.
The knowledge that total solar eclipses are a temporary feature in Earth’s history—a cosmic coincidence limited to a specific window in our planet’s timeline—makes these events all the more precious. Each total eclipse is not just a spectacular astronomical event but a glimpse of something that future inhabitants of Earth will never experience.
As we track eclipse paths, travel to see totality, and study the Sun’s secrets revealed during these brief moments of cosmic alignment, we participate in both an ancient human tradition and cutting-edge scientific research. In the darkened skies of a total eclipse, we can find both scientific knowledge and a profound sense of cosmic connection—a reminder of the beauty, precision, and impermanence that characterize our place in the universe.
I found astronomy while working in dark rural locations. Initially, I explored the night sky and learnt the constellations before purchasing a pair of binoculars to further my knowledge of the sky.
My first telescope was a 200 mm Newtonian reflector on an equatorial mount. I found that this telescope had a steep learning curve but was a rewarding experience.
As time progressed, I became interested in astrophotography. This resulted in purchasing a 110 mm refracting telescope and a dedicated monochrome-cooled astronomical camera. This resulted in another very rewarding steep learning curve that far surpassed the experience with my first telescope.
I have joined Telescope Guru to share my knowledge of telescopes and astronomy.
