When Is the Next Solar Eclipse

If you have just met someone, who has watched a solar eclipse live in all its glory, chances are, by now you rue the fact that you missed it! The question that must be bugging you now is 'When is the next solar eclipse?'. In this article, you will find the dates for solar eclipse. Nature offers no sight more spectacular than a total solar eclipse! The next solar eclipse however, will be an 'annular' solar eclipse and it will occur on 15th January 2010.

The next 'Total solar eclipse' will occur on 11th July, 2010. A total solar eclipse is one, in which the Moon covers the Sun completely and you get the whole package of Bailey's Beads, the corona and the diamond ring, as the eclipse progresses! In case you did not get these terms, they are various phases that you see during an eclipse. The shadow of the moon passes over the surface of the earth and the eclipse is visible in the path of the shadow. Let us know more about the regions where the two future solar eclipses will be visible and at what time! The total solar eclipse is the one to watch out for!

Annular Solar Eclipse on 15th January, 2010

The next solar eclipse will occur on 15th January, 2010 and it will be of the 'annular' type. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon does not cover the Sun completely and a thin annular ring of light is visible. The shadow cast across the earth is known as 'antumbral shadow' for an annular solar eclipse. This eclipse will be seen across Africa, the Indian Ocean, India, Sri lanka and South East Asia.

The annular eclipse will be visible from 5:13:54 GMT in the Central African Republic. After that it will pass on and will periodically be seen across the Indian Ocean, the tip of India, Sri Lanka and ultimately ending in the Yellow Sea at 8:59:01 GMT. The place where the annular eclipse will last for maximum duration will be the Indian Ocean. There, it will last for a duration of 11 minutes, 8 seconds. Partial annular solar eclipse will be visible in a lot of places like Europe, as the width of the shadow is more than 300 Km. So you have a variety of vantage points from where you can watch this eclipse. You can travel to Africa, India, Sri Lanka or watch it on a cruise on the Indian Ocean!

Total Solar Eclipse on 11th July 2010

The next total solar eclipse will occur on 11th July 2010 and the umbral shadow will pass mostly through the Pacific Ocean, passing over very little land mass. It will be visible on some islands in the Pacific. The total solar eclipse will begin at 18:15:15 GMT in the Pacific Ocean, north-east of New Zealand, will travel across the ocean and ultimately will end in Patagonia which is the southernmost part of South America, at 20:51:42 GMT. Thus, the eclipse can be viewed from several small islands in French Polynesia like the Tuamotu and Easter Island. The eclipse will end just off the coast of Southern Argentina and Chile, as the sun will set in a spectacular 'Black Sunset'! Black Sunset because exactly at the time of the sunset, the Moon will cover the almighty Sun completely. So make your plans for a great vacation in Pacific and experience the beauty of an eclipse.

Precaution

Make sure you wear specially designed solar goggles which will protect your eyes when watching the eclipse. Do not watch a solar eclipse with naked eyes, as even few seconds of direct exposure can cause permanent retinal damage!

Solar eclipse is a rare event and it is one more example of how nature conspires to create beauty! Note down these two important dates for solar eclipse. Now that you know when is the next solar eclipse, make your travel plans in advance and watch it in the coming year!