A year ago, the Great American total solar eclipse evoked awe, wonder, and bewilderment as earth dwellers briefly had the chance to bask in the shadow of the moon.
Close to two hundred million Americans viewed the spectacle in some way, including roughly fifteen million lucky folks who managed to squeeze themselves within the path of totality.
Whether you’re now an umbraphile someone who chases eclipses or looking to see your first one, you’re in luck!
Another total solar eclipse is just around the corner, in less than a year, but you’ll have to travel to South America. For the next eclipse in the Lower 48, mark your calendar for April 8, 2024.
Solar eclipses occur someplace on earth on average every 18 months. They’re not terribly unusual. But over any given place on earth, the narrow alignment of celestial bodies throws shade only once every 375 years. The earth’s surface is 75 percent water – and many areas on land are remote or inaccessible. That means that while a solar eclipse isn’t rare per se, seeing one most certainly is.
The next total solar eclipse will take place next year, on July 2, 2019. It will last four and a half minutes at its peak! The only problem?
That happens over the South Pacific. While Nemo and Dory may enjoy the show, those of us without gills will have to cram into a narrow swath the shadow traces out in Chile and Argentina.
This eclipse will prove particularly tricky to view for a number of reasons. For starters: the low sun angle. The eclipse will take place at most two hours before local sunset.
That means the sun will be only thirteen degrees above the horizon when totality begins along the Pacific coast of Chile near La Higuera. While this means the solar corona will blaze a fiery amber color, a single cloud could spoil the view.
And the eclipsing sun will sink lower and lower in the sky the farther east one travels, setting just before the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina would otherwise catch a glimpse.
The other issue? The weather. Late day eclipses tend to be challenging, since by then any weather systems can fuel off the daytime heating and spread cloud cover across the sky.
The best shot at clearing will be on the eastern slopes of the Andes, where sinking air subsidence may locally evaporate pesky clouds.
Now if you’re not looking to spend a small fortune or fly halfway across the world next year, you’ll get your chance too you just have to be a little more patient.
The next total solar eclipse to sweep across the Lower 48 will be on April 8, 2024. (It’s a Monday, so we recommend talking to your employer now to secure the day off.)
It will begin over the Pacific, first passing through Mexico before tracing a path all the way from Texas to Maine.