Discover how many total solar eclipses, partial eclipses, and lunar eclipses have occurred in your lifetime. Find out when the next eclipse visible from your location will be.
Enter your birth date to see how many eclipses you've lived through
Eclipses are among the most spectacular astronomical events visible from Earth. A total solar eclipse — when the Moon completely blocks the Sun — is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people, though one occurs somewhere on Earth approximately every 18 months. This calculator counts how many major solar and lunar eclipses have happened since your birth year.
Eclipses follow predictable patterns governed by the Saros cycle, a period of approximately 18 years and 11 days after which the Sun, Earth, and Moon return to nearly the same relative positions. This means eclipses recur in similar patterns every 18 years, making it possible to predict eclipses centuries in advance.
The calculator counts total solar eclipses and total lunar eclipses since your birth year. A total solar eclipse is visible from a narrow path on Earth's surface (about 100-200 miles wide), while a total lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere on the night side of Earth. The next major total solar eclipse visible from North America will be on August 12, 2026 (visible from Spain, Iceland, and Greenland) and March 30, 2033 (visible from Alaska and Russia).
Reference data for understanding your results.
| Decade | Total Solar Eclipses | Total Lunar Eclipses | Notable Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2029 | Dec 14, 2020 (Chile/Argentina); Apr 8, 2024 (Mexico/USA/Canada); Aug 12, 2026 (Spain/Iceland); Aug 2, 2027 (N Africa/Middle East) | May 26, 2021; May 16, 2022; Nov 8, 2022; Mar 14, 2025; Sep 7, 2025 | 2024 Great North American Eclipse |
| 2030-2039 | Nov 25, 2030 (S Africa/Australia); Nov 14, 2031 (Pacific); Mar 30, 2033 (Alaska/Russia); Sep 2, 2035 (China/Korea/Japan); Jul 13, 2037 (Australia/NZ) | Jun 15, 2030; Dec 9, 2030; Jun 5, 2031; Oct 30, 2031; Apr 25, 2032; Oct 18, 2032 | 2035 eclipse crosses major Asian cities |
| 2040-2049 | Jun 21, 2039 (N Europe); Jul 1, 2040 (S America); Nov 4, 2040 (Africa); Apr 30, 2041 (S America); Apr 20, 2042 (SE Asia) | May 26, 2040; Nov 18, 2040; May 16, 2041; Nov 8, 2041 | 2040 eclipse visible from major cities |
A total solar eclipse is one of nature's most awe-inspiring phenomena. The sky darkens to twilight, stars appear, and the Sun's corona becomes visible. While a total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, any given location on Earth experiences one only once every 375 years on average.
Eclipses have driven major scientific discoveries. The 1919 solar eclipse confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity. The Sun's corona is still best studied during total eclipses. This calculator helps you appreciate how rare and scientifically valuable these events are.
Knowing how many eclipses have occurred in your lifetime provides a humbling perspective on the cosmos. The next time you check this calculator, you might realize you've already lived through more eclipses than you thought — or discover that a major eclipse is coming soon that you won't want to miss.
A total solar eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth approximately every 18 months. However, any given location on Earth experiences a total solar eclipse only once every 375 years on average. This is why total solar eclipses are considered "once in a lifetime" events for most people. The path of totality — where the Moon completely covers the Sun — is only about 100-200 miles wide.
The Saros cycle is a period of approximately 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours after which the Sun, Earth, and Moon return to nearly the same relative geometry, producing a very similar eclipse. This cycle was known to ancient Babylonian astronomers and allows accurate eclipse prediction. For example, the 2017 Great American Eclipse and the 2024 Great North American Eclipse belong to the same Saros series (Saros 145).
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking the Sun's light. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting Earth's shadow on the Moon. Solar eclipses are visible only from a narrow path on Earth and last only minutes. Lunar eclipses are visible from anywhere on the night side of Earth and can last for hours.
The next total solar eclipse will be on August 12, 2026, visible from Spain, Iceland, and Greenland. The next total lunar eclipse visible from North America will be on March 14, 2025 (visible from the Americas, Europe, and Africa). The next total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous United States after 2024 will be on March 30, 2033 (visible from Alaska).
Never look directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse without proper eye protection, except during the brief period of totality when the Moon completely covers the Sun. Use certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2 standard) or a solar viewer. Regular sunglasses, camera filters, or exposed film are not safe. During totality, it is safe to view the eclipse with the naked eye — but be ready to put your glasses back on as soon as the Sun reappears.