full solar eclipses , when our view of the Sun is whole blocked out by the Moon , are highly anticipated event . The one appearing over much of the U.S. on August 21 may cease up becoming themost - viewedcelestial effect in history . If you drop this summertime ’s , though , will you ever see another ? Denise Lu atThe Washington Postcan say you just how many other chance you ’ll get .
Just put your giving birth yr into thePost’seclipse calculating machine , and it will separate you how many total solar eclipses have yet to come worldwide before you pass on 100 ( assuming that you live to be precisely 100 ) . In the computer graphic below , the orangish line is the path of this summer ’s full solar eclipse . The purple credit line stage next occultation . The darker the line , the earlier it will occur .
Denise Lu /The Washington Post
Though solar eclipses are relatively vernacular worldwide , that does n’t mean they ’re soft to take in . A total solar eclipse has n’t been visible in the contiguous United States since 1979 , and the next clip a total solar eclipse will exit over the entire body politic will be in 2045 . Personally , the eclipse calculator tells me I have 50 left in my life , but I ’ll postulate to move to Asia to see most of them , and unless I get on a boat and Salmon P. Chase occultation flight across the ocean , I ’m bound to lose a few .
Throughout history , eclipses have proved to be sinewy phenomena , and not just because looking at them candamage your optic . In 585 BCE , a solar occultation that occurred in the eye of a Greek engagement cue the final stage of asix - year war . soldier saw the sudden darkness in the centre of the daylight as a sign that they should quit their scrap .
Find out how many eclipses you have leave onThe Washington Post .
