Eclipse Visibility
A practical list of the next solar and lunar eclipses, filtered by what you can actually see. Each entry carries the maximum eclipse time, the magnitude, the obscuration, the type — partial, annular, total or penumbral — and a clear yes or no for your coordinates. The tool draws on Swiss Ephemeris eclipse routines and computes local circumstances directly, not from a global animation.
How visibility is decided
For a solar eclipse the algorithm calls swe_sol_eclipse_when_loc with your geographic position; it returns first contact, maximum, last contact and altitude of the Sun at each, plus magnitude and obscuration. A lunar eclipse uses swe_lun_eclipse_when, then checks whether the Moon is above the horizon at maximum from your location. Twilight conditions are noted separately.
What the numbers actually say
Magnitude is the fraction of the Sun or Moon diameter covered at maximum. Obscuration is the fraction of the disc area, which is what the eye registers as darkness. A magnitude of one means full coverage along the centre line; near the edge of the path the same eclipse delivers a small bite. The page shows both because they answer different questions.
How to use the page
Read the next visible eclipse first, then everything below as planning material. For a partial solar event use a certified solar filter even at low magnitude — the Sun does not negotiate. A lunar eclipse needs only a clear sky and a chair. Mark the maximum time in your calendar and the contact times next to it; you will not miss the moment if you are outside ten minutes earlier.
Where it connects
Visibility is observation. Meaning is a separate page — Eclipse Impact reads the same event against your natal chart, looking for the natal degree the eclipse falls on and the Saros series it belongs to. Most people want both: when can I see it, and where does it land in my own geometry. The two tools share the eclipse identifier and pass cleanly between each other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is an eclipse listed but marked invisible?
The page lists every global eclipse for the next two years so you can see the rhythm. If the Sun or Moon is below your horizon at maximum, or if the eclipse track misses your hemisphere, it is marked accordingly. You can still travel to it; many people do.
Is the difference between annular and total important?
Visually, very. An annular eclipse leaves a bright ring of Sun around the Moon and the sky never fully darkens; a total eclipse passes through totality with corona, planets and silence. The classification on the page tells you what to expect from your spot on the path.
Do you include penumbral lunar eclipses?
Yes, but flagged as faint. Penumbral eclipses dim the Moon by a few percent and most observers do not notice. They are listed for completeness, with a note that the visual change is subtle and easily missed in city light.
How accurate are the local times?
Within seconds. Swiss Ephemeris carries planetary and lunar positions to arcsecond accuracy across recent centuries; the local circumstances inherit that precision. The limiting factor is your timezone setting, which we take from the city geocoder. Verify it if you are near a border.