Is there a total solar eclipse in 2023?

Enjoy the Solar Eclipses in the TX Hill Country!

Get Ready for two total Solar Eclipses Coming to the US in 2023 & 2024

IT'S NOT TOO EARLY TO START PLANNING FOR THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSES

On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will begin over the Pacific Ocean and will reach the USA at Oregon. After passing through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, the path of annular solar eclipse will bisect Texas.

In 2024, locations in Texas that fall within the path will experience totality for two minutes to nearly five minutes.

According to NationalEclipse.com, "The centerline of the eclipse enters Texas, and the U.S., as it crosses the Rio Grande River at the Mexico-U.S. border at approximately 12:10pm CDT, with totality beginning in that location at about 1:27pm CDT.

As it exits Mexico and enters the U.S., traveling through the Texas Hill Country, the eclipse will have already reached its "point of greatest duration," that singular spot along every total solar eclipse centerline where the duration of totality is longer than anywhere else. That point is also the duration of totality "tipping point," meaning that the duration gradually increases along the centerline up until that point and then starts to decrease on the other side. In other words, for the 2024 eclipse, the duration of totality is all downhill in the U.S., with the longest durations in Texas and the shortest in Maine. Therefore, the path of totality in Texas will be considered a prime viewing destination on April 8. And since the point of greatest duration in Mexico is only a little more than 300 miles to the south of where the path of totality enters the U.S., the duration of totality on the centerline will only be a few seconds short of the eclipse maximum of 4 minutes and 28 seconds even a couple of hundred miles north of the border.

If the longest durations of totality in the U.S. wasn't enough, Texas is also widely considered to have the best eclipse-day weather prospects in the country. More specifically, eclipse weather forecasting site eclipsophile.com points out that, in Texas, "the north [or west] side of the track has a notably sunnier April climate than the south [or east]." In general, the farther south you are for this eclipse, the better your weather odds. And you can't get any farther south along the path of totality in the U.S. than Texas."

When: Thursday 20 April, 2023

Time: From 10:05am to 1:05pm, (peak around 11:32am)

What: Solar Eclipse

Where: Everywhere! Just look up

How: Special solar filters are needed for safe viewing

Is there a total solar eclipse in 2023?

Photo Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland

On April 20, 2023, in an event lasting close to three hours, the sun, the moon and the earth will align to create a Total Solar Eclipse, a unique and fully immersive astronomical event, just off the Western Australian coast.

The Shire of Ashburton lies just outside the path of totality for the 2023 solar eclipse, with the coastal areas around Onslow experiencing a deep partial eclipse of over 99% of the Sun covered.

The eclipse will be visible from Onslow and across the Shire of Ashburton on Thursday 20 April, 2023.

It is estimated that 50,000 people will visit Ashburton and the wider Pilbara and Gascoyne regions to witness the total solar eclipse, which will have a positive impact on our tourism industry.

The Shire is undertaking a one-year countdown to the 2023 eclipse in 2022 with numerous forums and workshops that will inform and assist the community to understand the science of the eclipse and assess the opportunities for businesses and residents to get involved.

We are also working with Shire of Exmouth and Shire of Carnarvon to explore ways in which we can support each other to maximise this event.

For inquiries relating to the solar eclipse please contact Megan Walsh at [email protected]

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Overview  Preparation  Media  2023 and Beyond  

 Annular solar eclipse of October 14, 2023

Is there a total solar eclipse in 2023?

Eleven years after an annular solar eclipse crossed the western United States on May 20, 2012, another annular eclipse will race across the USA from Oregon to Texas on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The path of the annular solar eclipse next visits Central America and South America, and ends shortly after at sunset in the Atlantic Ocean. In the USA, the annular solar eclipse begins in Oregon at 9:13 a.m. PDT and ends in Texas at 12:03 p.m. CDT.

These are some key cities and national parks inside the path of annular solar eclipse.

The Moon’s Shadow

Is there a total solar eclipse in 2023?

This animated GIF shows the Moon’s shadow arcing across the Pacific, crossing the United States from Oregon to Texas, then sweeping over Central America and South America.

The inner black circle, the antumbra, is where the Moon appears completely within the Sun’s disk. The outer shadow circle, the penumbra, is the extent of the partial eclipse. The partial eclipse will be slight near the outer circle and deep near the path of totality. In a deep partial eclipse, the sky will cool and sunlight will take on an eerie quality.

Viewing the annular solar eclipse

Is there a total solar eclipse in 2023?

From begin to end, the eclipse will last about two and a half hours in total

During an annular solar eclipse, the apparent size of the Moon’s disk is slightly smaller than the apparent size of the Sun’s disk. Therefore, only the outer edge of the Sun remains visible and the Sun appears as a brilliant ring if you are inside the path of annular solar eclipse. This is an otherworldly sight often called a “ring of fire”, but you must use eclipse glasses, solar filters, or other safe viewing method during all stages of eclipse. Here are instructions for the safely viewing solar eclipsesby the American Astronomical Society and several professional organizations.

This eclipse will be an appetizer for the spectacle of a total solar eclipse crossing the United States just 177 days later on April 8, 2024. While not as dramatic as a total solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse promises a spectacular vision featuring the striking sight of the Sun as a ring. We recommend solar binoculars for viewing the dynamic Baily’s Beads, sparkling points of brilliant sunlight as the Moon’s limb rolls over the Sun’s edge.

Click on any map on this page for the highest-resolution display.

Eclipse impact

The maps in this gallery start with a summary of the population inside and near the path of annular solar eclipse, and then make an estimate of how many people might come to visit. These maps are computed using ArcGIS software by Esri on 2020 US Bureau of the Census population tabulations and the road network.

The annular solar eclipse across North America, Central America, and South America

These three maps provide an overview of the eclipse across the Americas. The region where the Moon will slide within the disk of the Sun is the orange band labeled the path of annular solar eclipse. Outside the path is shown the maximum degree of obscuration, simulated at maximum eclipse by the partial eclipse figures. All of North America, except for northwest Alaska, will experience at least a partial solar eclipse. Most of South America, except for southern Chile and Argentina, will also experience at least a partial solar eclipse.

Click on the left and right arrows to navigate through three maps spanning the Americas.

The path of annular solar eclipse over Oregon, California, and Nevada

The annular solar eclipse first touches the United States at 9:13 a.m. PDT at Reedsport, Oregon. The shadow of the Moon at this point is screaming at 7,534 miles per hour. The maximum duration of annularity at the Oregon coast is 4 minutes, 29 seconds and the eclipse is 13 degrees high in the sky.

The path of annular solar eclipse over Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico

The eclipse passes over the Four Corners region and many national parks and national monuments will be prime viewing locations. The weather prospects are good in this area and an eclipse trip can be combined with a vacation to some of the many scenic parks in the American Southwest. Several distinctive viewing locations are through an arch at National Bridges National Monument, from the crimson hoodoos at Bryce Canyon National Park, framed by the pre-Columbian structures at Chaco Canyon, and in scenes from the ranch country around Roswell, New Mexico.

The path of annular solar eclipse over Texas

The annular eclipse crosses Texas and visits the metropolitan areas of Midland and Odessa, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi. The shadow of the Moon leaves the United States at Padre Island at 12:03 p.m. CDT. At this point, the Moon’s shadow is traversing at 1,722 miles per hour and the eclipse is 51 degrees high in the sky. The maximum duration of annular solar eclipse in Texas is 4 minutes and 53 seconds.

The path of annular solar eclipse over the Yucatan Peninsula

After crossing the Caribbean Sea, the annular solar eclipse makes landfall at the Yucatan Peninsula. Annularity touches three countries here; Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. Belize City is well located for a duration of eclipse longer than 5 minutes.

The path of annular solar eclipse over Honduras and Nicaragua

Next, the annular solar eclipse sweeps over the island of Roatan and the mainland of Honduras. The duration of annular solar eclipse reaches 5 minutes and 5 seconds near the beach resort of Bluefields, Nicaragua on the Atlantic coast. The major cities of Managua and Tegucigalpa will experience 88% and 89% partial solar eclipse.

The path of annular solar eclipse over Panama

A long stretch of the Pan American highway in Panama is inside the path of annular solar eclipse. Unfortunately, the Panama Canal and Panama City lie just north of the path of annularity, but will experience a deep partial solar eclipse.

The path of annular solar eclipse over Colombia

The city of Cali in Colombia will witness over 3 minutes of annularity in the early afternoon. Bogota and Medellin will experience a deep 88% partial solar eclipse.

The path of annular solar eclipse over Colombia and northwestern Brazil

The path of annular solar eclipse next visits the Amazonian rainforest of western Brazil. The city of Manaus on the Amazon River is just north of the path of annular solar eclipse.

The path of annular solar eclipse over eastern Brazil

The annular solar eclipse then traverses Brazil to Natal on the Atlantic coast. Soon after leaving Brazil just north of Recife, the annular solar eclipse ends at sunset. Given good weather, a ship in this area will see the spectacular sight of the setting annular solar eclipse on the horizon.

Eclipse circumstances

These maps provide an overview of the key circumstances of the eclipse.

Click on the navigation arrows or thumbnails on bottom to scroll through the maps.

Eclipse resources

Several informative and authoritative websites provide additional content on this and other eclipses. They are:

  • http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/ASE_2023_GoogleMapFull.html is an excellent online eclipse map that you can use to drill down on a viewing location and learn almost every imaginable eclipse data point. This is a resource developed by Xavier Jubier who authored the computation engine used for these eclipse maps, Solar Eclipse Maestro at http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/Solar_Eclipse_Maestro_Photography_Software.html

  • The foundational calculations for predicting the circumstances of this eclipse are by Fred Espenak, retired NASA Astrophysicist. He provides more information at http://www.eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2023Oct14Aprime.html and his eclipse photography and tips are at http://mreclipse.com/Many of his books are sold on his website and our website.

  • The authoritative site for eclipse climatology is http://eclipsophile.com/by Jay Anderson and Jennifer West. Eclipsophile is an essential resource for planning any eclipse travel explaining regional weather patterns and identifying sites with improved weather odds.

  • The American Astronomical Society runs the comprehensivehttps://eclipse.aas.org/ website. This website is packed with scientific background, basics of eclipses, advice for observing, and how to safely view solar eclipses.

Where is the best place to see the 2023 eclipse?

Annular solar eclipse of October 14, 2023.
Oregon Dunes, Oregon. ... .
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon. ... .
Mt Bachelor, Oregon. ... .
Great Basin National Park. ... .
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. ... .
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. ... .
Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Colorado. ... .
Lake Powell, Arizona..

Where can I see the total eclipse in 2023?

On Oct. 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America. Visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in South and Central America, millions of people in the Western Hemisphere can experience this eclipse.

Where will you be able to see the 2024 solar eclipse?

Remarkably, another total solar eclipse is coming to North America on April 8, 2024, just seven years after the last one. This time the Moon's dark central shadow, about 115 miles wide, will cross Mexico, sweep northeast from Texas to Maine, and then darken the Canadian maritimes.

What will happen to the Sun in 2023?

One of the rarest Solar eclipses, a hybrid solar eclipse will occur on Thursday, April 20, 2023. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth.