When the Moon's shadow hits the Earth and the Moon is close to the Earth, then a Total eclipse is visible along the narrow path of Totality. (A Partial eclipse occurs on either side of the path of Totality). For a Total eclipse, the Moon can appear to be as much as 6.5% larger than the Sun. The maximum duration of Totality is 7m 31s. Eclipses over seven minutes long are rare; only three occurred during the 20th Century and none will happen in the 21st Century. Longer eclipses tend to occur nearer the tropics.
When the Moon's shadow hits the Earth but the Moon is far from the Earth, it will not be large enough to cover the Sun completely. A ring of Sun remains around the Moon. This ring-shaped partial eclipse is called an Annular Eclipse (from annulus the Latin for ring). At its most extreme, the Moon can be 10.9% too small to cover the Sun. The maximum duration of Annularity is 12m 30s.
A Hybrid Eclipse is where the Moon is at such a distance that the eclipse is Annular in some areas and Total in other areas. The duration is usually very short for these types of eclipses.
In any calendar year there must be TWO solar eclipses and there can be as many as FIVE. Slightly more will be Annular than Total. The table below shows all Solar Eclipses occurring between 2010 and 2030.
| Year | Total | Annular | Hybrid | Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2011 | 4 | |||
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2013 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2018 | 3 | |||
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | 2 | |||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2025 | 2 | |||
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2027 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2028 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2029 | 4 | |||
| 2030 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Totals | 13 | 15 | 2 | 18 |
Interactive Eclipse Maps
by Xavier M. Jubier
