Astronomy lovers in the United States have been buzzing for years about the total solar eclipse that’s taking place on Monday, April 8. After all, the last one that criss-crossed the nation was the so-called Great American Solar Eclipse in August 2017.
When will the next total solar eclipse occur in the U.S. after Monday’s big sky event? Unfortunately, the wait will be a long one.
Experts say the next solar eclipse in which the sun will be completely blocked by the moon in parts of America will take place 20 years from now, on Aug. 23, 2044. A report by CBS News says only three U.S. states will briefly be in the so-called path of totality, where total darkness will occur for several minutes: Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
But if you’re willing to travel, a wide swath of northern Canada will also be in the path of totality during the 2044 eclipse.
Most of the western half of the U.S. will at least see apartial solar eclipse in August 2044, but the eastern U.S. will see nothing, not even a partial eclipse, according to TimeAndDate.com.
However, the following year — on Aug. 12, 2045 — New Jersey will see a partial solar eclipse, with a total solar eclipse being visible from 15 U.S. states, according to ABC News. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
New Jersey won’t see a total solar eclipse until May 1, 2079, when we will be directly in the path of totality. That’s 55 years from now. So, younger folks may want to mark their calendars now.
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.
