Solar eclipses - maps and dates
 

There have been few more exciting things in my life than when I saw the total eclipse of the sun in August 1999 in the UK - even though it was partially obscured by clouds.

I am planning the timing of a trip to co-incide with a total eclipse in Egypt in August 2027 and am doing the shakedown trip to coincide with a total eclipse in Spain in August 2026. Hopefully there will be less cloud for these eclipses.

The source I have been tapping into for the date and location of eclipses is https://in-the-sky.org/eclipses_map.php. The page allows you to look at the world map and it shows the path of the eclipses over whatever time range you want (well, between 1950 and 2299). You can then click on the path and further information pops up.

The next total eclipse crosses Mexico, USA and Canada on 8 April 2024. There is also a partial eclipse on 2 October 2024 across Chile and Argentina.

There is something so other worldly about an eclipse - I didn’t get it until I saw the one in the UK in1999. Now I want to see more and with better weather (i.e. totally clear skies). There is one in northern Spain on 12 August 2026.

I will be either bringing my trip forward three weeks to see the one in Spain or using a trip to Spain as a final shakedown before servicing the bike and the “Grand Depart”.

Sunglasses are not enough - the cheapest way is probably welding goggles / mask. I will be taking a piece of welding mask glass with me.

Hello

No!
You need "special (cheep) glasses" to cover your eyes from the sunlight.
Back in 1999 you could get them everywere in europe.
The partial eclipse, if your are not in the path of the tolal eclipse or before and after the total eclipse, is interisting.
When the full eclipse happens, you can take them off.
Lots of sites on the www will show you how to do it to be safe.
BUT!
Nothing shows you what it's like in reallity once the moon covers the sun.

If you can manage, go for it!
I saw it 1999 in Southgermany, had to ride my bike until the last few minutes to catch a hole in the clouds.

sushi

There is a total eclipse in North America on Monday 8th April 2024 starting off in Mexico and sweeping through Mexico and America and ending up north of New York and into south eastern Canada.

Detailed information here.

It appears that despite heroic efforts to get out of here before the eclipse (crowds, traffic and expense) I’ll be right in the middle of its path. I blame the recent blizzard, which slowed my forward progress. Also, an inexhaustible desire to get some skiing in before my next knee surgery.

I just bought some eclipse glasses ($2.99 in a gas station) a supply of peanut butter and jelly, a stash of Rolling Rock beer)so I’m as ready as possible.

Well enjoy the experience - hopefully you will get clear skies and a fantastic view.

Getting a good location is worth researching, I saw the 1999 eclipse from a high spot where it's possible to see the sea on both sides of Cornwall at the same time and it was cloud-free there ... if you're up high enough you can see the shadow sweep the land before it hits you, and it's quick retreat on the other side after, which is awesome in the biblical sense.

I hope to be able to see the next one here from a similarly high spot!

There is a total eclipse in northern Spain in August 2026. I am intending to be there - hopefully the last shakedown trip before a larger trip. Details of the eclipse here.

I hadn't thought about being able to watch the sweep of the zone of totality moving in - that would be good to see. Any suggestions about good places to view the August 2026 eclipse would be gratefully accepted.

I don't know much about the area of the North where it'll be passing, but the parts of Aragón and Valencia that site says it'll pass through are pretty flat. I'll probably scout for somewhere secluded to camp to see it between Teruel and Calamocha later this year.

It's worth popping into Teruel while in the area, just to check it still exists, and Serrania de Cuenca national park has nice spots too.

I am inclined to go to the coast to watch it if there are cliffs - where there are cliffs there will be sea birds. Part of the experience is how the otherwise noisy seaguls and birds try to get in their singing before bedtime and then a few minutes later they have a dawn chorus and are a little confused why the night was so short. Thinking about this makes me wonder if I really want to be on board a scuba diving boat in the middle of the Red Sea in August 2027 or if I want to be on shore - though I am 100% sure that I don't want to be underwater when it happens.

For cliffs I suspect the north coast would be the way to go, could do the Camino Santiago to coincide with it (though I bet there's zillions of people with the same idea, lol). The main reason for wanting to be inland is to avoid people, when I saw the eclipse in the UK being around a crowd dampened the experience for me.

Thanks for the tip of location.

I understand entirely the desire to be away from people - a general truism whether or not there is an eclipse! One of the things that I found interesting was being able to see the cliffs “sparkling” during the darkest time of the eclipse with people taking photos and their flashes going off.