Solar Eclipse opportunity in the United States?

Question

As long as I can remember I have never or even remember any of us in the United States experiencing a Solar Eclipse in person. I've always had to read about it or like this morning I had to watch it on NASA TV. What is up with that?

If I am wrong and we have experienced one when was that because I don't remember. :o)

Answer 1

next one visible in the mainland U.S. is in 2017.

Eclipses happen about once every two years or so, but that doesn't mean that they happen where Americans can see them.  If you look at the track of a typical eclipse, the zone of totality is really quite small -- typically the track is only about 130 miles wide -- so it really doesn't cover much of the planet!

Answer 2

The next solar eclipse which will be visible in the continental United States will be the annular eclipse on 20th May 2012. The annular phase will be visible in some western states and the partial phase will be visible over most of the rest of the country.

Answer 3

The last one I remember was my senior year in high school, so late 1993 or early 1994.  There may have been others since...I don't know.  I stared at that one with my bare eyes because I was stupid back then.  My eye doctor says I still have a tiny scar on my retina :(