Solar Eclipse- when was the last one and when is the next

Question

I live in New Jersey and today is the 11 of August. When was the last eclipse ans when is the next??

Answer 1

Hi Neighbor!

Our next total eclipse of the sun is on May 1, 2079.  The last one here was January 24, 1925, seen in the northern part of the state from Hasbrouck Heights northward.

Since the next total eclipse is a bit over the horizon, you'll want to know about the next partial eclipse.  It comes at sunrise November 3, 2013, in which the sun will rise about 50% eclipsed, but the eclipse will soon end as the sun continues to come up.

(One writer mentioned the May 20, 2012 eclipse, but this one cannot be seen at all on the east coast.)

There's another like this one October 23, 2014, in which an eclipse starts just as the sun is about to set.  The sun disappears very shortly after.

On August 21, 2017, the United States gets its first total solar eclipse in decades.  We in New Jersey will only see a partial eclipse, about 80% of the solar disc covered, although you could see totality by going to South Carolina that afternoon.

We get another 80% partial eclipse at sunrise June 10, 2021, when the sun comes up at maximum eclipse.  Since it happens as the sun is coming up, you'll actually be able to glimpse the shape of the crescent sun without instruments if you have a clear view of the northeastern sky.

The closest we come to totality in the near future will be April 8, 2024, when 90% of the solar disc is covered that afternoon.  You could drive to upstate New York to see the total eclipse.

Answer 2

The last one was 10 days ago.

The next one visible in North America will be May 20 2012.

The next one in the world is the 26th of January 2009.