Oct 6. 2026
Solar and Lunar Eclipses 2026–2027
2027 brings five eclipses, two solar and three lunar. One of them is truly exceptional. On Monday, August 2, the Moon covers the Sun over Egypt for more than six minutes. In Europe the path of totality touches only the far south of Spain, while the rest of the continent sees a partial eclipse. Here you'll find the dates and times, where to travel and what eclipses mean in astrology. All times on this page are in Universal Time (UTC).
All eclipses of 2027
| Date | Maximum (UTC) | Type | Sign | Where it's visible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6 | 15:59 | annular solar eclipse | 17° Aquarius | ring in southern Chile and Argentina, at sunset in West Africa |
| Feb 20–21 | 23:12 (Feb 20) | penumbral lunar eclipse | Moon in Virgo | Europe and Africa, only as faint shading |
| Jul 18 | 16:03 | penumbral lunar eclipse | Moon in Capricorn | practically invisible anywhere |
| Aug 2 | 10:06 | total solar eclipse | 10° Leo | totality from southern Spain to Egypt and Arabia, partial in Europe |
| Aug 17 | 07:13 | penumbral lunar eclipse | Moon in Aquarius | the Americas and the Pacific |
Total solar eclipse of August 2, 2027
This is the one people call the eclipse of the century. It isn't the longest of this century, that title belongs to the eclipse of July 22, 2009, but its totality is the longest over land between 1991 and 2114. The Moon is very close to Earth that day, so its shadow is large, and near Luxor in Egypt totality lasts up to 6 minutes 23 seconds. The path of totality starts in the Atlantic, crosses the Strait of Gibraltar, runs along the North African coast, over Egypt, the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia, and ends in the Indian Ocean.
| Place | Totality | Maximum (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Cádiz, Spain | 2 min 50 s | 08:46 |
| Málaga, Spain | 1 min 47 s | 08:49 |
| Gibraltar | 4 min 26 s | 08:47 |
| Tangier, Morocco | 4 min 50 s | 08:47 |
| Benghazi, Libya | 6 min 9 s | 09:30 |
| Luxor, Egypt | 6 min 20 s | 10:05 |
| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | 5 min 55 s | 10:25 |
Seville and Algiers lie just outside the path, Madrid and Cairo a little farther away. All of them see only a deep partial eclipse. The rest of Europe, northern and eastern Africa and the Middle East get a partial eclipse too: in Prague, for example, the Moon covers about half of the Sun at 09:14. If you want to experience totality from Europe, the nearest places are southern Spain, Gibraltar and northern Morocco. Book your accommodation early, because there will be little of it along the path.
How to watch an eclipse safely
Never look at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2), not even when most of it is covered. Sunglasses, smoked glass or an X-ray film won't protect your eyes, and never point a telescope, binoculars or a camera at the Sun without a solar filter in front of the lens. Projection is safe and almost free: prick a hole in a piece of cardboard with a pin and let the image of the Sun fall on white paper. You may look with the naked eye only during the minutes of totality, when the Sun is completely covered. Outside the path of totality, keep your glasses on the whole time. Lunar eclipses are safe to watch without any protection.
Annular solar eclipse of February 6, 2027
On February 6 the Moon is too far from Earth to cover the whole Sun, and a bright "ring of fire" stays around it. The ring is visible from southern Chile and Argentina and, at sunset, from the coast of West Africa, from Abidjan to Lagos. Europe misses it. In astrology the eclipse falls at 17° Aquarius, on the same day the Chinese Year of the Fire Goat begins.
Lunar eclipses 2027
All three lunar eclipses of 2027 are penumbral: the Moon passes only through the lighter outer edge of Earth's shadow and darkens slightly. Only the first one is worth watching, on the night of February 20–21, when the Full Moon in Virgo stands high in the sky over Europe around midnight. The eclipse of July 18 is practically invisible anywhere, and the one on August 17 can be seen only from the Americas and the Pacific.
Eclipses in the next two years
All solar and lunar eclipses worldwide for the next two years. Whether you'll see a particular one depends on where you are at the time.
- February 6 2027 · annular solar eclipse
- February 21 2027 · penumbral lunar eclipse
- July 18 2027 · penumbral lunar eclipse
- August 2 2027 · total solar eclipse
- August 17 2027 · penumbral lunar eclipse
- January 12 2028 · partial lunar eclipse
- January 26 2028 · annular solar eclipse
- July 6 2028 · partial lunar eclipse
- July 22 2028 · total solar eclipse
How eclipses happen
An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon line up. In a solar eclipse the New Moon passes in front of the Sun and casts its shadow on Earth; in a lunar eclipse the Full Moon moves into Earth's shadow. Because the Moon's orbit is tilted, eclipses don't happen every month but in so-called eclipse seasons, roughly every six months, usually as a pair of a solar and a lunar eclipse two weeks apart.
What the eclipses of 2027 mean in astrology
Eclipses happen near the lunar nodes, and in 2027 the North Node is in Aquarius and the South Node in Leo. That is why both big eclipses fall on the Leo–Aquarius axis: the heart against the group, personal joy against shared goals. In astrology eclipses are turning points. Solar eclipses open new beginnings, lunar eclipses close chapters and reveal what was hidden. Whatever they touch usually changes within six months, often suddenly and in a way that only makes sense in hindsight. The total eclipse of August 2 at 10° Leo is the strongest of the year. People born around August 2 feel it most, and so do those born around January 30, April 30 and November 2, whose Sun the eclipse aspects. Tradition advises against big decisions on the day of an eclipse itself. Watch what unfolds in the weeks that follow instead.
Eclipses 2027 for each sign
- Aries: love, children and creativity (Aug 2); friends and plans (Feb 6).
- Taurus: home and family (Aug 2); career and reputation (Feb 6).
- Gemini: conversations, siblings and short trips (Aug 2); travel and study (Feb 6).
- Cancer: income and what you value (Aug 2); shared money and intimacy (Feb 6).
- Leo: the eclipse is in your sign, a new start for you personally (Aug 2); your partner (Feb 6).
- Virgo: rest and your inner life (Aug 2); work routine and health (Feb 6).
- Libra: friends and groups (Aug 2); love and fun (Feb 6).
- Scorpio: career and public life (Aug 2); home and family (Feb 6).
- Sagittarius: travel, study and beliefs (Aug 2); everyday contacts (Feb 6).
- Capricorn: shared money and deep bonds (Aug 2); your own income (Feb 6).
- Aquarius: partnership (Aug 2); the eclipse is in your sign, a new start for you (Feb 6).
- Pisces: work and health (Aug 2); rest and forgiveness (Feb 6).
Computed with the Swiss Ephemeris. All planet movements of the year: Planets in 2027.