Which Locations See the Most Solar Eclipses? A 100-Year Data Review On Solar Eclipse Frequency
Key Takeaways
- There will be 224 solar eclipses in the 21st century (2001-2100).
- On average, there are 2-5 solar eclipses per year, or approximately 240 solar eclipses over the course of 100 years.
- Although solar eclipses are equally likely to occur in the Northern or Southern Hemispheres, total solar eclipses are visible more often in the Northern Hemisphere, and annular solar eclipses are visible more often in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Carbondale, Illinois is known as the "Eclipse Crossroads of America" because it’s positioned at the intersection of two paths of totality.
- High-latitude locations like the Arctic and Antarctic circles have the highest solar eclipse frequency because the sun hangs on the horizon longer.
For many fortunate observers, solar eclipses are once-in-a-lifetime events. Others never get to see one live. However, on a global scale, these unforgettable celestial experiences are actually more common than most people realize.
Of course, the casual astronomer isn’t going to track every single solar eclipse or travel around the globe to observe them all. However, if you happen to live in a prime location, you might get to witness multiple solar eclipses within your lifetime, all without leaving the backyard.
For this guide to solar eclipse frequency, we analyzed vast datasets from a variety of reputable sources to determine where in the world you’re most likely to see at least one eclipse without booking a flight.
The conclusions we reached might surprise you!
A Brief Overview of Our Methodology
We gathered data pertaining to the 100-year block from 2001 to 2100. We took this approach because it aligns with the standardized Century Catalog system used by NASA and the vast majority of other astronomy organizations.
We chose the 21st century (2001-2100) block because it provides a highly relevant look at the past, present, and future of solar eclipse frequency. If you’re interested in researching further on your own, here are NASA’s two most relevant catalogs to use as a starting point:
- Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: 1901 to 2000
- Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: 2001 to 2100
Without further ado, here’s a comprehensive guide to the world’s best solar eclipse locations.
How Often Do Eclipses Occur?
Here are some fast facts to help you understand how often eclipses occur around the world.
- Solar and lunar eclipses occur in pairs.
- Most years have four eclipses, and two of them are always solar eclipses.
- On average, there are two to five solar eclipses every year (five is extremely rare).
- Although very rare, solar eclipse frequency can be as high as seven in one calendar year.
- On average, there are 240 solar eclipses globally over the course of one century.
- It takes approximately 375 years for a solar eclipse to occur again in the same general location.
- On average, total solar eclipses (when the moon completely blocks the sun) occur every 18 months.
Source: Time and Date
What’s in Store for This Century?
There will be a total of exactly 224 solar eclipses in the 21st century.
- Partial Solar Eclipses: 77 (34.4%)
- Annular Solar Eclipses: 72 (32.1%)
- Total Solar Eclipses: 68 (30.4%)
- Hybrid Eclipses: 7 (3.1%)
Source: Five Millennium Catalog of Solar Eclipses: 2001 to 2100
What Are the Best Solar Eclipse Locations on Earth?
Before we pinpoint specific places with the highest solar eclipse frequency, let’s break it down by hemisphere.
- Both Northern and Southern Hemispheres see more solar eclipses during summer because the Earth is tilted toward the sun.
- Total solar eclipses are more likely to be visible north of the equator because the sun appears smaller in the sky during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, as the Earth is orbiting farther away from the sun.
- Annular eclipses are more likely to be visible south of the equator because the sun appears larger in the sky during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, as the Earth is orbiting closer to the sun.
Source: Astronomy.com
Solar Eclipse Frequency Is Highest in High Latitudes
In high-latitude locations, like the Arctic and Antarctic circles, the sun looms on the horizon longer, allowing more time for solar eclipses to occur.
High-latitude areas can see solar eclipses once every 2.2 years, on average, compared to the average of every 2.8 years in locations near the equator.
Source: Space.com
Illinois Is One of the Best Solar Eclipse Locations
- Carbondale, Illinois is famously known as the "Eclipse Crossroads of America."
- Southern Illinois is uniquely positioned between two crossing paths of totality.
- Carbondale experienced two total eclipses in just seven years (August 21, 2017, and April 8, 2024).
Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Viewing a Solar Eclipse Unprotected Can Blind You
Exploring solar eclipse frequency is fun, but it’s important to prioritize eclipse safety above all else.
- On April 8, 2024, Google searches for “my eyes hurt” were trending during the eclipse.
Source: Nature Portfolio
- Using certified-safe solar eclipse glasses or eclipse viewers is the only way to safely view solar events directly.
Source: NASA
- Only use eclipse glasses and viewers that are "CE" Certified and meet the transmission requirements of scale 12-16 of EN 169/1992, ISO 12312-2:2015, and 2012 Transmission Requirements of EN 1836:2005 and AS/NZS 1338.1:1992 for eclipse filters (Queensland Directive).
Source: Rainbow Symphony
