Historically eclipse cycles have been predicted for hundreds of years. The Chaldeans discovered the Saros Cycle (approximately one eclipse every eighteen years and eleven days), one of the best known eclipse cycles, in the last few centuries BCE. In 1504, Columbus’ knowledge of eclipses helped him to scare Jamaican natives by correctly predicting a lunar eclipse.
The fact is that eclipses do happen in set periods of time, or in cycles, however they don’t always occur in the same parts of the world every time they come around, and they may not be of the same type (total, partial, annular) every time. Solar eclipses depend on the distance of the moon from earth, and total eclipses only occur when Earth passes through the umbra portion of the moon’s shadow. Total eclipses can only be seen in very specific areas, known as the area of ‘totality’. Lunar eclipses, however, can often be seen in totality in very large regions, and this is because of the way they occur, the moon crosses the Earth’s penumbra, then partially into the Earth’s umbra, and then wholly into the umbra. Partial lunar eclipses can be seen quite often from many areas of the world, total eclipses are slightly more rare.
NASA lists the next total solar eclipse as occurring on August 1st, 2008, and should be visible in areas of North America, Europe and Asia. After this, the next total solar eclipse will not be until July 22nd, 2009 – and will be visible from parts of Asia and the Pacific; and after that, in 2010 (July 1st), visible in South America.
There are several viewable lunar eclipses in the near future, according to NASA. On February 21st areas of the Pacific, North and South America, Europe and Africa will be treated to a total eclipse. On August 16, a partial eclipse will be visible in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. We will have to wait until 2010 for the next total lunar eclipse (after this February’s show), it will not be until December 21st 2010, and will be visible in east Asia, Australia, the Pacific, North and South America, and Europe.
The fact is that eclipses do happen in set periods of time, or in cycles, however they don’t always occur in the same parts of the world every time they come around, and they may not be of the same type (total, partial, annular) every time. Solar eclipses depend on the distance of the moon from earth, and total eclipses only occur when Earth passes through the umbra portion of the moon’s shadow. Total eclipses can only be seen in very specific areas, known as the area of ‘totality’. Lunar eclipses, however, can often be seen in totality in very large regions, and this is because of the way they occur, the moon crosses the Earth’s penumbra, then partially into the Earth’s umbra, and then wholly into the umbra. Partial lunar eclipses can be seen quite often from many areas of the world, total eclipses are slightly more rare.
NASA lists the next total solar eclipse as occurring on August 1st, 2008, and should be visible in areas of North America, Europe and Asia. After this, the next total solar eclipse will not be until July 22nd, 2009 – and will be visible from parts of Asia and the Pacific; and after that, in 2010 (July 1st), visible in South America.
There are several viewable lunar eclipses in the near future, according to NASA. On February 21st areas of the Pacific, North and South America, Europe and Africa will be treated to a total eclipse. On August 16, a partial eclipse will be visible in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. We will have to wait until 2010 for the next total lunar eclipse (after this February’s show), it will not be until December 21st 2010, and will be visible in east Asia, Australia, the Pacific, North and South America, and Europe.