Next solar eclipse after 2024: Long wait for New York in path of totality

Total solar eclipse to darken North America on April 8, 2024. Upstate NY hasn't seen one since 1925. Next eclipse in 2079.

On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cast a shadow over much of North America, including Upstate New York, for the first time since 1925. This cosmic event is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of tourists to the region, eager to witness the moon blocking out the sun and plunging the sky into darkness between 2 and 4:30 p.m. Some parts of the U.S. will experience totality for over four minutes, creating a surreal and eerie atmosphere.

Charles Fulco, an education and outreach coordinator for NASA, described the experience as "the creepiest, weirdest thing in the world" when the black shadow of the moon suddenly envelops you. The anticipation and excitement surrounding this rare event are palpable, as people prepare to witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of a total solar eclipse.

But when will the next solar eclipse occur after 2024? According to NASA, solar eclipses are not as rare as one might think, happening every year or two. Following the 2024 total solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse will be visible in South America on Oct. 2, 2024. This type of eclipse occurs when the moon is farther away from the Earth, appearing smaller and not completely blocking out the sun. Parts of South America, Antarctica, and North America will witness a partial eclipse during this event.

Looking ahead, the next total solar eclipse will be visible on Aug. 12, 2026, in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, and a small area of Portugal. Europe, Africa, and North America will experience a partial solar eclipse on that date. The U.S. won't see totality again until March 30, 2033, limited to parts of Alaska. The contiguous United States will witness the next total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2044, with Montana and North Dakota in the path of totality.

New York state will have to wait even longer for the next total solar eclipse, scheduled for May 1, 2079. The Hudson Valley and New York City will experience totality, while most of Upstate New York will only see a partial solar eclipse, with Syracuse expecting 99.22% obscuration in 2079. Subsequent total solar eclipses in New York state are predicted for 2144, 2200, and 2866.

If you miss the upcoming solar eclipse, be prepared to wait 55 years for the next total solar eclipse in New York state, and even longer for totality in cities like Syracuse. The rarity of this celestial event has schools granting children the day off to witness this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon. The anticipation and excitement surrounding the solar eclipse of 2024 are building, as people eagerly await the moment when the moon blocks out the sun and casts a shadow over the land.