- Perihelion - January 4, 2021, at 1:52 a.m. EST (6:52 a.m. UTC)
Eclipses & Transits
A transit is when one object crosses in front of another in space. A transit is called an eclipse when it involves the Sun, Earth & Moon. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun & the Earth. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun & the Moon.
December 4, 2021
A total solar eclipse was visible in Antarctica! Check out the recap and replay of the event. Image credit: Mathew Schwartz (2017)
November 17, 2021
During the early morning hours of November 19 or late evening hours of November 18, depending on your location and time zone, the full moon will pass through Earth's dark or inner shadow (umbra) creating a deep partial lunar eclipse.
May 24, 2021
Every year we get a collection of 4 to 7 eclipses somewhere on Earth, either lunar, solar, partial, or total. These eclipses come in seasons, a 35-day period with typically two eclipses sometimes three. There are usually two seasons per year. 2021 has two.
November 28, 2020
The second eclipse season of 2020 is here with a penumbral lunar eclipse & total solar eclipse...with bonus sky-watching tips!
June 19, 2020
The weekend of June 20 – 21, 2020 has a lot going on when it comes to the Sun. We get to enjoy two exciting events thanks to the orbital dance between Earth and the Moon as the move together
June 30, 2019
Did you miss the Total Solar Eclipse! Check out our recap & replay of the live event.
August 30, 2017
These images of the total solar eclipse are amazing! The eclipse swept across a narrow portion of the contiguous United States from Lincoln Beach, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina.
August 22, 2017
A movie of the Aug 21, 2017 lunar transit as viewed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO.) Credit: NASA/SDO The Sun appears in visible light, and 171 ångstrom extreme ultraviolet light. The movie shows the Sun moving a bit because
August 21, 2017
For the first time since 1979, the contiguous United States will be treated to a total solar eclipse. Even more exciting, the path of totality across the USA starts in Oregon and ends in South Carolina.
June 20, 2017
Happy June Solstice 2017! The beginning of summer for the northern hemisphere and winter for the southern hemisphere. Oh, and it is two months until the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse! The June Solstice comes on June 21, 2017
February 24, 2017
A ‘Ring of Fire’ for parts of South America and Africa An annular solar eclipse will grace parts of South America and Southern Africa starting on the morning of Sunday, February 26, 2017. The event begins at 12:10 UTC as
May 8, 2016
The planet Mercury will move in front of the sun, May 9, 2016, starting around 7:15 a.m. EDT and ending around 2:45 p.m. EDT. It can be seen from the ground with special solar viewing equipment however, the best way to
March 7, 2016
The moon will pass in front of the sun, casting its shadow over much of Southeast Asia on March 8, 2016 EST (March 9 local time). Get details & watch live!
April 3, 2015
During the early morning hours of April 4, the full moon will pass through Earth's dark or inner shadow (umbra) creating a total lunar eclipse.
March 19, 2015
On March 20, 2015 a supermoon total solar eclipse occurs in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard (Norway), and a partial solar eclipse in Europe, northern and eastern Asia and northern and western Africa. The eclipse starts at 07:41 UT and ends
October 20, 2014
On Oct. 23, 2014 a partial solar eclipse will be visible to most of North America in the late afternoon. This is the last eclipse of 2014. Never look at the sun or an eclipse directly! Eye safety during solar eclipses
August 29, 2014
The Fall 2014 Eclipse SDO Eclipse Season starts today. Around 7:30 UT (2:30 EDT) each day for the next 3 weeks (until Sept. 21), Earth will pass between the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the sun. The first eclipse is only
April 14, 2014
During the nighttime hours of April 14 or 15 (depending on your time zone), the full moon will pass through Earth's dark or inner shadow (umbra) creating a total lunar eclipse for most of North and South America.
February 28, 2014
It’s that time of year. SDO spring eclipse season started February 27, 2014. During the 3 week season, Earth will pass between SDO and the Sun around 07:30 UT each day. Initially the eclipses are a few minutes long. Their
January 29, 2014
UPDATES 16:17 UT (11:17 UT) – The transit ends with a bang! – an M6.6 flare peaked at 16:11 from AR11967. These images are from just before the flare peak at around 16:00 UT (11:00 EST) again in all 9 SDO/AIA wavelengths.
November 2, 2013
There will be a hybrid solar eclipse on Sunday November 3, 2013. This rare occurrence of an annular and total eclipse is the final eclipse event of 2013. Never look at the sun or an eclipse directly! Eye safety during solar
May 8, 2013
The first solar eclipse of 2013 is Australia’s 2nd in 6 months Queensland Australia gets another celestial treat after enjoying a total solar eclipse in November 2012. On Friday morning, May 10 (local time Australia), the Moon will travel in
November 12, 2012
A total eclipse of the Sun will be visible on November 13/14, 2012 in a narrow path across the southern hemisphere. The Moon’s umbral shadow starts in northern Australia following a path across the South Pacific Ocean without crossing
June 30, 2012
Venus transits in front of the sun are rare spectacles when viewed from Earth. It won’t happen again in our lifetime! It is the rarest predictable astronomical event, occurs 4 times every 234 years!
May 20, 2012
During the annular eclipse the Moon will travel in front of the Sun blocking most of its light—except for what looks like a 'Ring of Fire' around the Moon's edge.
July 25, 2011
If you have looked at data from the SOHO LASCO C3 coronagraph over the last week or so you may have noticed the very bright object in the field-of-view. You might even think it looks like a UFO. You are not alone.
November 8, 2010
As expected SDO experienced another lunar transit on November 6, 2010. This time the moon crossed the southern hemisphere moving from the south pole towards the northeast (left side) edge of the sun. The transit took about 30 minutes and