When will the next total solar eclipse occur that can actually be seen in the United States? (Getty)
Tonight, March 8, is the only total solar eclipse of 2016, but you won’t be able to watch it in the United States. When will you next have the chance to view a total solar eclipse here in the U.S.? How can you watch tonight’s solar eclipse online instead?
Here’s what you need to know.
The Next Total Solar Eclipse in the U.S. Will Be August 2017
The next time the sun is completely eclipsed and viewable in the United States won’t be until August 2017. More specifically, according to NASA, it will take place on August 21, 2017. You should probably mark your calendars now! The total eclipse will only be viewable through a narrow corridor across the United States. The longest duration will be 2 minutes and 41 seconds in Makanda Township, south of Carbondale, Illinois. This will mark the first time a total solar eclipse was viewable in the southeastern UnitedStates since March 7, 1971. The last time a total solar eclipse was viewable anywhere in the U.S. was 1991.
To find out exactly where the complete eclipse can be seen, check out this map provided by NASA, which details the entire corridor and where it is in the U.S., or watch the video embedded above.
Outside of the narrow corridor, you’ll be able to see a partial solar eclipse across much of North America, northern South America, western Europe, and Africa.
You Can Watch Tonight’s Solar Eclipse Online
Although tonight’s March 8 solar eclipse can’t be watched live if you live in the U.S., you can still watch it online. The eclipse will be visible in parts of southeast Asia, but you can watch it online starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. Both NASA and Slooh.com will have livestreams. You can watch all three livestreams of tonight’s eclipse on Heavy.com at this link. Coverage will start at 6 p.m. Eastern, but the eclipse itself will occur around 8:00 p.m.