Eclipses | Astronomy.com

A detailed telescopic photograph of a total lunar eclipse, showing the Moon glowing in rich shades of deep red, orange, and brown — a blood moon. The Moon's surface features are clearly visible, including craters, ray systems, and dark maria regions. A sliver of brighter white-gray light is visible along the upper edge, indicating the Moon is partially outside Earth's umbral shadow.

Observing, The Moon, Upcoming Events

How to see Thursday’s lunar eclipse

Astrophotography, The Sun

Our favorite reader images of the 2026 total eclipse

A vintage black-and-white photograph captures a crowd of adults and children standing gathered outdoors, looking up toward the sky. Most individuals hold small rectangular cards, dark glass plates, or paper up to their eyes to shield their vision. Bright daylight illuminates the figures in the foreground, contrasting against the darker storefront with a large white awning and signage in the background.

Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug. 21, 1914: Total solar eclipse tensions

An vintage, wide black-and-white map depicts coastal regions from East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula across India and Southeast Asia on light beige paper. A light blue, curved band sweeps horizontally across the center, marking a path across the landmasses and bodies of water. The map is overlaid with French labels, grid lines, and black line drawings of geographical features, lit evenly across the page.

Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug. 18, 1868: Helium is discovered

Observing, The Sun

Astronomy readers see a wonderful Spanish eclipse

Total solar eclipse 2026: As it happened from Iceland

A photograph of a total solar eclipse capturing the diamond ring effect, where a single brilliant point of sunlight blazes on the right side of the Moon's silhouette just as totality ends, surrounded by the softly glowing white corona. Several pink solar prominences are visible along the Moon's edge, and a warm golden glow fans out around the right side of the disc against a black sky.

Upcoming Events

How to see the August 12 total solar eclipse

A medieval-style illustration depicts a seated king centered in the frame, wearing a gold crown, a red tunic, and a dark blue cloak over his shoulders and lap. He sits with folded hands on a red-and-gold bench, set against an off-white background decorated with stylized green leaves and red ornaments. The drawing features bold black outlines, rich blue and red pigments, and moderate contrast on a aged parchment texture.

Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug. 2, 1133: A total eclipse is misremembered

A grainy, black-and-white photograph shows a solid dark circle positioned slightly to the left of the center. A soft, hazy halo of light surrounds the circle, creating a high contrast against the dark, textured background. A few tiny, bright flares burst out along the right and upper-left edges of the central dark circle.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 28, 1851: The first photo of a total eclipse

A stark, high-contrast photograph captures a solid black circle perfectly centered against a jet-black background. A bright, glowing ring of white light radiates outward from behind the dark circle, creating a soft, hazy halo with faint streaks extending into the surrounding darkness.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 19, 418: A solar eclipse/comet combo

A wide landscape color photograph captures a dramatic sky filled with thick, dark gray clouds layered across the frame. Sunbeams break through gaps in the clouds, casting fans of dim orange and white light downward toward a silhouetted, dark horizon line. The scene is heavy with shadow, creating a deep contrast between the dark cloud formations and the glowing pockets of twilight sky.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 6, 1982: The longest lunar eclipse of the century

An artistic color illustration shows a series of expansive, multi-tiered stone palaces and a terraced tower lining the far bank of a wide, calm river. In the foreground, people, horses, and sheep are scattered across a grassy shore, while small boats with rowers glide across the water's reflective surface. The scene is bathed in bright daylight under a clear, pale sky that softens into a light blue at the top of the frame.

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 15, 763 BCE: Assyrians record a solar eclipse