Solar eclipses take place when the Moon blocks any portion of the Sun from those on Earth, and Texas is sometimes home to these incredible experiences. Here’s a look at past and future solar eclipses visible in Texas.
Total Solar Eclipses
Total solar eclipses are amongst the rarest and most breathtaking events to take place anywhere in the world, as the Sun is completely blocked from view by the Moon for up to a few minutes. They only occur worldwide every 18 months or so, and that is just for a thin sliver of land or water.
However, the Lone Star State was recently home to one. The Great North American Eclipse on April 8, 2024, carved a long path across Texas, from the Mexican border, an area that included Del Rio, through Waco and Dallas, and across the state’s borders with Oklahoma and Arkansas.
That said, it will be a long wait for Texans to once again enjoy this incredible experience.
On Aug. 12, 2045, a path of one will enter the state, but just barely. It will clip a small, sparsely populated region bordering and near Oklahoma’s panhandle. Meanwhile, total solar eclipses on March 30, 2052, and May 11, 2078, will clip the very southern part of Texas at the easternmost point of the U.S.-Mexico border.
However, there are also other types of solar eclipse experiences for Texans to enjoy.
Annular Solar Eclipses
An annular solar eclipse is identical to a total solar eclipse except that the Moon is slightly closer to Earth when it happens, resulting in a non-complete blockage of the Sun; a ring of fire surrounds the Moon at its peak.
The last time this occurred in Texas was also recently, on Oct. 14, 2023. Included in its path were Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Midland.
The next one here will be on Jan. 16, 2056. However, its path will be short, focused on Laredo.
Conversely, the path for the one after it, on Nov. 15, 2077, will be significant, including within it cities such as Houston, Killeen, Abilene, and Lubbock.
Partial Solar Eclipses
When a total or annular solar eclipse takes place, those across a wide swathe of land experience a partial solar eclipse, that area stretching far on both sides of the sliver where the total or annular eclipse passes.
All of Texas was home to at least a partial solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Looking ahead, this will be the case for the entire Lone Star State on Jan. 26, 2028. The annular solar eclipse portion of that one will mostly take place in South America with people in the U.S. either experiencing a partial one or no eclipse whatsoever.
Numerous other partial eclipses can also be viewed by those in Texas over the coming 15 years:
- Jan. 14, 2029
- Nov. 14, 2031
- March 30, 2033
- Sept. 12, 2034
- July 2, 2038
- June 21, 2039
- Nov. 4, 2040
Safety
Regardless of what type of solar eclipse you are fortunate enough to experience in Texas, make sure to protect your eyes.
The only times that you should look in the direction of the Sun with your eyes only is when it is 100% blocked by the Moon during those seconds or minutes that you are experiencing a total solar eclipse. Before, after, and at all times during an annular or partial eclipse, you should only use solar eclipse glasses that are designed for this purpose to look at the Sun.
