We've heard a lot lately, mostly critiques, that vendors like Eclipse Glasses USA are guilty of over-messaging the frequency of eclipses. The critique is often something like "You guys says it's the last eclipse every six months." This appears to be a result of 1) poor science education and 2) simply not paying attention.
The first possible culprit is the actual frequency of lunar eclipses, which occur approximately 2 times per year. Indeed, these critics are likely confusing lunar eclipses with solar eclipse (re: poor science education).
When we say the last west coast eclipse for 22 years, like we did for the October 14, 2023 annular eclipse, what we're saying is this will be the last eclipse to take a west coast path for 22 years. Similarly, when we say the April 2024 east coast eclipse will be the last eclipse for 99 years, we are saying it will be the last eclipse for 99 years that will transit the east coast.
On average, there is a visible solar eclipse somewhere on our planet every 18 months. This, however, does not mean it is visible to those claiming we over-message. Evidence of that lies in the list below:
1. April 8, 2024 - Visible from:
- West in Europe
- North America
- Northern parts of South America
- Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic
2. August 12, 2026 - Visible from:
- Europe
- Northern parts of Asia
- North/West Africa
- Much of North America
- Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic
3. August 2, 2027 - Visible from:
- Europe
- South/West Asia
- Africa
- Eastern parts of North America
- Atlantic, Indian Ocean
4. July 22, 2028 - Visible from:
- Southern parts of Asia
- Australia
- Pacific, Indian Ocean, Antarctica
5. November 25, 2030 - Visible from:
- Southern parts of Asia
- Australia
- South/East Africa
- Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Antarctica
6. November 14, 2031 - Visible from:
- Much of North America
- North/West parts of South America
- Pacific, Atlantic
7. March 30, 2033 - Visible from:
- West in Europe
- Northern parts of Asia
- North America
- Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic