Some people think an eclipse is a super rare phenomena — but most people don't know that there are actually "eclipse seasons" every year.

If it feels like eclipses happen much more often than they used to, there’s an explanation for that too.

What is an eclipse season?

First, what even is an eclipse? In simple terms, it’s an alignment of the Earth, sun and moon.

When the moon passes between the sun and Earth, that’s a solar eclipse. When Earth passes between the sun and moon, that’s a lunar eclipse.

An eclipse doesn’t happen every time they pass one another; only at specific times of the year when they align in a particular way. This is how regularly occurring eclipse seasons are possible.

An eclipse season is a period of about one month that occurs roughly every six months. During a season, there is usually at least one lunar eclipse and one solar eclipse, totaling two lunar and two solar eclipses every year.

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The first eclipse of the season will be either solar or lunar, and two weeks later, the opposite kind will take place. Which type occurs first depends on when the season begins.

This timing is simply due to the geometry of how Earth, the sun and the moon align.

Currently, eclipse seasons fall roughly once in the spring and again in the fall. The eclipse season shifts earlier by about 19 days each year, so it eventually cycles through all four seasons over a span of several years.

Why are there 'more' eclipses now?

The truth is, there aren’t. However, if it feels that way, there is a valid reason.

The extra attention given to recent eclipses is due to their visibility in Western countries, not a change in overall frequency.

Additionally, the internet and social media make news about upcoming eclipses much more accessible and likely for you to come across it.

What are the different kinds of eclipses?

There are different ways lunar and solar eclipses are categorized.

For solar eclipses, there are four classifications:

• Total: The moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the sun. It can only be seen by observers in the center of the moon’s shadow on Earth. The sky darkens during the day as if it were night, revealing the sun’s glowing corona.
• Annular: The moon passes between the sun and Earth while at or near its farthest point from Earth, making it appear smaller than the sun and unable to completely cover it. This creates a bright "ring of fire" effect around the moon.
• Partial: The moon passes between the sun and Earth, but they are not perfectly aligned. The moon covers only a portion of the sun, giving it a crescent shape.
• Hybrid: Because Earth's surface is curved, an eclipse can shift between annular and total as the moon’s shadow moves across the globe.

For lunar eclipses, there are three classifications:

• Total: The moon passes completely through the inner part of Earth’s shadow (the umbra), often taking on a reddish color.
• Partial: The moon passes through only a portion of Earth’s umbra because the sun, moon and Earth are not perfectly aligned. A dark shadow appears across part of the moon.
• Penumbral: The moon travels through the faint outer shadow of Earth (the penumbra). This causes a subtle dimming that is often difficult to notice unless you know it is happening.

When are the next eclipses?

Both of the eclipse seasons for 2026 have already passed, so the next ones to come our way are in 2027. 

Here’s what to expect:

• Feb. 6 (Solar eclipse): Annular eclipse visible in parts of South America and Africa.
• Feb. 20 (Lunar eclipse): Penumbral eclipse visible across most of the globe.
• Aug. 2 (Solar eclipse): Total eclipse visible in southern Spain, North Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. It will be visible as a partial eclipse from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, eastern Canada, and northern Maine in the U.S.
• Aug. 16 (Lunar eclipse): Penumbral eclipse visible across most of the globe.

That will conclude the 2027 eclipse seasons, and the cycle will continue in 2028.

Content writer Ada Wood enjoys exploring the stories that science and climate teach us about our natural world and how it influences the way we live in it.