For those of you who are now enthusiastic enough to want to see an eclipse yourself, here is a list of the total and annular ones visible in the next few years, with the more interesting ones (for someone in Europe) marked in green.
For a map of the tracks of total eclipses from 1996 to 2020, click here.
The large partial in 2011 (maximum around 8:15am GMT) is, unfortunately, the only solar eclipse visible in the UK in the period up to 2015. It will be pretty dramatic though, as the sun will rise already eclipsed! Those with an eye to the longer term may have noticed that 20th March 2015 is looking good - a total eclipse just off these shores. In fact, the Faeroe Islands seem to be not only well placed (though a little south-east of the centreline) but also the only dry land under the track apart from Spitzbergen so early booking is recommended! Those who can't get a flight can stay at home and enjoy a very large partial (maximum around 9:35am GMT). The annular in 2010 is the only one to exceed 11mins in the entire 3rd millenium, but apart from the early and late stages its track is, unfortunately, almost entirely over water! Opportunities to view a long eclipse would thus be limited to the far north of Sri Lanka but as this is/was Tamil Tiger country I doubt whether many people will be going! We fully intend to be on Easter Island in 2010 (despite the considerable expense!!) as it's somewhere we've always wanted to go anyway so the eclipse will be a considerable bonus - cloud permitting!
Hope to see you at some of these events!
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