Africa August 21, 2017 Eclipse Map
Africa August 21, 2017 Eclipse Map
West African Cape Verde experiencing a nearly 85% total Solar Eclipse
For the August 21, 2017 total Solar Eclipse, the map shows where the total solar eclipse is visible in Africa.
Africa August 21, 2017 Eclipse Map
 |
| Africa 2017 Eclipse Map |
Most calendar years
have two solar eclipses. The maximum number of solar eclipses that can take
place in the same year is five, but this is rare.
According to NASA calculations, only about 25 years in the past 5,000 years have had five solar eclipses. The last time this happened was in 1935, and the next time will be in 2206.
According to NASA calculations, only about 25 years in the past 5,000 years have had five solar eclipses. The last time this happened was in 1935, and the next time will be in 2206.
There are three main
types of solar eclipses
- · Total solar eclipses
- · Partial solar eclipses
- · Annular eclipses
When Does a Solar
Eclipse Occur?
Solar eclipses can
only happen around New Moon because of the alignment of Earth, the Moon, and
the Sun, which happens at that time. However, this does not mean that eclipses
of the Sun happen every New Moon night.
The New Moon and the
Sun also have to be near a lunar node, which happens a little less than 6
months apart, and lasts, on average, around 34.5 days. This period is called
the eclipse season, and it is the only time that eclipses take place.
