Every location on Earth falls under the shadow of at least one total solar eclipse, but some places experience these events more frequently than others. For instance, a person living north of the equator is twice as likely to witness a total solar eclipse compared to someone south of the equator. Why is this the case?
Total solar eclipses typically occur in summer in both hemispheres. (Illustrative image).
At certain times of the year, the Earth is slightly farther from the Sun—making the Sun appear smaller than usual. During these periods, when the Earth, Moon, and Sun align, the Moon can more effectively block the Sun, resulting in a total solar eclipse.
However, at other times of the year, the Earth is closer to the Sun, making the Sun appear larger than usual. When the Earth, Moon, and Sun align during these times, the larger Sun may not be completely obscured by the Moon, creating an annular eclipse.
In both hemispheres, solar eclipses often occur in the summer when the Sun spends more time above the horizon, and it must be daytime to witness an eclipse. In summer, the Northern Hemisphere is at its farthest point in Earth’s orbit, while summer in the Southern Hemisphere occurs at its nearest point. As a result, total solar eclipses are more likely to occur north of the equator.
Even in the Northern Hemisphere, total solar eclipses are more frequent at higher latitudes. There are a few different reasons that explain why this might be the case.
- First, at the highest latitudes, the summer Sun rarely sets below the horizon, meaning there is still sunlight even at night, as opposed to lower latitudes where it can be dark at night during summer.
- Then there is the curvature of the Earth, which causes the Moon’s shadow to fall at a shallower angle at higher latitudes; the path of an eclipse near the Arctic Circle can be four times wider than an eclipse at lower latitudes. Thus, statistically, the best place to view a total solar eclipse is around 80 degrees North.
If you live in North America, you will have the chance to witness a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, with a path sweeping across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
