Solar Eclipse Finder
Search a city, and this tool mathematically calculates an approximate date for the next solar eclipse β right in your browser, from real orbital mechanics, not a lookup table.
{{ result.dateLabel }}
Centrality index: {{ result.sinFp.toFixed(3) }} ({{ result.centralityNote }})
At {{ selected.city }}, the Sun would be {{ result.daytime ? 'above' : 'below' }} the horizon at that moment (altitude β {{ result.altitude.toFixed(1) }}Β°) β it's daytime there, so an eclipse could potentially be seen. it's nighttime there, so this particular eclipse would not be visible from this spot.
What Is This Solar Eclipse Finder?
This tool searches a built-in database of the world's most populous cities, then runs a real orbital-mechanics calculation β entirely in your browser β to estimate when the next solar eclipse will occur, and whether the Sun would even be above the horizon at your chosen location at that moment. Nothing is looked up from a precomputed eclipse table; the date is computed from the Moon's orbit each time you search.
How the Calculation Works
A solar eclipse can only happen at a new moon, and only when that new moon occurs close to one of the two points where the Moon's orbit crosses Earth's orbital plane (its "nodes"). This tool uses the classical method, popularized by astronomer Jean Meeus, to test each upcoming new moon: it computes the Moon's argument of latitude at that instant, and if it's within roughly 18Β° of a node, a solar eclipse is possible somewhere on Earth on that date. It then computes the Sun's position for that exact moment and checks its altitude at your searched location β if the altitude is negative, it's nighttime there and that particular eclipse can't be seen from that spot no matter what.
Limitations β Please Read
This is intentionally an approximation, not a precision ephemeris. It correctly identifies when the next eclipse-possible new moon occurs (typically accurate to within minutes) and gives an honest, computed daytime/nighttime check for your location β but it does not trace the Moon's actual shadow across the Earth's surface. Real eclipse visibility depends on Besselian elements and precise shadow-path geometry, which requires a full ephemeris well beyond a browser-side approximation. The "centrality index" shown is a rough proxy for how close the eclipse is to being deep/total somewhere on Earth, not a classification of what you personally would see. For exact path maps and local circumstances, consult an authoritative source such as NASA's eclipse catalog.
Why Only the Top 10 Cities Per Country?
The location database is intentionally compact β the ten most populous cities in each country β so lookups are instant with no external API calls. If your city isn't listed, search a larger nearby city, or use the manual latitude/longitude fields for an exact spot.
FAQ
Is this accurate enough to plan travel around? No β treat the date as a good starting estimate and the daytime check as a first filter, then verify with a dedicated eclipse-path resource before making plans.
Why does it sometimes say "night" for an eclipse that's happening? A solar eclipse is only visible from the roughly half of Earth facing the Sun at that moment. If your searched location is on the night side of Earth at the moment of greatest eclipse, it genuinely can't see that particular eclipse.