Solar and lunar eclipses are fascinating celestial events. In any typical year, solar and lunar eclipses may take place. Eclipses are a topic of immense interest for sky gazers due to the spectacular scenes they present in the sky. Each eclipse is highly unique, varying in the fashion and extent to which the sun or moon get shadowed during the process. Those who subscribe to astrological recommendations also research eclipses to know what’s in store for their zodiac sign during any given eclipse.
Year 2023 will see four eclipses in total, consisting of two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. There will be two eclipse seasons in the year. In each of these eclipse seasons, there will be a set of solar and lunar eclipses separated by around 15 days in between them.
Solar and Lunar Eclipse dates in 2023
| Date | Description | Where will it be visible |
| 20 April | Solar Eclipse(This will be a total solar eclipse) | Indian Ocean, Pacific, Antarctica, Australia, and South/East Asia |
| 5-6 May | Lunar Eclipse(This will be a penumbral lunar eclipse) | Indian Ocean, Antarctica, Atlantic, Major part of Asia, South/East Europe, Africa and pacific |
| 14 October | Solar Eclipse(This will be an annular Solar Eclipse) | Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, West Africa, South America and North America. |
| 28-29 October | Lunar Eclipse(This will be a partial lunar eclipse | Asia, Australia, Europe, Pacific, North America, East America, South America, Antarctica, Indian Ocean, Arctic, and Africa |
Solar Eclipse on 20 April 2023
This will be the first solar eclipse in 2023. Astronomers describe this as a hybrid solar eclipse, a rare kind of eclipse that shifts between a total solar eclipse and an annular eclipse. During this event, a ring of fire can be seen for a few seconds in the Pacific and Indian oceans. The total eclipse will last for a little over a minute, and will be visible in parts of Western Australia.
Lunar Eclipse on 5 May 2023
The first lunar eclipse of the year 2023 will happen on May 5. Lasting for over 4 hours, this will be a penumbral lunar eclipse and will be seen in Australia, Asia, and some parts of Africa. In a penumbral lunar eclipse, only a small portion of the moon is shadowed out and hence it’s easier to miss.
Solar Eclipse on 14 October 2023
The second and the last solar eclipse of the year 2023 will happen on 14 October 2023, which will be an annular solar eclipse. Sky gazers in the North, Central and South American regions can see a dazzling ring of fire during this eclipse. Annular solar eclipses are the most spectacular among solar eclipses where the watchers can see a ring of fire, as the central part of the sun is darkened by the moon.
Lunar Eclipse on 28 October 2023
The second and last lunar eclipse of 2023 will occur on 28 October 2023. This will be a partial lunar eclipse that can be watched from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and East America. During a partial lunar eclipse, the sun, moon and the earth do not fall in a straight line and hence only part of the moon is shadowed.
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