Sept. 2, 2035
This eclipse will touch four countries, with a maximum duration of totality of 2 minutes 54 seconds.
In China, the first city under the umbra is Jiuquan, whose million residents will enjoy 51 seconds of totality. The 2 million inhabitants of Baotou will witness 49 seconds, and the 3.5 million in Datong will enjoy 1 minute 32 seconds. Then totality reaches Beijing, where the city center will experience a duration of totality of 1 minute 30 seconds with the Sun 32° high. Two more cities of note in the path are Tangshan (45 seconds of totality) and Qinhuangdao (1 minute 56 seconds of totality).
The shadow next moves into North Korea. It touches the outskirts of Pyongyang, where totality will last 1 minute 54 seconds at the northern end of the city. The umbra also covers Wŏnsan for 2 minutes 6 seconds.
In South Korea, eclipse watchers should head to the border with North Korea. At that point, totality will last 1 minute 44 seconds with the Sun over open waters toward the southeast.
Finally, the path leads to Japan, just south of Wajima. Four cities that would make good bases are Toyama, Nagano, Maebashi, and Takasaki. They offer durations of totality of 1 minute 47 seconds, 2 minutes 16 seconds, 2 minutes 13 seconds, and 1 minute 57 seconds, respectively.
Unfortunately, Tokyo lies just south of the path. From downtown, the Moon will cover “only” 99.5 percent of the Sun. With so many amateur astronomers in Japan, it’s certain that there will be a huge exodus northward from Tokyo.
July 13, 2037
During this eclipse, only Australia and New Zealand will experience the umbra. The maximum duration of totality is 3 minutes 58 seconds.
Totality comes to mainland Australia at Geraldton, where it will last 2 minutes 34 seconds. Drive 25 miles (40 km) south, and you’ll gain an extra 21 seconds. In nearly the center of Australia, one of the greatest opportunities to photograph the eclipse will take place when totality occurs at Uluru/Ayers Rock, a massive sandstone rock formation. There, it will last 3 minutes 4 seconds with the Sun 40° high in the north-northeast. Any imager on the south-southwest side of this site could capture the eclipsed Sun above Australia’s greatest natural wonder.
Finally, the path encounters Brisbane. This city’s southern limit will experience 2 minutes 20 seconds of totality. Mobile eclipse watchers won’t stop there, however. They’ll continue south, perhaps to Rathdowney, for 3 minutes 32 seconds of totality.
Finally, the umbra contacts New Zealand’s North Island. If possible, view the eclipse from the island’s western end. There, totality will last 2 minutes 22 seconds with the Sun 14° above an ocean horizon.
Dec. 26, 2038
As with the previous eclipse, the umbra will touch only Australia and New Zealand. The maximum duration of totality is 2 minutes 18 seconds.
It enters Australia at Onslow, which sits on the country’s west coast. Anyone there will see 1 minute 4 seconds of totality. A good base will be Adelaide. Eclipse chasers heading north from there, perhaps to Burra, will enjoy 1 minute 53 seconds of totality. And at Mallacoota, which lies on the southeast coast, totality will last 2 minutes 9 seconds.
In New Zealand, the Moon’s umbra touches the northern tip of the South Island, as well as the southern part of the North Island. Savvy eclipse chasers might base in the country’s capital, Wellington, and then head north to the center line near Foxton, where totality will last 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
Dec. 15, 2039
This eclipse will be a tough acquisition for most people because it only touches Antarctica. Maximum duration of totality is 1 minute 51 seconds. The umbra misses McMurdo Station, the continent’s largest settlement, by only 60 miles (100 km). Cruise lines offer tours here, but it’s most likely that eclipse chasers will observe the event near its beginning, approximately 600 miles (1,000 km) south of New Zealand. From there, totality will last 1 minute 30 seconds with the Sun 10° above the ocean horizon.
April 30, 2041
This eclipse encounters five countries. The maximum duration of totality is 1 minute 51 seconds. Angola’s capital, Luanda, will get 1 minute 47 seconds of totality, but the path encounters just a few more towns.
The umbra next visits the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Residents at the northern edge of Kikwit who position themselves along the bank of the Kwilu River will see 56 seconds of totality. Another large city is Butembo, whose southern edge gets 54 seconds.
In Uganda, the umbra will cover many small towns. One base is the capital, Kampala, a city of 1.7 million. From there, travelers could head north to the Extreme Adventure Park Busika, where totality will last 1 minute 15 seconds.
In Kenya, Nairobi offers many accommodations, but visitors might head to Kitale, where totality will last 1 minute 1 second. Nature lovers could observe from Wamba, where totality will last 47 seconds. The town lies just north of the Samburu National Reserve and the Buffalo Springs National Reserve, both of which contain rich wildlife populations.
The duration of totality in Somalia is 55 seconds at the country’s western border and 48 seconds at the shore of the Somali Sea. Unfortunately, few towns and villages lie along the path.