In case you haven’t heard, there’s a big event this afternoon — a total eclipse of the Sun. Totality is visible along a narrow path from Texas to Maine. The parts of the country outside that path will see a partial eclipse.

If you miss it — well, let’s just say it’ll be a long wait until the next great eclipse over the United States.

The next total eclipse visible anywhere will take place on August 12th, 2026. Its path will cross parts of Europe, but most of it will cross the high Arctic.

The next total eclipse visible from anywhere in the United States is on March 30th of 2033, across Alaska. An eclipse in 2044 will catch Montana and North Dakota, but much of its path will be across Canada.

The next great eclipse in the U.S. is on August 12th, 2045. Its path will stretch from northern California, across the Rockies, the southern Plains, and the southeast, all the way to southern Florida. And it really will be a great one — totality will last up to six minutes.

Today’s eclipse belongs to a centuries-long series known as Saros 139. The next eclipse in that series is in 2042, mostly over the western Pacific Ocean.

So enjoy today’s total eclipse — the last one visible from American soil for a long time. And please remember to watch safely — use eclipse glasses or other approved gear to protect your eyes from the power of the unfiltered Sun.

Script by Damond Benningfield