☾ Saros Cycles & Eclipse Visibility 2026–2028

A Saros cycle is a period of approximately 6,585.3 days (18 years, 11 days, 8 hours) after which the Sun, Earth, and Moon return to nearly the same relative geometry. This means eclipses repeat in predictable patterns, with each recurrence shifted about 120° westward (due to the extra 8 hours) and slightly north or south.

Ancient Babylonian astronomers discovered this cycle over 2,500 years ago. The word "Saros" comes from the Greek, though the Babylonians likely used a different term. Each Saros series is numbered and contains roughly 70–85 eclipses spanning about 1,200–1,500 years.

Why 2026–2028 is special: Three separate Saros series are producing eclipses in rapid succession. Each year delivers one annular and one total solar eclipse, creating an unprecedented concentration of six eclipses in just 29 months.

The annular eclipses come from Saros 121, 131, and 141. The total eclipses come from Saros 126, 136, and 146. The last time a similar clustering occurred was 2008–2010, but those eclipses mostly tracked over oceans and remote regions. This time, the paths cross populated continents and iconic destinations.

Saros 136 is particularly noteworthy — it produces the longest total solar eclipses of the current era. The August 2, 2027 eclipse from this series will deliver up to 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality, earning it the nickname "Eclipse of the Century."