The most striking eclipses Brazil will see in the coming years are the annular solar eclipse of January 26, 2028, with a full ring over Manaus, and the total lunar eclipse of June 25-26, 2029, visible from the whole country all night. Before them, on February 6, 2027, the Sun is partly covered in every state capital, though very unevenly. Below are the dates, times and what to expect from each.
Why eclipses only happen at new moon or full moon
A solar eclipse happens at new moon, when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun. A lunar eclipse happens at full moon, when Earth sits between the Sun and the Moon and casts its shadow on it. Because the Moon's orbit is tilted about 5° to Earth's orbit, almost every new and full moon passes "above" or "below" the alignment, and there is no eclipse. Check the phase for any day on the moon phase page.
Types of eclipse
| Type | What happens | How to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Total solar | The Moon covers the whole Sun, only along a narrow path | Solar filter, except during totality |
| Annular solar | The Moon looks smaller than the Sun and leaves a ring of light | Solar filter the whole time |
| Partial solar | The Moon covers only part of the Sun | Solar filter the whole time |
| Total lunar | The Moon enters Earth's shadow and turns reddish | Naked eye |
| Partial lunar | Part of the Moon enters the shadow | Naked eye |
| Penumbral lunar | The Moon only crosses the faint outer shadow and dims slightly | Naked eye; subtle effect |
Eclipses visible from Brazil in the coming years
The most recent eclipse seen from the country was the partial lunar eclipse of August 28, 2026. The data below come from this site's calculations for the center of each state capital, ignoring terrain. For solar eclipses the times are local to each capital; for lunar eclipses they are Brasília time.
| Date | Type | What Brazil sees |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2027 | Annular solar | Partial in all 27 capitals: the Sun is covered from 1% (Boa Vista) to 85% (Vitória). São Paulo: maximum at 13:22 (78%); Rio de Janeiro: 13:30 (84%). The full ring does not cross any capital. |
| Feb 20, 2027 | Penumbral lunar | Subtle dimming, hard to notice with the naked eye. |
| Jan 12, 2028 | Partial lunar | Overnight, in all 27 capitals. The partial phase runs from 00:45 to 01:41 and the bite taken out of the Moon is small. |
| Jan 26, 2028 | Annular solar | Ring over Manaus (maximum at 10:28 local time; Sun 85% covered). Partial in the other capitals, from 6% (Porto Alegre) to 82% (Macapá). Brasília: 35% at 11:41. |
| Jun 25-26, 2029 | Total lunar | Totality from 23:31 to 01:13, about 1h42, visible from all 27 capitals. |
| Dec 20, 2029 | Total lunar | In part of the country the Moon rises with the eclipse under way. Totality, from 19:15 to 20:09, is seen from 24 capitals. |
| Sep 12, 2034 | Annular solar | Ring over Porto Alegre (maximum at 14:25, Sun 94% covered) and other cities in Rio Grande do Sul, such as Santa Maria. Partial elsewhere: São Paulo 67%, Rio de Janeiro 60%. |
The June 2029 eclipse is the best one for watching a total lunar eclipse from home: it happens at night and the Moon is high in the sky across the country. For every eclipse from 2026 to 2035, with the list of capitals, see the eclipses page.
How to watch eclipses safely
Solar eclipse
- Use eclipse glasses or solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard. Ordinary sunglasses, X-ray film and smoked glass do not protect your eyes.
- Never look through a camera, phone, binoculars or telescope without a proper solar filter fitted in front of the lens.
- For annular and partial eclipses the filter stays on the whole time. Only during the totality of a total eclipse, and only inside the path of totality, is it safe to remove it. None of the solar eclipses in the table has totality in Brazil.
Lunar eclipse
It is completely safe: the Moon only reflects sunlight. You can watch with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, no filter needed. Pick a spot with an open horizon and little light pollution.
Check your own case
- See visibility in each capital on the eclipses page.
- Look up sunrise and sunset times on sunrise and sunset, useful for eclipses near the horizon.
- Find out the Moon phase on your birthday.
- To convert times from other countries, see UTC time: Brasília is UTC−3.
FAQ
What is the next eclipse visible from Brazil?
From October 2026, it is the annular solar eclipse of February 6, 2027, which will be partial in every capital.
What is the next total lunar eclipse seen from Brazil?
The one on June 25-26, 2029, with totality between 23:31 and 01:13 Brasília time.
Can I watch a solar eclipse with sunglasses?
No. Only glasses or viewers that meet ISO 12312-2 offer protection.
Is there an eclipse every month?
No. The Moon's orbit is tilted, so most new and full moons do not cause an eclipse.
Do I need protection to watch a lunar eclipse?
No. A lunar eclipse is safe with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.
Summary
From 2027 to 2034, Brazil will see annular solar eclipses in 2027, 2028 and 2034, and total lunar eclipses in June and December 2029. The January 26, 2028 solar eclipse brings the ring to Manaus, and the June 2029 lunar eclipse is visible all night from the whole country. Protect your eyes during solar eclipses and check the details for your capital.