Eclipse FOMO got you down? Here are 8 more on their way
The day we've all been waiting for is almost upon us, the day of the great solar eclipse seen cross the country, but ... what happens if you don't see it?
Work, illness, or, worst of all, CLOUDS could prevent you from basking in the glorious shadow cast by the moon passing between earth and the sun, and sharing this historic eclipse with the nation.
We already know that eclipse FOMO is a thing but what if it comes to pass for YOU? First of all: take a deep breath. There's hope!
Because planetary and lunar orbits are so consistent, and thanks to the amount of data that we have, NASA wizards are able to easily plot out when the next eclipses will occur for years down the line.
For instance, if you live in the Midwest, you're in luck as you won't have to wait too long (well, a few years) for your next shot. And Tallahassee, Florida, of all places, will find itself the center of the eclipse universe twice in the coming decades.
Dr. Fred Espenak has a great site about future eclipses and if you're okay with going global, the Washington Post has a nifty tool. Otherwise, let's look at the rest of the solar eclipses on U.S. soil between now and the end of the century.
2024, the Great Midwest Eclipse
Yep, just a few years down the road. On April 8, 2024, another full solar eclipse will cut across parts of the South, Midwest, and the extreme Northeast, with cities like Dallas, Indianapolis, and Cleveland in the path of totality.
March 30, 2033: Alaska only!
If you happen to be waaaaaaaaaay up yonder by Barrow or Nome, Alaska, you're in luck! As long as someone is around to explain what's happening to Sarah Palin and that the sun isn't going out because of "the lamestream media."
Aug. 23, 2044: The Upper Plains
This'll be just a peek in parts of Montana and North Dakota. Nothing to get too excited about unless you're roaming buffalo or Justin Trudeau, in which case, may we recommend Calgary as a nice place to watch?
Aug. 12, 2045: Coast to (almost) coast again
The 2045 eclipse will be another big one as it'll be along a similar path to the 2017 eclipse, if a bit further south, falling short of hitting anything on East Coast except for Florida. Cities like Colorado Springs, Tulsa, and Meridian, Mississippi will be big destinations, though.
But if you want to be part of the real party, book your trip now for Disney World because Orlando is in the path of totality. Eclipse with Mickey: what could go wrong?
March 30, 2052: The Southeast Special
If you live in the southeast, you'll have an embarassment of eclipse riches over a few decades, including that 2045 eclipse and another solid one in to come in 2078.
Sandwiched in between is this little eclipse that's going to show itself over a small sliver of the region, including Savannah and Tallahassee, which will find itself near the path of totality for the second time in seven years. Devil magic.
May 11, 2078: Another Southeast Special
It's too bad this one won't take place earlier in the year because, my God, could you imagine an eclipse during Mardi Gras? The madness.
This eclipse follows a path that's a smidge north of the 2052 eclipse, bringing cities like Charlotte, Atlanta, and Montgomery near the totality path. In case you're wondering, Tallahassee is close but is just a bit too far east for an extraordinary three-straight-total-eclipse run.
May 1, 2079: The Big Apple's show
Maybe it's appropriate that we end our look at upcoming eclipses with the city that's the center of the universe (or, at least, its residents will tell you that). Congrats, New York and Long Island. This one is all yours.
Sept. 14, 2099: A shady close to the century
The Midwest gets more fun. Assuming the world still exists and the entire country isn't just a smoking crater, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Columbus, Ohio will be in for a treat as the moon's shadow sweeps across that corridor of the country to close out what is already shaping up to be a very weird century.
Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.
