L'April 8, 2024 It's a date that has been on everyone's lips for several months now as one of the most anticipated and spectacular astronomical events ever will take place: a total solar eclipse. Although in Italy we will not be able to directly observe the phenomenon in its totality, given that in our location the sun will not darken, the enthusiasm is still high.
The eclipse will begin at 19pm Italian time and it will come to maximum darkness at 20pm Italian and then end completely 21: 55.
It is true, however, that we will be able to observe the event in streaming, so here are some details and curiosities.
Where and how to watch the Eclipse of April 8, 2024 in streaming
For us Italians, following the total solar eclipse is only possible in streaming and there are various possibilities available to us. Here are some channels through which it will be possible to watch the event:
Channels in Italian:
- Who is afraid of the dark (live from 18pm): Facebook page, Youtube channel
- National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF): Youtube channel e Average INAF
Channels in English:
- NASA TV: https://www.nasa.gov/nasatv/
- NASA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nasa
- The Virtual Telescope Project: https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/
- ChuckAstrophotography: Youtube channel
Channels that will offer us detailed coverage of the eclipse with commentary from some experts and various live views from the best geographical positions, obviously those in English being live they will not be subtitled.
What have been the Eclipses of recent years? When was the last total eclipse in Italy?
In recent years, we have witnessed several notable ecliptic events. Between these the total solar eclipse of 2017, visible across large parts of the United States and nicknamed “The Great American Eclipse,” and the total solar eclipse of 2019, which crossed parts of Chile and Argentina.
The dates of previous eclipses
Here are the dates of the latest partial and total eclipses, visible from various parts of the world.
- 2023:
- 20th April
- 2022:
- 4th December
- 30th April
- 2021:
- 4th December
- 10nd June
- 2020:
- 14th December
- 21nd June
- 2019:
- 2 July
- 26th December
- 2018:
- August 11th
- 15 February
- 2017:
- August 21th
- 26 February
The last solar eclipse in Italy
Italy has mostly witnessed partial solar eclipses since, in 1961, the last total eclipse di Sole crossed part of the national territory, making the phenomenon visible in some regions such as Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany, Lazio and Marche. After that event, they occurred several partial eclipses, with some of the most significant observed in 1999 and 2005, where the percentage of darkness of the solar disk was particularly notable.
Previous eclipses in Italy
Here are the dates of previous eclipses in Italy:
- 25 October 2022
- 20 March 2015
- November 3, 2013
- 20 May 2012
- 4 January 2011
- 29 March 2006
- October 3, 2005 (one of the highest in percentage of darkness)
- August 11, 1999 (one of the highest in percentage of darkness)
- 12 October 1996
- 21 May 1993
- 30 May 1984
- 4 December 1983
- 15 December 1982
- 16 February 1980
- July 22 1971
- 25 February 1971
- May 9 1967,
- May 20 1966,
- 9 July 1964,
- February 15, 1961 (last total solar eclipse visible in Italy)
When will the next Eclipses occur? Dates to mark
For fans of astronomical phenomena residing in Italy, here are some future eclipse dates not to be missed, though you will hardly be on this earth for some of them.
- November 5, 2059: A central annular eclipse will cross Sicily and Sardinia, offering a unique spectacle to those who find themselves in these regions.
- July 13 2075: This central annular eclipse will touch Tuscany, Emilia and Veneto, with the rising sun already almost completely obscured.
- 3 September 2081: A total solar eclipse will cross France, Austria, a part of Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia, as well as the entire Balkan Peninsula.
- July 6 2187: A total solar eclipse will divide Lazio and Tuscany in two, promising a visual event of great impact.
- November 8, 2189: The shadow cone of the eclipse will be parallel to the Italian boot, intersecting Corsica and Sicily.
- May 16, 2227 and June 13, 2230: These two dates will mark the return of the total solar eclipse to Tuscany and Sicily, respectively
The next Eclipses visible from Italy
Looking to the future, Italians will have to wait to see notable ecliptic events. in 2059, a central annular eclipse it will cross Sicily and Sardinia. Other appointments to note are for 2075, with an eclipse that will touch Tuscany, Emilia and Veneto, and for 2081, with an event that will involve part of Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Ecliptic events of great importance will also occur in the following centuries, with eclipses in 2187, 2189, 2227 and 2230.
