March 4, 2022
Eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align. Due to the cycles of alignment, there will always be at least 4 eclipses in a year – two solar and two lunar. However, there can be more than four, with seven being the maximum number of eclipses that can occur in a single year. The last time this occurred was 1982. The next time there are seven eclipses in a year is 2038, with three solar eclipses and 4 lunar eclipses.
A total solar eclipse (left) and a total lunar eclipse (right). There are at least 2 eclipses of each type in a single year. Image credits: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani (left), NASA (right)
