In case you happened to see those viral social media posts claiming a major solar eclipse will occur on Aug. 2 and darken the daytime sky for more than 6 minutes, here are the facts.
There’s NO solar eclipse taking place on Aug. 2, 2025 — anywhere in the world. So there’s no need to grab your goofy-looking eclipse safety glasses.
However, experts from NASA say there will be a total solar eclipse occurring on Aug. 2, 2027 — two years from now — in some parts of the world, like Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. But not here in North America.
On Aug. 12, 2026, some parts of North America will be able to see a total solar eclipse, according to NASA.
False reports about a total solar eclipse — with some people calling it the “eclipse of the century” — occurring this weekend have been circulating on social media platforms like TikTok and X.
It’s uncertain whether the false reports were intentional or whether the posters simply got the year mixed up.
The solar eclipse coming in August 2027 is supposed to be a rare one because it will be “the longest total eclipse visible from Earth for more than 100 years,“ according to People.com.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s rays.
Safety reminder: If you plan on looking up in the sky during any solar eclipse, you will need to wear special filtered glasses to protect your eyes from getting damaged.
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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.
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