How many eclipses are there in 2027?

Five in total, two solar and three lunar.

Where is the August 2, 2027 total solar eclipse visible?

Totality crosses southern Spain, North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt), Saudi Arabia and Yemen, with a partial phase visible across most of Europe, much of Africa, the Middle East, parts of Southeast Asia, eastern Canada, northern Maine, and parts of southern India.

Do penumbral lunar eclipses require sutak?

Many panchang-makers treat a penumbral lunar eclipse as not requiring sutak at all, since it isn't a true visible obscuration the way a partial or total eclipse is, though this varies by community and tradition.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2027: Where They Are Visible and Sutak Rules

Q: Why does sutak only apply where an eclipse is visible?

Traditionally, sutak only applies where the eclipse can actually be observed. An eclipse not visible from your location traditionally carries no sutak obligation there.

There are five eclipses in 2027: two solar and three lunar. Visibility varies a lot by region, and that visibility is exactly what determines whether sutak rules traditionally apply.

Solar eclipses

February 6, 2027: an annular solar eclipse, path over parts of South America and Africa (including Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and West African countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin and Nigeria), with a partial phase over wider parts of South America, Africa and Antarctica. Not visible from India, Europe or North America.
August 2, 2027: a total solar eclipse, one of the most talked-about of the decade, with totality crossing southern Spain, North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt), Saudi Arabia and Yemen. A partial phase is visible across most of Europe, much of Africa, the Middle East, parts of Southeast Asia, eastern Canada, northern Maine in the US, and, closer to home, parts of southern India, with the deepest coverage (just over half the solar disc) around Nagercoil.

Lunar eclipses

All three of 2027’s lunar eclipses are penumbral: February 20-21, July 18, and August 16-17. A penumbral eclipse is subtle, the Moon only passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow, so it rarely produces a visible darkening to the naked eye the way a partial or total lunar eclipse does. The February 20-21 event is visible from India; check closer to the date for the exact local timing of the other two, since visibility of a lunar eclipse simply depends on whether the Moon is above your horizon at that hour.

Why visibility determines sutak

Traditionally, sutak, the period of restrictions before an eclipse (avoiding food preparation, temple closures, and similar practices), only applies where the eclipse can actually be observed. An eclipse not visible from your location traditionally carries no sutak obligation there. Many panchang-makers also treat a penumbral lunar eclipse as not requiring sutak at all, since it isn’t a true visible grasa (obscuration) the way a partial or total eclipse is, though this varies by community and tradition.

What sutak restrictions typically involve

For families who do observe sutak where an eclipse is visible, common practices include not cooking or eating during the sutak period, closing home temples and covering deity idols, and pregnant women in particular avoiding stepping outside or using sharp objects during the eclipse itself, a practice rooted in older beliefs about the eclipse’s effect on an unborn child. Temples often close their doors for the sutak period and reopen with a cleansing ritual right after the eclipse ends. None of these practices are universal, they vary by region, family, and how strictly a household follows tradition.

Checking visibility for your exact city

NASA’s eclipse website and timeanddate.com both let you enter a specific city and get the exact local circumstances: whether an eclipse is visible there at all, and at what local time it begins and ends if so. This is more reliable than assuming based on the broad regional description above, since visibility can end abruptly at a fairly precise boundary line even within a single country.

Why some diaspora families observe sutak anyway

Even when an eclipse isn’t visible from a family’s US or UK location, some households still follow sutak-style precautions out of habit, or because family in India is observing it and syncing practices across the household feels easier, especially with elders in the house. This isn’t the traditional rule, since sutak is tied to visibility, but it’s a common and reasonable personal choice, not something to correct someone on if that’s how their family prefers to handle it.

Check your specific location

Visibility can vary even within the broad regions listed here depending on your exact city and local horizon. Confirm with a reliable astronomical source or your local panchang closer to each date.