Eclipses in astrology: what they mean and when they fall
What solar and lunar eclipses mean, every date through 2028, and how to check your own chart.
Eclipses in astrology are read as extra-strong new moons and full moons that mark turning points in one area of your life. A solar eclipse points to a new start, and a lunar eclipse points to an ending or a moment when something becomes clear.
Eclipses come in groups about every six months, always near the lunar nodes. Each one lands at a set degree of a sign, so you can look up whether it touches your own chart. Most pass by with little effect on any one person, and the few that land on your planets are worth noting.
Solar and lunar eclipses
A solar eclipse happens at a new moon, when the Moon crosses in front of the Sun. New moons already stand for beginnings, and an eclipse raises the volume. People often describe a door opening, sometimes before they feel ready for it.
A lunar eclipse happens at a full moon, when the Earth’s shadow falls across the Moon. Full moons stand for peaks and results. So a lunar eclipse often brings a conclusion or a truth you can no longer ignore, like the moment you admit a job has run its course.
There are different kinds of each. A solar eclipse can be total, annular or partial. In an annular eclipse, a thin ring of Sun stays visible around the Moon. A lunar eclipse can be total, partial or penumbral. A penumbral one is faint and easy to miss, and many astrologers give it less weight.
Eclipse dates for 2026 to 2028
These are all the eclipses from 2026 through 2028, with the degree where each one falls. The 2026 rows have passed. They stay here because many astrologers follow an eclipse degree for about six months afterward.
| Date | Eclipse | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 | Annular solar | 28° Aquarius |
| Mar 3, 2026 | Total lunar | 13° Virgo |
| Aug 12, 2026 | Total solar | 20° Leo |
| Aug 28, 2026 | Partial lunar | 4° Pisces |
| Feb 6, 2027 | Annular solar | 17° Aquarius |
| Feb 20, 2027 | Penumbral lunar | 1° Virgo |
| Jul 18, 2027 | Penumbral lunar | 25° Capricorn |
| Aug 2, 2027 | Total solar | 9° Leo |
| Aug 17, 2027 | Penumbral lunar | 24° Aquarius |
| Jan 12, 2028 | Partial lunar | 21° Cancer |
| Jan 26, 2028 | Annular solar | 6° Aquarius |
| Jul 6, 2028 | Partial lunar | 15° Capricorn |
| Jul 22, 2028 | Total solar | 0° Leo |
| Dec 31, 2028 | Total lunar | 10° Cancer |
To learn where a given eclipse is visible, check a local eclipse calendar.
Why eclipses repeat in the same signs
The Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s path at two points called the nodes. Eclipses can only happen when a new or full moon falls close to one of them. The nodes move slowly backward through the zodiac, and they stay in a sign for about 18 months.
You can see that backward drift in the table. The solar eclipses of these years fall at 28° Aquarius, 20° Leo, 17° Aquarius, 9° Leo, 6° Aquarius and 0° Leo. The numbers keep dropping. The same thing happened with the lunar eclipses in Pisces on September 18, 2024, September 7, 2025, and August 28, 2026.
So a pair of signs gets a run of eclipses, then the series moves on. If your chart has planets in Leo or Aquarius, these years will likely feel busier than average. Capricorn and Cancer join the series from July 2027.
How to tell if an eclipse touches your chart
Open your chart in the birth chart calculator and take these steps for any date in the table.
- Find the sign and degree of the eclipse in your chart.
- Look for a planet or angle within about three degrees of it. Your Sun, Moon, Rising sign and Midheaven count most.
- Check the opposite point too, since an eclipse falls on an axis. An eclipse at 9° Leo also speaks to 9° Aquarius.
- Note the house, which names the part of life involved.
Houses need an exact birth time. Without one, the unknown birth time guide shows what you can still read. You can compare degrees with your planets either way.
What eclipses tend to bring
Stories from eclipse seasons have a common shape. A lease ends and you decide to move. A friendship you have been propping up finally goes quiet. An offer turns up that changes the plan for next year. Things that were already underway often come to a point.
Timing is loose. An eclipse can show up a few weeks before or after the date, and it can take months to play out. If nothing happens on the day, that is normal. Many eclipses leave no mark on a given person at all.
Eclipses in each house
The house tells you the subject. In the 1st house, an eclipse touches your image and how you start things. The 2nd brings up money habits, and the 4th home and family. The 7th puts close partnerships in view, and the 10th your work and public role. The other houses follow the same logic, and the houses guide lists them.
Making use of an eclipse season
Many astrologers suggest holding off on big choices during the two weeks between a pair of eclipses, because the picture keeps changing. That suits anything flexible. Use the time to take notes and clear out what you have outgrown.
Treat any strong feeling as information first. If the eclipse lands on your Moon, you might feel raw for a few days, and a walk does more than a rushed decision. Eclipses are one type of transit, so the same advice applies. Read them as a theme and keep the choice in your own hands.
Questions
What do eclipses mean in astrology?
Eclipses are read as strong new moons and full moons. They mark turning points in the area of life where they fall in your chart. A solar eclipse suggests a new start, and a lunar eclipse suggests an ending or a moment of clarity.
What is the difference between a solar and a lunar eclipse?
A solar eclipse happens at a new moon, when the Moon passes in front of the Sun. A lunar eclipse happens at a full moon, when the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
When is the next eclipse?
From November 2026, the next one is the annular solar eclipse of February 6, 2027, at 17 degrees Aquarius. A penumbral lunar eclipse follows on February 20, 2027, at 1 degree Virgo.
Do I need to see an eclipse for it to count?
No. Astrologers read the degree of the eclipse in your chart, wherever you live. To find out if you can watch one from your town, check a local eclipse calendar.
Are eclipses dangerous or unlucky?
No. Old stories treated them as bad omens, and the modern reading is calmer. An eclipse highlights a topic for a few months, and the chart does not predict events.