--- description: There hasn't been a partial solar eclipse on Friday the 13th in 44 years. But there's one happening on July 13. Here's what to know title: A Partial Solar Eclipse Is Coming on Friday the 13th. That Hasn't Happened in 40 Years image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltcf80b5b6e609772e/698934e9e76ad2a56c632755/partial-solar-eclipse-july-13.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Space](/tag/space/) ## Space Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # A Partial Solar Eclipse Is Coming on Friday the 13th. That Hasn't Happened in 40 Years ## Video: Watch the Whole Total Solar Eclipse in 4 Minutes [Watch (HLS stream): Watch the Whole Total Solar Eclipse in 4 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/8eBLoRLZ.m3u8) (4:01)  _Published 2017-08-21. Millions of Americans turned their eyes skyward as a rare total solar eclipse sailed across the country from coast to coast for the first time, turning day into night in more than a dozen states. The eclipse ended just after 2:44 p.m. E.T._ by [Gabby Raymond](/author/gabby-raymond/) ## Gabby Raymond Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 10, 2018 7:43 PM CUT  MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 20: The sun is pictured during a partial solar eclipse on March 20, 2015 in Muncih, Germany. MUNICH, GERMANY - MARCH 20: The sun is pictured during a partial solar eclipse on March 20, 2015 in Muncih, Germany.Alexander Hassenstein—Getty Images by [Gabby Raymond](/author/gabby-raymond/) ## Gabby Raymond Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jul 10, 2018 7:43 PM CUT While it won’t be anything like the [2017 total solar eclipse](http://time.com/4750899/total-solar-eclipse/ "undefined"), there is a [partial solar eclipse](http://time.com/4902927/partial-solar-eclipse-definition/ "undefined") coming up [this week](http://time.com/5152487/partial-solar-eclipse-2018-february/ "undefined"). The July 13 eclipse is particularly rare because it will occur on Friday the 13th, a date that has long been considered [a harbinger of bad luck by popular culture](http://time.com/4325675/friday-the-13th-unlucky-why/ "undefined"). There has not been a solar eclipse on Friday the 13th since December 13, 1974, according to [NASA](https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/5MCSEmap/1901-2000/1974-12-13.gif "undefined"). And the next partial eclipse to occur on Friday the 13th will be on September 13, 2080. Unlike the 2017 total solar eclipse, this week’s partial solar eclipse won’t be visible to Americans — or most of the world for that matter. It will mostly hover over the open ocean between Antartica and the southern tip of Australia, according to the [UK’s Nautical Almanac Office](http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/eclipse/0322018/ "undefined"). People in Tasmania, an island off the southern coast of Australia, will most likely get the best view of the July 13 eclipse, which is expected to last one hour and four minutes. The best place to see it may be in Hobart, Tasmania, where about 35% of the sun’s diameter will be covered by the moon at 1:24 p.m. local time, according to the [UK’s Nautical Almanac Office](http://astro.ukho.gov.uk/eclipse/0322018/Hobart%5FAustralia%5F2018Jul13.png "undefined"). In Melbourne, Australia, 4% of the sun’s diameter will be covered, which means only a sliver of sun will be darkened by the eclipse. Other places, including Launceston, Tasmania and Geelong, Australia will also have a view of the eclipse on July 13, but they will see less than 25% of the sun blocked out. The outermost areas where the eclipse will be visible to a population of people is in Adelaide, a costal town in the southern part of Australia, and Invercargill, on the tip of New Zealand. In these areas, only just a small sliver of the sun will be blocked out by the moon, meaning it could look almost like a regular sunny afternoon. People who are planning to view the partial eclipse should make sure to wear [proper glasses](http://time.com/money/4903364/solar-eclipse-glasses-gadgets-photos/ "undefined") to protect their eyes from the sun (eyewear is not required to look at [lunar eclipses](http://time.com/5328804/july-2018-lunar-eclipse-date/ "undefined")). And for those taking pictures of the July 13 eclipse with smartphones, there are different[ tips and tricks](https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/Photographing%20the%20Eclipse%20with%20your%20Smartphone.pdf "undefined") to make sure you do so safely. Even though the Southern Ocean will get the best view of the July 13 eclipse, there will be another chance to see a partial solar eclipse this summer on the opposite end of the world. Northern parts of China, Russia, Eastern Europe the U.K, Sweden, Norway and Finland will be able to see the moon partially block the sun on August 11. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5333271/july-13-2018-partial-solar-eclipse/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5333271/july-13-2018-partial-solar-eclipse/"},"headline":"A Partial Solar Eclipse Is Coming on Friday the 13th. 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