As millions of people across the US gather to watch a total solar eclipse make its way from the east coast to the west, many of us are left wondering: when is the next eclipse and where can I see it? You may have missed your chance to view this rare celestial event in person, but there are others in the not-so-distant future. From total, partial and annular solar eclipses to blood moons, we recommend where to go and when to witness these extraordinary natural phenomena for yourself.

A total solar eclipse can only occur when the moon is directly between the earth and the sun. On average one totality happens somewhere on earth every 18 months, which makes it a rare and much-anticipated occurrence. The eerie sight of the sun disappearing and day becoming night is truly incredible.

Unless you’re a serial eclipse chaser (yes, they really do exist), you're unlikely to see more than one total solar eclipse in your lifetime. On average, it takes about 375 years for a total solar eclipse to happen again at the same location.

When the next total solar eclipse happens on August 21, the umbra (the shadow cast when the sun is entirely blocked by the moon) will be visible in 14 US states as the path of totality stretches from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. The penumbra (partial shadow) will be visible by everyone in North America, parts of South America, Africa and Europe – including the UK.

According to Timeanddate.com, this will be the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland United States since 1979. The next one will be in April 2024, but that one won’t be visible in as many locations across the US as the 2017 eclipse.

It might not have quite the same wow factor as a total blackout but some partial solar eclipses are set to have us gazing upwards in 2018. Those living in the south of South America and parts of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Antarctica will get to see one on 15 February 2018. Antarctica is in line to see the most dramatic eclipse but there are some more accessible places to view it including parts of Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

The further south you go, the larger proportion of the sun that will be covered so head to the tip of Chile and into the wilds of Patagonia to catch a good glimpse. The incredible dramatic landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park are breathtaking enough by themselves and a make for a fabulous spot to take in the celestial spectacle.

Across the border, Argentina’s Patagonia will also be in line for the eclipse. Visit the Los Glaciares National Park to see another incredible natural wonder, the glaciers including the vast Perito Moreno glacier. It’s one of the world’s only active glaciers.

Another great wilderness destination, the remote archipelago of the Falklands in the south Atlantic Ocean will also get a good view of this partial eclipse. February is a great time to visit when the weather is pleasant and wildlife viewing opportunities at their best. The eclipse will be at its maximum at 6.42pm in capital Stanley. Pop by to see the penguins on Saunders Island while you're there – it's home to king, rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, as well as the black-browed albatross.

The southern tip of mainland Australia, the island of Tasmania and Oban on the tip of New Zealand’s South Island are the places to be to catch a glimpse of July’s partial eclipse. There are plenty of beautiful open spaces to choose from in this scenic part of the southern hemisphere.

Your best bet is to head to Australia’s island state of Tasmania to see the most dramatic eclipse from land. According to Timeanddate.com, the partial eclipse will be at its maximum at 1.24pm local time in historic capital Hobart. The observation shelter at the top of Mount Wellington (4,166 feet up) will likely have spectacular views. If the weather’s not playing ball, you’ll at least get to gaze down at sweeping views over Hobart and the Derwent estuary.

Head further south still to see a slightly larger portion of the sun covered and some of the island’s most gorgeous scenery. Catch a boat from Kettering to beautiful Bruny Island – go on a wildlife watching cruise (albatross, seals and dolphins are very likely sightings), wander to the lighthouse in the South Bruny National Park and be sure to taste the local oysters. Even further down the coast you’ll reach Cockle Creek, the furthest southern point you can drive to in Oz.

Visible in parts of northern Europe and Scandinavia, Canada, Greenland, Russia, Mongolia, China, North Korea and South Korea, August 2018 also sees a partial solar eclipse. The best chance of seeing it in the UK is on the northern coast of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland. As the most northerly inhabited island in the UK, Unst is likely to get a good line of sight. Head to the island’s most northerly cliffs at Hermaness National Nature Reserve – breeding ground for gannets, skuas and puffins – and wait for the spectacle to appear.

The pretty capital of Greenland, Nuuk, will see the eclipse at its maximum at 6.41am. The surprisingly cosmopolitan harbour city is a fantastic place to spend a few days – head out onto Nuuk fjord for an early morning boat trip. When you’re not staring at the sky (eclipse glasses on, of course) keep a look out for humpback whales.

Head to Longyearbyen in Norway's Svalbard archipelago or Reykjavík in Iceland and you’ll not only get to see the eclipse but also the midnight sun. The golden glow of the sun in the middle of the night is yet another incredible natural sight that needs to be seen to be believed. Iceland’s capital will witness the maximum eclipse at 8.44am while Longyearbyen gets to see it as 11.17am. 

Keen astronomers are in luck in 2018 as a full lunar eclipse will happen on 31 January. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon is completely in the Earth's shadow. This can only occur when the sun, earth and the moon are completely aligned. And unlike a solar eclipse you don’t need special glasses to view the phenomenon.

During a full lunar eclipse, the moon usually appears dark and red because as sunlight filters through the Earth’s atmosphere, only the red light gets through. That's why it’s sometimes known as a blood moon. Whether the moon goes red and how dark it appears depends on atmospheric conditions at the time.

While spectacular to see, a full lunar eclipse is less rare than a total solar one as it can be seen by anyone on the right side of the world, weather permitting. In January, it will be visible in an area covering north and east Europe, Asia, Australia, north and east Africa, North America, north and west South America, the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic, and Antarctica.

It will be visible in Singapore at 9.29pm local time. While the highly-populated city may not seem ideal for night-sky gazing there are plenty of high-rise bars to stake a spot at as well as open spaces. Head to the rooftop of the Marina Barrage for a great vantage point, or scale Singapore’s highest natural peak, Bukit Timar Hill. The nature reserve is a gorgeous little pocket of greenery and a popular spot with trekkers.

Sydney, weather willing, will also get to enjoy the full lunar eclipse. This stunner of a city is just as beautiful at night as it is in the day time. Head up to Observatory Hill just above the Rocks and sit down to watch the moon glow red over the harbour. The Sydney Observatory often has night tours so sign up to one to learn more about eclipses.

Another full lunar eclipse will darken our skies in July 2019 and will be visible in London, other parts of Europe as well as parts of Asia. Head to Primrose Hill in northwest London to (hopefully) watch the moon glow red against the backdrop of the city skyline. It will be at its best at 9.21pm.

It hits Athens at 11.21pm. The sight of the moon looming over the ancient acropolis is thrilling on a normal night let alone during a blood moon. The ancient Greeks were keen astrologers and intrigued by eclipses – they believed solar eclipses especially to be bad omens.

The next full solar eclipse happens on 2 July 2019 and tour operators have already started taking bookings for special tours to see it. This time it will be visible in a path of totality that stretches across parts of south America and into the Pacific.

Astronomical travel specialist Travel Quest has a “Cruise to Totality” trip from 26 June to 10 July 2019. It will take passengers on board the MS Paul Gaughin sailing out from Tahiti and around the South Pacific to view the eclipse. Onboard lectures will have you fully up-to-speed on everything to do with eclipses as well as provide insights into astronomy within Polynesian culture.

The path of totality will mainly pass over the Pacific Ocean, including a point just north of Pitcairn Island (of Fletcher Christian and the HMS Bounty mutineers fame). Although a landing is not yet confirmed, Travel Quest hopes to include an excursion to the two-mile-long island. The eclipse itself will be viewed back on board the ship as it happens above the Pacific Ocean – you'll get to enjoy the sun turn black for three minutes and 10 seconds during this extraordinary event.

The total eclipse will also make landfall in parts of Argentina and Chile. Combine astronomy with gastronomy on Explore’s 14-day tour departing on 23 June 2019. Accompanied by an astronomer, you’ll visit Leoncito Observatory to admire the clear night skies and watch the eclipse from the garden of a lovely private country house near San Juan in the north west of the country – an area renowned for its lack of light pollution. It will take place at around 4.25pm local time.

When you’re not gazing up at the sky, you’ll be gazing down into a wine glass as you sample some of the delicious drops produced in two of Argentina’s top wine growing regions – San Juan and Mendoza. You’ll also visit the remarkable red desert of Talampaya National Park (where dinosaurs once roamed), mountain top villages, and buzzy Buenos Aires.

An annular eclipse, according to Timeanddate.com, happens when the moon covers the sun's centre, leaving its outer edges visible to form a so-called “ring of fire” or annulus around the moon. Boxing Day 2019 brings an annular solar eclipse to parts of eastern Europe, much of Asia, north and Western Australia, east Africa, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. The perfect excuse for taking off to warmer climes for a Christmas holiday, we say.

Head to beautiful dunes of Wahiba Sands in Oman for a Christmas with a difference on Explore’s Arabian Sands and Eclipse tour, which departs on 21 December 2019 for eight days. Also known as the Sharqiya Sands, you’ll sleep beneath the star cluttered skies, waking up to see the annular solar eclipse while you sip your morning coffee. The clear desert skies mean you're in with a high chance of seeing the eclipse. 

Alternatively, you can witness it from the lush and lofty hill station of Ooty in Tamil Nadu, southern India.​ Explore’s 10-day southern India trip departs from Bangalore and ends in Kerala’s charming spice port Kochi. Aside from the eclipse, you’ll gaze up at the stars as you spend the night on a traditional houseboat on the dreamy Keralan backwaters, take a trip aboard an antique train through the Nilgiri Mountains and visit the opulent palace of Mysore.

The eclipse will be visible in other picturesque parts of Asia, including Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Explore is running trips to these fascinating countries too – in Sri Lanka the tour will stop at the small island of Analaitivu, located off the coast of Jaffna in the north, to view the spectacle in idyllic surroundings.

Wildlife lovers may prefer to head to Sumatra where the eclipse viewing will take place somewhere in the vast rice paddies of Padang Sidempuan. Adventure seekers will be in for a treat throughout Explore’s 12-night trip to this fascinating island: trekking through jungle to spy wild orangutans, climbing active volcano Mount Sibayak, and travelling by boat to remote Batak villages to meet a former tribe chief and learn about ancestral traditions.

After that, the next total solar eclipse takes place on 4 December 2021 and Antarctica is the place to be. You might literally have to travel to end of the Earth, but eclipse enthusiasts should start saving now for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this incredible and ethereal phenomenon in Antarctica’s otherworldly landscape. It promises to be an unforgettable vision.