Mar 24 – Apr 7: total lunar in Libra and partial solar in Aries
Sep 16 – Oct 2: total lunar in Pisces and partial solar in Libra
The 1978 eclipses fall on the Aries–Libra and Virgo–Pisces axises. Eclipses stay on one pair of opposite signs for about a year and a half before moving back one sign.
Total lunar eclipse in ♎︎ Libra — March 24, 1978
3°41′ Libra · North Node ☊︎ · 91 min of totality
Greatest eclipse: Mar 24, 1978, 11:22 AM ET (1978-03-24 16:22 UTC). The umbral (visibly dark) phase lasts 219 minutes, including 91 minutes of totality.
In the US: Honolulu. Elsewhere: Cairo, Dubai, Mumbai, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney. (Moon above the horizon at mid-eclipse, Mar 24, 1978, 11:22 AM ET.)
A lunar eclipse is a supercharged Full Moon. Astrologers read it as a culmination or release around partnerships, agreements and fairness (Libra), with the Sun opposite in Aries. It falls near the North Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to growth and new direction. The Libra–Aries axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 3°41′ Libra or Aries.
Partial solar eclipse in ♈︎ Aries — April 7, 1978
17°26′ Aries · South Node ☋︎ · Moon covers part of the Sun
Greatest eclipse: Apr 7, 1978, 10:02 AM ET (1978-04-07 15:02 UTC).
Not visible from any of the major cities we check; mostly over ocean or polar regions.
A solar eclipse is a supercharged New Moon. Astrologers read it as a sudden opening or fresh start around impulsive decisions, independence and new starts (Aries). It falls near the South Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to letting go and endings. The Aries–Libra axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 17°26′ Aries or Libra.
Total lunar eclipse in ♓︎ Pisces — September 16, 1978
23°35′ Pisces · South Node ☋︎ · 79 min of totality
Greatest eclipse: Sep 16, 1978, 3:04 PM ET (1978-09-16 19:04 UTC). The umbral (visibly dark) phase lasts 208 minutes, including 79 minutes of totality.
Not visible from the US cities we check. Elsewhere: London, Madrid, Cairo, Lagos, Dubai, Mumbai, Beijing, Tokyo and Sydney. (Moon above the horizon at mid-eclipse, Sep 16, 1978, 3:04 PM ET.)
A lunar eclipse is a supercharged Full Moon. Astrologers read it as a culmination or release around intuition, dreams and endings (Pisces), with the Sun opposite in Virgo. It falls near the South Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to letting go and endings. The Pisces–Virgo axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 23°35′ Pisces or Virgo.
Partial solar eclipse in ♎︎ Libra — October 2, 1978
8°43′ Libra · North Node ☊︎ · Moon covers part of the Sun
Greatest eclipse: Oct 2, 1978, 2:27 AM ET (1978-10-02 06:27 UTC).
Seen from major cities
City
Sun covered
Maximum (local time)
Beijing
23%
Oct 2, 3:07 PM
Tokyo
23%
Oct 2, 4:32 PM
Cities not listed see no eclipse, or the Sun is below the horizon. Never look at the Sun without certified eclipse glasses, except during the brief total phase.
A solar eclipse is a supercharged New Moon. Astrologers read it as a sudden opening or fresh start around partnerships, agreements and fairness (Libra). It falls near the North Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to growth and new direction. The Libra–Aries axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 8°43′ Libra or Aries.
Peak times are greatest eclipse, computed with Astronomy Engine and rounded to the minute. Local times are for each city’s own time zone. All eclipses 1950–2050 (CSV) · Methodology
Frequently asked questions
When are the eclipses in 1978?
1978 has 4 eclipses — 2 solar and 2 lunar: Mar 24 (total lunar, Libra); Apr 7 (partial solar, Aries); Sep 16 (total lunar, Pisces); Oct 2 (partial solar, Libra).
Is there a total solar eclipse in 1978?
No. The solar eclipses of 1978 are partial (Apr 7) and partial (Oct 2).
Can you see the 1978 eclipses from the United States?
1 of them: the total lunar eclipse on Mar 24 (Honolulu).
What zodiac signs are the 1978 eclipses in?
Libra (Mar 24), Aries (Apr 7), Pisces (Sep 16) and Libra (Oct 2). They fall on the Aries–Libra and Virgo–Pisces axises.
Astrology is a symbolic and cultural tradition. The planetary positions on this site are calculated with astronomical accuracy; the interpretations describe what astrologers associate with them and are not scientifically validated predictions about personality, relationships or the future.