Jan 20 – Feb 4: penumbral lunar in Leo and annular solar in Aquarius
Jul 17 – Jul 30: partial lunar in Capricorn and total solar in Leo
The 1981 eclipses fall on the Leo–Aquarius and Cancer–Capricorn axises. Eclipses stay on one pair of opposite signs for about a year and a half before moving back one sign.
Penumbral lunar eclipse in ♌︎ Leo — January 20, 1981
0°16′ Leo · North Node ☊︎ · Moon in the faint outer shadow only
Greatest eclipse: Jan 20, 1981, 2:49 AM ET (1981-01-20 07:49 UTC). The penumbral phase lasts 265 minutes; the dimming is subtle and easy to miss.
In the US: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Honolulu. Elsewhere: Mexico City, São Paulo and London. (Moon above the horizon at mid-eclipse, Jan 20, 1981, 2:49 AM ET.)
A lunar eclipse is a supercharged Full Moon. Astrologers read it as a culmination or release around creativity, romance and self-expression (Leo), with the Sun opposite in Aquarius. It falls near the North Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to growth and new direction. The Leo–Aquarius axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 0°16′ Leo or Aquarius.
Annular solar eclipse in ♒︎ Aquarius — February 4, 1981
16°01′ Aquarius · South Node ☋︎ · a ring of Sun stays visible around the Moon
Greatest eclipse: Feb 4, 1981, 5:08 PM ET (1981-02-04 22:08 UTC), at 44.4°S, 140.8°W.
Seen from major cities
City
Sun covered
Maximum (local time)
Sydney
65%
Feb 5, 7:27 AM
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 friends, groups and future goals (Aquarius). It falls near the South Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to letting go and endings. The Aquarius–Leo axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 16°01′ Aquarius or Leo.
Partial lunar eclipse in ♑︎ Capricorn — July 17, 1981
24°35′ Capricorn · South Node ☋︎ · 53% of the Moon in Earth’s shadow
Greatest eclipse: Jul 17, 1981, 12:46 AM ET (1981-07-17 04:46 UTC). The umbral (visibly dark) phase lasts 164 minutes.
In the US: New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Elsewhere: Mexico City, São Paulo, Madrid and Lagos. (Moon above the horizon at mid-eclipse, Jul 17, 1981, 12:46 AM ET.)
A lunar eclipse is a supercharged Full Moon. Astrologers read it as a culmination or release around career, authority and long-term plans (Capricorn), with the Sun opposite in Cancer. It falls near the South Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to letting go and endings. The Capricorn–Cancer axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 24°35′ Capricorn or Cancer.
Total solar eclipse in ♌︎ Leo — July 30, 1981
7°51′ Leo · North Node ☊︎ · Moon covers the whole Sun along a narrow path
Greatest eclipse: Jul 30, 1981, 11:45 PM ET (1981-07-31 03:45 UTC), at 53.3°N, 134.1°E.
Seen from major cities
City
Sun covered
Maximum (local time)
Dubai
35%
Jul 31, 5:57 AM
Mumbai
5%
Jul 31, 7:24 AM
Beijing
46%
Jul 31, 11:18 AM
Tokyo
50%
Jul 31, 1:17 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 creativity, romance and self-expression (Leo). It falls near the North Node, traditionally the side of the axis linked to growth and new direction. The Leo–Aquarius axis matters most if you have planets or angles within a few degrees of 7°51′ Leo or Aquarius.
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 1981?
1981 has 4 eclipses — 2 solar and 2 lunar: Jan 20 (penumbral lunar, Leo); Feb 4 (annular solar, Aquarius); Jul 17 (partial lunar, Capricorn); Jul 30 (total solar, Leo).
Is there a total solar eclipse in 1981?
Yes: July 30, 1981, greatest at 53.3°N, 134.1°E.
Can you see the 1981 eclipses from the United States?
2 of them: the penumbral lunar eclipse on Jan 20 (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Honolulu); the partial lunar eclipse on Jul 17 (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles).
What zodiac signs are the 1981 eclipses in?
Leo (Jan 20), Aquarius (Feb 4), Capricorn (Jul 17) and Leo (Jul 30). They fall on the Leo–Aquarius and Cancer–Capricorn 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.