Listen - 05:33 Johann Berkowski took this image of the total solar eclipse in 1851. Johann Berkowski As one of the final major events of 2020, the sun will go dark. Fortunately, this is expected to be only temporary and due to the lone total solar eclipse of the year. Unlike the major eclipse that was at least partially visible for many Americans in 2017, the 2020 eclipse on Dec .14 will only be visible in totality from the southern end of South America and parts of the Atlantic and Pacific. Though it will be possible to watch from anywhere via livestream. Although a total solar eclipse only lasts a few minutes, the rare phenomenon has a long history of eliciting all sorts of odd reactions from the beings it briefly blankets with daytime darkness.