If you happened to miss the last total solar eclipse, which took place in the summer of 2017, the good news is another one is coming within weeks.

On 2 July a total solar eclipse will occur, lasting four minutes and 33 seconds, according to Nasa.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2019 solar eclipse.

What is a total solar eclipse?

While orbiting the Earth, the moon occasionally comes between the sun and Earth. When this occurs, the moon blocks light from the sun from reaching Earth and casts a shadow.

Solar eclipse 2017 Show all 12 1 /12 Solar eclipse 2017 Solar eclipse 2017 A handout photo made available by NASA shows the Moon as it starts passing in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse from Ross Lake, Northern Cascades National Park, Washington, USA, 21 August 2017. The 21 August 2017 total solar eclipse will last a maximum of 2 minutes 43 seconds and the thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 US states, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) EPA Solar eclipse 2017 The sun is projected on the ground glass (bottom) as photographer C.D. Olsen adjusts his replica of the Kew Photo Heliograph camera, which he will use to make a glass plate photograph of the total solar eclipse, outside the football stadium at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, U.S REUTERS Solar eclipse 2017 The sun emerges through clouds and fog cover before the solar eclipse in Depoe Bay, Oregon REUTERS Solar eclipse 2017 A boy uses solar viewing glasses as the sun emerges through fog cover before the solar eclipse in Depoe Bay, Oregon REUTERS Solar eclipse 2017 First responders and city officials man the emergency operations center in Charleston, South Carolina, on the day of the total solar eclipse AFP/Getty Images Solar eclipse 2017 A man looks through his solar viewing glasses after purchasing them to watch the total solar eclipse in New York City REUTERS Solar eclipse 2017 People are seen lining up outside the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum as a sign indicates there are no more eclipse glasses on the National Mall before an eclipse August 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. The Sun started to vanish behind the Moon as the partial phase of the so-called Great American Eclipse began Monday, with millions of eager sky-gazers soon to witness "totality" across the nation for the first time in nearly a century AFP/Getty Images Solar eclipse 2017 Solar Eclipse in Depoe Bay, Oregon, U. REUTERS Solar eclipse 2017 People watch the start of the solar eclipse and raise their hands in prayer in an eclipse viewing event led by Native American elders, at Big Summit Prairie ranch in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest near the city of Mitchell on August 21, 2017. The Sun started to vanish behind the Moon as the partial phase of the so-called Great American Eclipse began Monday, with millions of eager sky-gazers soon to witness "totality" across the nation for the first time in nearly a century AFP/Getty Images Solar eclipse 2017 People line up on a bridge as the sun emerges through fog cover before the solar eclipse in Depoe Bay, Oregon, U.S REUTERS Solar eclipse 2017 The Sun rises behind Jack Mountain ahead of the solar eclipse in Ross Lake, Northern Cascades National Park, Washington, U.S REUTERS Solar eclipse 2017 The sun rises over Grand Teton National Park on August 21, 2017 outside Jackson, Wyoming. Thousands of people have flocked to the Jackson and Teton National Park area for the 2017 solar eclipse which will be one of the areas that will experience a 100% eclipse Getty Images

A total solar eclipse, which takes place when the sun, moon and Earth are in a direct line, is only visible from a small area of our planet, according to Nasa, with the people able to see it “in the centre of the moon’s [umbra] shadow when it hits Earth”.

Where will you be able to see it?

The total solar eclipse will be visible in the South Pacific, Chile and Argentina.

According to Bloomberg, the eclipse will begin off the coast of New Zealand, with Chile and Argentina directly in the path of totality.

The total eclipse will only be viewable for a small window of time, with viewers in San Juan, Argentina, expected to see 36 seconds of totality and those in La Silla, Chile, predicted to see one minute and 53 seconds.

In Chile's Elqui Valley, more than a quarter-million visitors are expected in the days surrounding the eclipse.

Parts of Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay will be able to see a partial eclipse if weather permits.

What time will it take place?

According to Space.com, most of the eclipse will be happening over the Pacific, with the partial eclipse starting at 12.55pm EDT (1655 GMT).

Totality will first make landfall over Oeno Island, in the South Pacific Ocean, at 10.24am local time.

The eclipse will reach the coast of Chile by 4.39pm local time and then move southeast, before heading to the Atlantic at 5.40pm local time.

The length of the eclipse is expected to be nearly double the length of the one that took place on 21 August, 2017.

What do you need to know about viewing a solar eclipse?

During a total solar eclipse, the sun can be viewed safely by the naked eye. However, during partial eclipses, it is never safe to watch the sun without taking special precautions, as doing so can lead to permanent eye damage.

You can find more information about protecting your eyes during a solar eclipse here.

To see a total eclipse, you don’t need equipment such as a telescope.

When is the next total solar eclipse?

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