Which always makes me sing "Total eclipse of the heart" in my head
Has anyone seen a total solar eclipse before? It is on my bucket list. And of course the best place to view it is only a few hours' drive from me, but it's a work day, so I won't be able to go there. Dang it.
Aug. 21, 2017, is a red-letter day for eclipse enthusiasts.
On that date, the sun will be partially eclipsed over an immense area that includes all of North America, the northern third of South America, much of the eastern Pacific Ocean (including the Hawaiian Islands), virtually all of the north Atlantic Ocean and a slice of western Europe. For much of the United States, at least 80 percent of the sun's diameter will be eclipsed by the passing new moon. Some eclipse chasers have billed it as the "Great American Total Solar Eclipse."
And a total eclipse will be visible along a narrow track that runs diagonally from northwest to southeast across the Lower 48 — the first such event that's visible for this part of the world since February 1979. It will also be the first time that the path of a total solar eclipse will go coast to coast across the U.S. since 1918. [Total Solar Eclipse 2017: When, Where and How to See It]
Although many people have viewed a total eclipse of the moon, few have been lucky enough to see a total solar eclipse. In the 21st century, total eclipses of the sun occur on an average of once every 17.6 months, but they're often only visible over open water or from sparsely populated areas.
Indeed, Americans under the age of 40 who have never ventured outside of the country have never witnessed a total solar eclipse. Since 1960, just three such events have been visible from the U.S. mainland — on July 20, 1963, March 7, 1970 and Feb. 26, 1979.
But at long last, next summer, this greatest of celestial roadshows will be coming to a sky near you.
The path of the moon's shadow
This August 2017 eclipse will have a potential viewing audience of at least 12 million people who already happen to live within the totality path. However, about 220 million people live within a one-day drive (about 500 miles, or 800 kilometers) of the totality zone.
At local sunrise on Aug. 21, 2017, the dark umbral shadow of the moon will first touch Earth at a point in the North Pacific, about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) northwest of Hawaii. And then, for the next 193 minutes, the shadow will first head east-northeast, then east and finally southeast, darkening a narrow strip of North America along the way.
For the first 28 minutes, the shadow will only touch open ocean. The shadow will make its first landfall along the coast of Oregon at Yaquina Head, a headland extending into the Pacific Ocean north of Newport.
As it traverses the United States, the total eclipse will be visible within a path of darkness stretching from Oregon through Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and finally South Carolina. The path will average 67 miles (108 km) in width, but it will widen to a maximum of 71 miles (114 km) while moving through western Kentucky, about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of the town of Hopkinsville (population 3,000).
Because the moon's shadow will be moving at a tremendous speed, totality will not last very long in any one place. The duration of the total phase is always longest along the center of the shadow's path; as one moves away from the center, the duration of totality time decreases, becoming zero along the path's edges. [Solar Eclipses: An Observer's Guide (Infographic)]
At the Oregon coastline, totality lasts less than 2 minutes, as the shadow will be traveling at more than three times the speed of sound (2,400 mph, or 3,860 km/h). Heading southeast along the center line, the totality time slowly lengthens, reaching a maximum of 2 minutes and 40.2 seconds at a spot in southern Illinois about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of the city of Carbondale.
The shadow will slow to 1,450 mph (2,330 km/h) as it moves through the Tennessee Valley, and then speed up; subsequently, the duration of totality will begin to diminish. Indeed, when the eclipse arrives at the South Carolina coastline, the duration of totality will have dropped to 2 minutes and 34 seconds. The shadow then exits out to sea, finally leaving Earth 75 minutes later at local sunset in the North Atlantic Ocean, 390 miles (628 km) southwest of the island nation of Cape Verde.
Notable cities that fortuitously find themselves inside the totality path include Idaho Falls; Casper, Wyoming; Lincoln, Nebraska; Columbia, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; and Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina. The metropolitan areas of Kansas City and St. Louis straddle the southern and northern edges of the totality path, respectively.
A number of cities and towns lie just outside of the totality zone, and their residents will see the sun cut down to an exceedingly thin sliver of light. These include Portland, Oregon; Boise, Idaho; and Knoxville, Tennessee. But a partial solar eclipse pales in comparison to a total one, even when more than 99 percent of the sun's disc is obscured. The great show can only begin at the moment when the last speck of sunlight is extinguished.
On the edge!
Earlier, I said that 12 states lie within the eclipse path, but to be more precise, there are actually 14; the shadow will also give glancing blows to two other states. About 5.4 square miles (14 square km) of the southernmost tip of Montana's largest county, Beaverhead, will be tucked just inside the northern limit of totality, providing up to 50 seconds of total eclipse. And an even tinier plot of land — 0.7 square miles (1.8 square km) — in the extreme southwest corner of Iowa's Freemont County will be barely nicked by the shadow's northern edge; there, totality will last up to about 30 seconds.
And if you live in either Kansas City or St. Louis, you'll want to know where the boundary line will run between a 99.9 percent partial eclipse and the far grander spectacle of a total eclipse. In Kansas City, the southern edge of totality lies very near to the Central Avenue Viaduct Bridge in the Central Industrial District; the farther north you go, the longer the duration of totality. Totality will last longest in the neighborhood of Ferrelview, with a duration of about 2 minutes.
In St. Louis, the northern edge of totality runs close to the Hi-Pointe and Forest Park South East neighborhoods; heading south will lengthen the time of total eclipse. Totality will last longest in Patch, the southern tip of the historic Carondelet neighborhood, with a duration that's close to 80 seconds. [Incredible Solar Eclipse View Shot During Alaska Airlines Flight (Video)]
The table below provides local circumstances for 21 cities that are within the path of totality. For each location, it gives the local daylight time (LDT) of the beginning of the partial phase (First Contact), the start of totality and its duration (Dur.) and the altitude (Alt.) of the sun above the horizon at midtotality. Finally, there's the end of the partial stage (Last Contact). "P.A." is the position angle of the point where the sun's and moon's discs touch. It is measured clockwise around the sun's edge from 0 degrees at the north point of the disc. Hence, the value 42 degrees for Yaquina Head means that the first "bite" out of the sun will appear in the upper right part of the solar disc.
Weather prospects
To help observers pick the best opportunity for cloudless skies on Aug. 21, 2017, many experts are scrutinizing climatological records in and near the path of totality. Climatological cloud amounts are consulted only because there are no reliable alternatives.
Unfortunately, meteorological weather forecasts for eclipse day are not possible more than a week or so ahead of time. The best probabilities of clear skies for eclipse viewing appear to be in the region running from western Oregon through Wyoming, where, on average, the odds for fair skies are on the order of about 70 to 80 percent. Going farther east, the odds gradually diminish; across the Piedmont plateau to the Atlantic coast, it appears to be just about a coin toss: 50-50, except perhaps less than 50 percent for people in the western mountains of North Carolina and the coastal plain of South Carolina.
People living around the immediate Pacific coast of Oregon, with its gusty onshore winds and frequent bouts of low cloud and fog, appear to have the lowest odds of seeing the eclipsed sun — probably only around 40 percent. Regardless of where you plan to be, staying mobile to dodge cloud cover will always enhance your chances.
Space.com will be providing more details about the "Great American Eclipse" in the coming months. But for now, be sure that when you get a 2017 calendar, you put a big red circle around Aug. 21!
Editor's Note: This coming Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. EDT, Space.com Night Sky columnist Joe Rao will be giving a special presentation at New York's Hayden Planetarium titled, "Countdown to Totality." Joe will detail all the specifics concerning next year's big solar sky show and, utilizing Hayden's state-of-the-art Zeiss IX planetarium projector, will attempt to replicate the sights and sounds that accompany an actual total eclipse of the sun.
Post by karinothing on Aug 21, 2016 10:05:41 GMT -5
So I am a bit confused. Is all of the US going to be able to see at least the partial? It seems like it is happening in the morning? I bet air and space will do something awesome for this.
So I am a bit confused. Is all of the US going to be able to see at least the partial? It seems like it is happening in the morning? I bet air and space will do something awesome for this.
From what I understand, everyone in the mainland (and a few other places) can see a partial eclipse, probably a better one for those closer to the path of the total eclipse.
Post by RoxMonster on Aug 21, 2016 10:08:38 GMT -5
I feel like I have seen a partial eclipse before. I wasn't born until the 80s and the article said the last full eclipse visible in the US was in the 70s, but I remember making those sun viewing things in elementary school and going outside to use them during some sort of eclipse. It must have been a partial one.
So I am a bit confused. Is all of the US going to be able to see at least the partial? It seems like it is happening in the morning? I bet air and space will do something awesome for this.
From what I understand, everyone in the mainland (and a few other places) can see a partial eclipse, probably a better one for those closer to the path of the total eclipse.
Oh very cool! I saw a partial as a kid. It was neat. Excited to make a new memory with my kids
We're only about four hours from St. Louis. I'd love to take the boys to go see this. School doesn't start until the Tuesday of that week this year, I hope it holds true for next year, too, and then we can.
Post by kangaroo11 on Aug 21, 2016 11:15:27 GMT -5
I saw a partial eclipse of a total eclipse that was happening. The better viewing areas were in northeastern Europe (August 1, 2008) and we were in Austria. So we could see the eclipse, but it was only partial where we were.
I feel like I have seen a partial eclipse before. I wasn't born until the 80s and the article said the last full eclipse visible in the US was in the 70s, but I remember making those sun viewing things in elementary school and going outside to use them during some sort of eclipse. It must have been a partial one.
I remember this, too. I would guess around 1993/94?
My parents live less than 15 miles from the "ideal" viewing spot in western KY. Hotels in the area have been booked for over a year. We plan to drive up (1.5 hours) the day before and stay over to get a good view. We're both science nerds, so we're SO excited.
Maine was almost in the path of a total eclipse when I was 4. I remember being scared, that's it.
I think it would be cool to head somewhere to see it next year, but what if it rains? It would still get dark, but for all that money I'd want the full experience.
Minor detail, but the town of Hopkinsville has a much larger population than 3,000; it's closer to 30-35,000. Inaccuracy in journalism makes me twitchy.
I saw a total eclipse in '79 and a partial about 25 years ago. We're in the path of totality for next year and we're already making plans for the best place to be to see it!
I feel like I have seen a partial eclipse before. I wasn't born until the 80s and the article said the last full eclipse visible in the US was in the 70s, but I remember making those sun viewing things in elementary school and going outside to use them during some sort of eclipse. It must have been a partial one.
There's annular eclipses too. That's where the moon moves completely in front of the sun, but due to relative positions the moon doesn't completely block out the sun like in a total eclipse. Instead there is a ring of sun around the silhouette of the moon.
There was one a few years ago. We drove from Colorado where we would only have a partial eclipse to New Mexico where it was a full annular eclipse. We got some great pictures of the ring of sun. Plus the sun was setting about 3/4 of the way through the eclipse, so it looked like a crescent sun setting. It was awesome.
I'm really excited about the total eclipse. We're going to Tennessee to watch it.
Would I be judged if I pull my son out of school to drive an hour to go see this?
I'm taking my daughter out of school for at least two days so we can travel to see it. She'll be starting kindergarten too. I don't care if people judge. This is an incredible thing that she and the rest of our family may not get a chance to see again.
Would I be judged if I pull my son out of school to drive an hour to go see this?
I'm a teacher, and I would not judge this at all. If I worked in a different field, I would seriously consider taking the day off to go view it (as a teacher, I have to get a sub and I feel like it would look bad to take a personal day when the school year literally just started for me). I am hoping we can all take the students outside that day to at least view the partial eclipse (safely, of course).
This is so rare to see a total eclipse of the sun (I mean, they happen with some frequency, but it's rarely in an area where you live), so I think it's an awesome experience to have with your child(ren).
I feel like I have seen a partial eclipse before. I wasn't born until the 80s and the article said the last full eclipse visible in the US was in the 70s, but I remember making those sun viewing things in elementary school and going outside to use them during some sort of eclipse. It must have been a partial one.
I remember this, too. I would guess around 1993/94?
There was one in late '93 or '94 because I remember leaving math class to go outside for it. It was like wearing sunglasses without wearing sunglasses.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. Mark Twain
I remember this, too. I would guess around 1993/94?
There was one in late '93 or '94 because I remember leaving math class to go outside for it. It was like wearing sunglasses without wearing sunglasses.
I remember my whole elementary school going outside with some special glasses to view something around that time too. I wonder what it was...
I saw something else big, maybe a total eclipse?? In the late 90 s in France.
Edit - found my France one. Total eclipse in August 1999!
I saw a total eclipse in '79 and a partial about 25 years ago. We're in the path of totality for next year and we're already making plans for the best place to be to see it!
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We have been trying to decide if we should go to the coast and see if or stay in town. Being at Newport would be cool but there is a risk of it being so cloudy. Excited!
Minor detail, but the town of Hopkinsville has a much larger population than 3,000; it's closer to 30-35,000. Inaccuracy in journalism makes me twitchy.
I thought this at first too, but I reread and I think they're referring to the town "13 Miles northwest." That town does have a population of around 3,000.
I remember this, too. I would guess around 1993/94?
There was one in late '93 or '94 because I remember leaving math class to go outside for it. It was like wearing sunglasses without wearing sunglasses.
I remember leaving tech class to see it and everyone standing in the high school parking lot. We were learning how to weld (I grew up in the middle of nowhere) so we took our welding helmets out with us so we could look directly at the sun as it happened.
I saw a total eclipse in '79 and a partial about 25 years ago. We're in the path of totality for next year and we're already making plans for the best place to be to see it!
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We have been trying to decide if we should go to the coast and see if or stay in town. Being at Newport would be cool but there is a risk of it being so cloudy. Excited!
Don't go to the coast; don't even stay on this side of the cascades--too much risk of fog/haze/marine layer fucking up the view. Go east. We're thinking of making it a camping trip to John Day area.
Yay, I live in a city where I'll see it! I also remember making those special viewing glasses and having a big thing about viewing some kind of eclipse in elementary school ( LA, 1980's). Sadly, I have no recollection on the actual eclipse.
Minor detail, but the town of Hopkinsville has a much larger population than 3,000; it's closer to 30-35,000. Inaccuracy in journalism makes me twitchy.
I thought this at first too, but I reread and I think they're referring to the town "13 Miles northwest." That town does have a population of around 3,000.
Yeah if they mean Crofton, that's probably accurate.
Post by bernsteincat on Aug 21, 2016 19:52:44 GMT -5
Hopkinsville is my hometown. My aunt lives a few miles west of town and out in the country, so that may be where we head to see it. I need to go on and put that date on my calendar to request off.