The next alignment of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun that will produce a total solar eclipse will occur on August 21, 2017. The view to the right in the main panel shows this particular geometric alignment. Totality will begin over the Pacific Ocean at 16:48:32 (UT) and will end over the Atlantic Ocean at 20:01:35.
- Press the Run Time Forward button to see how this arrangement of bodies results in the solar eclipse. (Note: The initial time is set for 16:48:32 UT, the approximate start of the eclipse. Run this simulation until the eclipse ends at approximately 20:01:35 UT.)
Unlike the recent solar eclipse of March 9, 2016, the path of totality for the 2017 solar eclipse will spend a great deal of time over land. The upcoming total solar eclipse will also be quite unique since the land part of the path of totality will be located entirely within the contiguous United States. The land part of the path of totality will start in Oregon on the Pacific coast at 17:15:58 UT. The path of totality will then follow a curved band through the continental U.S. until the land part of totality ends at the South Carolina coast on the Atlantic Ocean at 18:49:01 UT. The last time an eclipse was visible from both American coasts was June 8, 1918.
- Click here and press the Run Time Forward button to see how the umbra travels across the continental United States during Aug. 21, 2017 eclipse. (Note: The initial time is set for 17:15:58 UT, the start of totality at the Oregon coast. Run the simulation until totality ends at the Atlantic coast off South Carolina.)
Charleston, South Carolina is directly in the path of totality.
- Click here and press the Run Time Forward to see a ground eye view of totality off the Atlantic coast at Charleston.
- Click here and press the Run Time Forward button to see a close-up view of the Moon slowly covering the Sun’s disk during the August 21 eclipse as seen from Charleston.
Locations outside the path of totality will see a partial eclipse at the same time that Charleston experiences a total solar eclipse. Miami, for example, is about 900 km (559 miles) south of Charleston. At the same time that totality occurs in Charleston, Miami in Florida will experience a partial eclipse with approximately 78.3% of the Sun’s disk covered by the Moon.
- Click here and press the Run Time Forward button to see a close-up view of the partial eclipse that Miami will experience; the Moon will cover 78.3% of the Sun’s disk.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, which is approximately 1930 km (1,200 miles) NE of Charleston will experience a more reduced partial solar eclipse in which only approximately 48.5% of the Sun’s disk will be covered by the Moon.
- Click here and press the Run Time Forward button to see a close-up view of the partial eclipse that Halifax will experience; the Moon will cover 48.5% of the Sun’s disk.