The 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses: Map and Data

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    ID: 5123 Visualization

    The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

    July 10th, 2023
    (updated July 20th, 2023)

    The path of totality and partial contours crossing the U.S. for the 2024 total solar eclipse occurring on April 8, 2024. || This map illustrates the paths of the Moon’s shadow across the U.S. during the 2024 total solar eclipse. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cross North and Central America creating a path of totality. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the Sun while it passes between the Sun and Earth. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk and those standing in the path of totality may see the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the corona) if weather permits.Making the MapThis map uses datasets from several NASA missions. The eclipse data were calculated by visualizer Ernie Wright using elevation information from SRTM, lunar topography from LRO, and planetary positions from the JPL DE421 ephemeris. The lead visualizer, Michala Garrison, used Earth imagery from NASA’s Blue Marble Next Generation to create the terrain map. Likewise, nighttime Earth imagery from NASA’s Black Marble were used along the path of the 2024 total solar eclipse. Reading the MapThe dark path across the map is where the largest area of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. People in this path will experience a total solar eclipse. Inside the dark eclipse path are irregular ovals that delineate the Moon’s shadow on the Earth’s surface. For a total solar eclipse, the ovals are called the umbra and create the path of totality. On the map, the ovals contain times inside corresponding to the shape of the Moon’s shadow cast at that time during the eclipse.Also within the dark path are duration contours. These delineate the length of time totality will last. The closer to the center of the solar eclipse path, the longer it will last. For the total path, times range up to 4 minutes.Outside the eclipse path, the map displays contours of obscuration, or percentage of the Sun’s area covered by the Moon. Readers can trace the lines to percentages printed along all sides of the map that range from 95% to 10% obscuration. The dark path marks when 100% obscuration begins. Download Eclipse Data 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Data: 2024eclipse_shapefiles.zipThe .zip file above contains the following files:center.shp A high-resolution polyline tracing the path of the shadow center. Region limited.duration.shp Isocontours of maximum total duration, at 30-second intervals.ppath.shp “Penumbra path,” contours of maximum partial obscuration (area of the Sun covered by the Moon) at 5% intervals.ppath01.shp “Penumbra path,” contours of maximum partial obscuration (area of the Sun covered by the Moon) at 1% intervals.umbra_hi.shp High resolution umbra polygons, at 1-second intervals. Region limited. umbra_lo.shp Lower resolution umbra polygons, at 10-second intervals. Global.upath_hi.shp High resolution path shape. Region limited.upath_lo.shp Lower resolution path shape. Global.More Map Versions ||

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    ID: 5124 Visualization

    The 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse

    July 10th, 2023

    The path of annularity and partial contours crossing the U.S. for the 2023 annular solar eclipse occurring on October 14, 2023. || This map illustrates the paths of the Moon’s shadow across the U.S. during the 2023 annular solar eclipse. On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will cross North, Central, and South America creating a path of annularity. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth while at its farthest point from Earth. Because the Moon is farther away from Earth, it does not completely block the Sun. This will create a “ring of fire” effect in the sky for those standing in the path of annularity. Making the MapThis map uses datasets from several NASA missions. The eclipse data were calculated by visualizer Ernie Wright using elevation information from SRTM, lunar topography from LRO, and planetary positions from the JPL DE421 ephemeris. The lead visualizer, Michala Garrison, used Earth imagery from NASA’s Blue Marble Next Generation to create the terrain map. Reading the MapThe dark path across the map is where the largest area of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. People in these paths will experience an annular solar eclipse. Inside the dark eclipse path are irregular ovals that delineate the Moon’s shadow on the Earth’s surface. For an annular solar eclipse, these ovals are called the antumbra and together make up the path of annularity. On the map, the ovals contain times inside corresponding to the shape of the Moon’s shadow cast at that time during the eclipse.Also within the dark paths are duration contours. These delineate the length of time annularity will last. The closer to the center of the solar eclipse path, the longer it will last. For the annular path, times range from a few seconds on the outer edge to a maximum of around 4.5 minutes in the center.Outside the eclipse path, the map displays contours of obscuration, or percentage of the Sun’s area covered by the Moon. Readers can trace the lines to percentages printed along all sides of the map that range from 85% to 10% obscuration. The dark path marks when 90% obscuration begins. Download Eclipse Data 2023 Annular Eclipse Data: 2023eclipse_shapefiles.zipThe .zip file above contains the following files:center.shp A high-resolution polyline tracing the path of the shadow center. Region limited.duration.shp Isocontours of maximum annular duration, at 30-second intervals.ppath.shp “Penumbra path,” contours of maximum partial obscuration (area of the Sun covered by the Moon) at 5% intervals.ppath01.shp “Penumbra path,” contours of maximum partial obscuration (area of the Sun covered by the Moon) at 1% intervals.umbra_hi.shp High resolution antumbra polygons, at 1-second intervals. Region limited. umbra_lo.shp Lower resolution antumbra polygons, at 10-second intervals. Global.upath_hi.shp High resolution path shape. Region limited.upath_lo.shp Lower resolution path shape. Global.More Map Versions ||

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    ID: 5086 Visualization

    A Tour of NASA’s Solar Eclipse Map for 2023 and 2024

    March 8th, 2023
    (updated June 8th, 2023)

    The map was updated on March 15, 2023, to correct times in Mexico along the total eclipse path.Two solar eclipses will cross the United States in 2023 and 2024. On October 14, 2023, an annular solar eclipse will create a “ring of fire” in the sky from Oregon to Texas. On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies from Texas to Maine. On both dates, all 48 contiguous states in the U.S. will experience a partial solar eclipse. || Watch a close-up tour of the new 2023 and 2024 solar eclipse map. Map Credits: Michala Garrison and the Scientific Visualization Studio (SVS), in collaboration with the NASA Heliophysics Activation Team (NASA HEAT), part of NASA’s Science Activation portfolio; eclipse calculations by Ernie Wright, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ||

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    ID: 14348 Produced Video

    NASA Interview Opportunity: Summer Solstice Leads to an Exciting Year for Our Sun Live Shots

    June 13th, 2023
    (updated June 20th, 2023)

    Quick link to cut b-roll for the LIVE SHOTSQuick link to canned interview with DR. ALEX YOUNG ||

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