Why people get so excited about a total solar eclipse

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Published 2017-07-20
How solar and lunar eclipses work.

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Note: This is an update of a video we published in 2015.

In this video we explain the differences between a solar and lunar eclipse and why some believe that a total eclipse of the sun is the greatest natural phenomenon of them all.

Total solar eclipses are a big deal not because of how infrequent they are — there’s a total solar eclipse every 18 months on average — but because of how little of the Earth’s surface falls in the path of any given eclipse shadow.

The next total solar eclipse to visit the US will be in 2024. If an eclipse happens to come to your town, you’re lucky. Any given location will see a total solar eclipse only once in more than 300 years, on average. The vast majority of us will have to travel to an eclipse path if we want to see a total eclipse in our lifetimes.

Thankfully NASA has mapped every eclipse that will occur for the next 1,000 years: eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEpubs/5MCSE.html

Watch: Eclipse chasers tell us what it's like to witness a total solar eclipse.    • Tales from the shadow of the moon  

The next solar eclipse over the United States will be in 2024.

After that? 2045. Then 2052, 2078, and, if you’re truly blessed with longevity, a great one over Maine in 2079.

Sources:
Getty Images
www.amazon.com/Totality-Great-American-Eclipses-20…
NASA: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/search.cgi?series=383
Eclipse catalog: eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/catalog.html
Dmitry Chulkov:    • Total solar eclipse 2012  
Bernt Rostad: www.flickr.com/photos/brostad/2773255031
mtsrs: www.flickr.com/photos/mtsrs/3768574487
CNES/CNRS/NASA: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11133
Marc Aragnou: vimeo.com/108544802
Jesse Olson: vimeo.com/57820123
redwing115:    • Annular solar eclipse @ Tokyo May 21 ...  
Xavier Jubier:    • Total Solar Eclipse 2015 race of the ...  
vfr800hu:    • [14/11/2012] Diamond ring of the tota...  
mikewattsuk/bbc:    • Total Solar Eclipse - 11th August 199...  

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All Comments (21)
  • @TheEpicImpaler
    Imagine living in an ancient civilization without astronomy, and then an eclipse goes down in front of you. Must've been scary af.
  • @user-vu7ls1vm9h
    "Our moon is getting farther away." Don't worry moon, we don't blame you.
  • @obihieleuchendu8243
    from 4:13, the sudden burst of light (diamond ring effect) together with the Crowd reaction was epic, sends chills down my spine.
  • @crashbandicootnerd4321
    I just finished watching one, here in the future. It was the most awesome thing I've ever seen in my 24 years of living. Seriously.
  • @pittlebelge
    So, in 1999 I was 14 and in the middle of nowhere with my dad near the France-Belgium border as we found a quiet spot to look at the eclipse. What struck me the most was the ambient light as the moon progressively blocked the the sun. It was dimmer and dimmer and... whiter, and the nature went silent, no noises from birds or insects, everything went shush as the sun dimmed, the world was just not the same. It was eerie. The memory still gives me the shivers. If you have the opportunity, don't miss it.
  • @keithberry8792
    Vox: Corona Everyone: They said it! They said the thing!
  • @friendlyneighborhoodgoat
    “All over the galaxy rocks are casting shadows on other rocks. But only here as far as we know is there someone to notice them.” 🌌☄️
  • @anniebeardmore9879
    It was so cool listening to everyone scream in excitement at the total solar eclipse
  • @aaaa1111muffin
    That's it. The day of Black Sun. That's when we'll invade the fire nation. We need to get this information to the Earth Kingdom.
  • @lxverdant1837
    People: Oh cool I can't wait to see the solar eclipse! Clouds: lmao nope
  • @patrickm7754
    Who's ready to accidentally stare at it and never be able to see for the rest of their life✋🏻
  • @radiostation6366
    I was right in the line of totality. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen.