Total Solar Eclipse of 2017

Total Solar Eclipse of 2017
Name	Total Solar Eclipse of 2017
Date	August 21, 2017
Type	Total solar eclipse
Visibility	United States, Canada

Total Solar Eclipse of 2017

The August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse traversed the contiguous United States from the Pacific to the Atlantic, creating a rare alignment observed by millions. The event combined predictable orbital mechanics with concentrated public interest, prompting coordinated activity by institutions, observatories, universities, and media organizations across North America.

Background and astronomical mechanics

The eclipse resulted from the syzygy of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, occurring when the Moon's apparent diameter exceeded that of the Sun along the umbral path. Orbital elements from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, and the United States Naval Observatory described the eclipse geometry, including saros cycle relationships tied to Saros series predictions used by historical observers like Ptolemy and catalogers such as Johannes Kepler. The alignment produced a central line of totality governed by celestial mechanics first formalized by figures including Isaac Newton and applied by later ephemeris projects at institutions like the Royal Observatory, Greenwich and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Predictive models incorporated perturbations cataloged by Simon Newcomb and refined by modern computational teams at the European Space Agency and academic groups at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology.

Path of totality and observations

The 2017 path of totality entered the United States near Lincoln Beach, Oregon and exited near Charleston, South Carolina, crossing states including Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. Observers gathered at national parks such as Crater Lake National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Shenandoah National Park, while urban centers including Portland, Oregon, St. Louis, Nashville, Tennessee, and Charleston, South Carolina experienced partial phases. Amateur and professional astronomers from organizations such as the American Astronomical Society, International Astronomical Union, Royal Astronomical Society, and local societies coordinated observations, while university teams from University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of Colorado Boulder, and University of Texas at Austin deployed instruments. Aerospace participants including teams from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration supported airborne and atmospheric campaigns, with observers on platforms like aircraft chartered from operators including Southwest Airlines and private research flights through NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center.

Preparations and public outreach

Preparation involved federal agencies such as NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, alongside museums like the Smithsonian Institution and planetariums including the Adler Planetarium. Schools within the National School Boards Association and university outreach offices coordinated viewing events supported by organizations like the Astronomical League and the Planetary Society. State tourism bureaus for Oregon Department of Tourism, Idaho Department of Commerce, and South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism issued guidance, while media partners including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, BBC, National Geographic, and broadcast networks such as CBS, NBC, and ABC produced educational content. Retailers and manufacturers including B&H Photo Video and Amazon scaled sales of certified solar filters meeting standards referenced to agencies like American Astronomical Society recommendations.

Scientific observations and results

Scientific campaigns targeted solar corona studies, chromospheric spectroscopy, and terrestrial atmospheric effects. Instrument suites from observatories including McDonald Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory, and the National Solar Observatory conducted white-light and polarized imaging, while spaceborne assets from Solar Dynamics Observatory, SOHO, and STEREO provided complementary ultraviolet and extreme-ultraviolet context. Research teams from Stanford University, Princeton University, Harvard University, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Michigan collected time-series photometry, coronagraphic polarization measurements, and radio observations coordinated with arrays like the Very Large Array and Low-Frequency Array. Atmospheric scientists from NOAA and National Center for Atmospheric Research measured temperature, wind, and ionospheric perturbations, and citizen science projects organized by Zooniverse and the Globe Program supplemented datasets. Findings refined models of coronal heating debated since work by Parker Solar Probe proponents and returned detailed coronal structure analyses relevant to space weather forecasting by the United States Air Force and Space Weather Prediction Center.

Cultural impact and media coverage

The eclipse prompted cultural events, art installations, and scholarly attention from institutions such as the Library of Congress and festivals organized by city governments like Portland (Oregon), Madras (Oregon), Carbondale (Illinois), and Charleston (South Carolina). Coverage by outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, BBC News, CNN, Fox News, and NBC News amplified public engagement, while social media platforms operated by Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube hosted live streams and user-generated content. Photographers using equipment from companies such as Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, and Sony published iconic images; filmmakers collaborated with institutions including PBS and Discovery Channel. The event influenced commemorative programming at museums like the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and inspired academic symposia at universities including University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell University.

Safety and viewing guidelines

Official safety guidance was issued by NASA, the American Astronomical Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding solar viewing. Recommendations emphasized certified solar viewers complying with ISO 12312-2 standards, eclipse glasses distributed by planetariums such as the Adler Planetarium, and safe telescope filters from observatory vendors associated with institutions like the American Astronomical Society members. Warnings addressed photography practices with cameras from manufacturers like Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, and Sony to avoid sensor damage and ocular harm, with emergency preparedness guidance coordinated with FEMA and local public health departments.

Category:2017 in science Category:Solar eclipses