Full Solar Eclipse 2017 in USA, When, Where, and How to See it?

The solar eclipse 2017 is set to occur today and its path will see the sun and the moon cross paths, plunging the world into darkness.

Path of Solar Eclipse:

For the first time in 100 years, America will have a chance to witness a total solar eclipse darken the skies. NASA has said the eclipse’s path will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse. The spectacle will kick off over the Pacific Ocean in the west, just south of Alaska and the Bering Sea.

When the sun rises on Monday, it will position itself directly behind the moon, in a so-called eclipse sunrise. The sun’s path will take it all the way from Oregon towards South Carolina before it comes to an end over the Atlantic Ocean.

solar eclipse

It will pass over Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Solar Eclipse Start and End time:

The eclipse will begin over the Pacific Ocean at 15:46 UTC, which corresponds to 8:46 am Pacific Time. Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport, Oregon will be the first location on continental US soil to see totality. The partial phase of the eclipse will begin here at 9:04 am local time, totality will occur at 10:15 am. Other places on the coast of Oregon will not have to wait much longer for the onset of the eclipse. For example, in Lincoln City, Oregon just west of Salem, the partial and total phases of the eclipse will start less than 20 seconds later than at Yaquina Head.

Who can see it?

Lots of people! Everyone in the contiguous United States, in fact, everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse, while the thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 states.

Any Equipment to view Solar Eclipse:

Anyone planning to view the total solar eclipse of 2017 should get a pair of solar viewing glasses. These protective shades make it possible for observers to look directly at the sun before and after totality.

Sunglasses cannot be used in place of solar viewing glasses. See our complete guide to find out how to view the eclipse safely.

During totality, when the disk of the sun is completely covered by the moon, it is safe to look up at the celestial sight with the naked eye.

Sky watchers outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial solar eclipse. Solar viewing glasses allow sky watchers to look directly at the moon’s progress across the face of the sun.

When the Eclipse Happens Worldwide — Timeline

EventUTC TimeTime in India
First location to see the partial eclipse begin21 Aug, 15:46:5021 Aug, 21:16:50
First location to see the full eclipse begin21 Aug, 16:48:3421 Aug, 22:18:34
Maximum Eclipse21 Aug, 18:25:3521 Aug, 23:55:35
Last location to see the full eclipse end21 Aug, 20:02:3322 Aug, 01:32:33
Last location to see the partial eclipse end21 Aug, 21:04:2122 Aug, 02:34:21

* Local times shown do not refer to when the eclipse can be observed from Ahmedabad. Instead, they indicate the times when the eclipse begins, is at its maximum and ends, somewhere else on Earth. The corresponding local times are useful if you want to view the eclipse via a live webcam

When is the next time a total solar eclipse will be visible from the U.S.?

In 2024, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies above Mexico and Texas, up through the Midwest and northeastern U.S.