U.S. 2017 Solar Eclipse

The Total Solar Eclipse's West To East Path Across The United States
( • = Location of Greatest Eclipse)

The 'Total Eclipse' will begin on the Oregon Coast (south of Lincoln City; north of Depoe Bay) when the Moon completely blocks the Sun for 1 minute and 56 seconds beginning at 10:16 AM Pacific Time on Monday August 21, 2017.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon lines up between the sun and the Earth, casting a lunar shadow on the Earth's surface and obscuring the solar disk. The 2017 Solar Eclipse will continue across the United States and cross over to the Atlantic Ocean at Awenda South Carolina 1 1/2 hours later at 2:47 PM Eastern Time.

There are 5 stages to a Total Solar Eclipse:
Partial Eclipse Start - Total Eclipse Start - Maximum Eclipse - Total Eclipse End - Partial Eclipse End.

During a Total Eclipse, the Maximum Eclipse is when the Moon's Shadow covers 100% of the Sun's light. Eye and Camera Protection should only be removed during the brief time beginning as the Total Eclipse Phase starts; and be put back on as the Total Eclipse Phase ends.

The August 2017 Total Eclipse will be visible along the Blue Line on the map above, but the areas outside the Grey Area bordered by the Red Lines will only be able to view a Partial Eclipse. The Red Dot over Hopkinsville Kentucky marks the spot of "Greatest Eclipse". The best viewing of the Eclipse will be along the Blue Line from the Nebraska/Kansas border to a spot in South Carolina along Interstate 95.

The chart below indicates when the Eclipse will start on the Pacific Coast and end on the Atlantic Coast.

  •    
  • ★ Partial Start
  • Total Start
  • Maximum Eclipse
  • Total End ★
  • ★ Partial End
  • ★ = Eye Protection Necessary
  • Pacific Coast
  • 16:04:33.6 UT
  • 17:16:02.6 UT
  • 17:17:00.6 UT
  • 17:17:58.9 UT
  • 18:36:08.8 UT
  • PDT = UT - 7 hours
  • Atlantic Coast
  • 17:17:20.8 UT
  • 18:46:03.2 UT
  • 18:47:20.1 UT
  • 18:48:36.6 UT
  • 20:10:02.2 UT
  • EDT = UT - 4 hours
 || UT = Universal | PDT = Pacific Daylight Time | EDT = Eastern Daylight Time ||

EYE SAFETY - The only time that the Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye is during the "TOTAL" phase of an eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun. It is never safe to look at a partial or annular eclipse, or the partial phases of a total solar eclipse, without the proper equipment and techniques. Even when 99% of the Sun's surface (the photosphere) is obscured during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, the remaining crescent Sun is still intense enough to cause permanent retinal damage, especially when viewed through binoculars or other optical aids.

For more information about this Once-In-A-Lifetime Event, including maps, animations, pictures, definitions and explanations, visit:

For best results when photographing the eclipse with a DSLR Camera:
  ||• Use a high capacity memory card
  ||• Set camera to the highest resolution setting
  ||• Use a Tripod
  ||• Use a lens with a focal length of 400 mm or higher
  ||• Manual settings are better than automatic
  ||• Prefocus camera without filter. Use Mars, Jupiter, a bright star or clouds on the horizon.
  ||• With the filter on you can use sunspots or the sun's edge to focus on before the eclipse starts.
  ||• The Light Sensors in modern cameras need as much protection as your eyes. Use proper protection.

Repeating - Eye & Camera safety - The only time that the Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye is during a total eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun. It is never safe to look at a partial or annular eclipse, or the partial phases of a total solar eclipse, without the proper equipment and techniques. Even when 99% of the Sun's surface (the photosphere) is obscured during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, the remaining crescent Sun is still intense enough to cause permanent retinal damage, especially when viewed through binoculars or other optical aids.

For information on how to make your own camera/binocular/telescope filter, visit:
Joe Cali's Web Page

    → E-Mail: Bob