THE FIRST TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE SINCE 1979 WILL CROSS THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES ON AUGUST 21, 2017, WHEN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON SWEEPS ACROSS THE EARTH, TRAVELLING FROM THE NORTH PACIFIC, SOUTH OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, TO THE EASTERN ATLANTIC NEAR THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS IN A LITTLE OVER THREE HOURS.
An eclipse of the Sun occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon blocks the light of the Sun and a shadow of the Moon is cast on the Earth's surface.
During a solar eclipse, the Moon actually casts two shadows towards Earth. One shadow is called the umbra which becomes smaller as it reaches the Earth. The second shadow is called the penumbra which becomes larger as it reaches the Earth. A total solar eclipse, or a complete blocking out of the Sun's light, can only be seen from the area on...
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