Total Solar Eclipse occurs when the view of the Sun is entirely blocked by the passing Moon. The highly anticipated solar eclipse over the U.S. on August 21, 2017 could be one of the most-viewed space events in the history. It will be the greatest and the first eclipse to traverse U.S. from coast to coast after almost a century. Those who will miss the event might not get another chance of viewing the total solar eclipse in their lifetime.
It’s generally a misconception that the total eclipse of the sun is an uncommon incidence, but on the contrary, the celestial event happens averagely once in every 18 months and this may be visible from any place on the Earth’s surface. Hence, two solar eclipses can occur in every three years.
Although solar eclipses are quite common across the world, it’s not easy to view them. For instance, the last total solar eclipse occurred in U.S. in 1979. Scientists have projected that there will be total of 69 total solar eclipses visible across the entire world surface in the next 100 years, but only a few will pass across North America.
The next total solar eclipse to pass over the US after August this year will come in 2045. Most of the eclipses will be visible in South America while one will eclipse over the sea. Averagely, total solar eclipse happens on the Earth surface after every 1.5 years. The total eclipse is only visible within the path of totality which is usually about 60 or 70 miles wide. The further one is from the path, the less visible the eclipse becomes.
In the human history, eclipses have been regarded a powerful and mysterious phenomenon, and many cultures across the world have associated them with other meanings or signs from the creator. For example during the war in Greek, soldiers experienced darkness in the midday and believed it was a sign of end of war.
The path of totality in for the total solar eclipse in August stretches from Oregon in the west and moves across to South Carolina on the east side.
