Numerical Facts

Eclipse 2017 Research - Numerical Facts

Here are some interesting numerical facts about the total solar eclipse. I think you will enjoy browsing through them.

For information on eclipse planning, see: Eclipse Planning Info.

For eclipse research on the areas most likely to have clear skies, see: Eclipse 2017 Research - Past Weather - Satellite Images.

"The Total Solar Eclipse will take place on August 21, 2017. On this day hundreds of US cities will plunge into near total darkness during mid-day when the moon's shadow traverses over 170,000 square miles of land! A total solar eclipse of this magnitude has not happened in the United States in 99 years! Don't miss it!"-Stephen Aman

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Circumstances of Total Solar Eclipse 2017 August 21
	Coordinated Universal Time	Pacific Daylight Time	Mountain Daylight Time	Central Daylight Time	Eastern Daylight Time
Partial Eclipse Begins (first external contact of penumbra)	15:46:50.9 UTC	8:46:50.9 AM	9:46:50.9 AM	10:46:50.9 AM	11:46:50.9 AM
Total Eclipse Begins (first external contact of umbra)	16:48:34.6 UTC	9:48:34.6 AM	10:48:34.6 AM	11:48:34.6 AM	12:48:34.6 PM
Total Eclipse Begins in the USA (Oregon coast)	17:15:50.9 UTC	10:15:50.9 AM	11:15:50.9 AM	12:15:50.9 PM	1:15:50.9 PM
Longest Duration Midtime (Lick Creek, Illinois)	18:21:49.8 UTC	11:21:49.8 AM	12:21:49.8 PM	1:21:49.8 PM	2:21:49.8 PM
Greatest Eclipse (Cerulean/Bainbridge/Sinking Fork, Kentucky)	18:25:31.1 UTC	11:25:31.1 AM	12:25:31.1 PM	1:25:31.1 PM	2:25:31.1 PM
Total Eclipse Ends in the USA (South Carolina coast)	18:49:08.0 UTC	11:49:08.0 AM	12:49:08.0 PM	1:49:08.0 PM	2:49:08.0 PM
Total Eclipse Ends (last external contact of umbra)	20:02:32.4 UTC	1:02:32.4 PM	2:02:32.4 PM	3:02:32.4 PM	4:02:32.4 PM
Partial Eclipse Ends (last external contact of penumbra)	21:04:22.6 UTC	2:04:22.6 PM	3:04:22.6 PM	4:04:22.6 PM	5:04:22.6 PM
*limb corrected

First Totality

Last Totality

Derived from interactive maps from Xavier M. Jubier - xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleMaps.html

Total travel time of the shadow through the United States will be 93 minutes, 17.1 seconds.

It will travel across 2505 miles of land.

It will enter the United States off the Oregon coast at a speed of 2415 MPH (Mach 3.15).

It will then slow to a speed of no slower than 1445 MPH (Mach 1.90) as it crosses Tennessee.

And then finally it will exit the United States off the South Carolina coast at a speed of 1485 MPH (Mach 1.95).

The shadow will travel an average speed 1650 MPH during this time frame.

Even the fastest planes in the world would have a very difficult time keeping up with the speed of the shadow!

(Mach 1 = the speed of sound = 767 MPH)
(Mach 2 = twice the speed of sound = 1533 MPH)
(Mach 3 = three times the speed of sound = 2300 MPH)

The maximum duration is in Lick Creek, Illinois at 2 minutes, 41.6 seconds. However, durations of no less than 90% of that maximum can be achieved in the eastern 75% of the path. So, if having one the longest shows is important to you, I don't recommend seeing it in Oregon or Idaho, but instead look for the best weather areas east of there - which most likely will be in Wyoming or Nebraska.