Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 Facts for Kids

An animation showing the Moon's shadow moving across the Earth during the 2017 solar eclipse.

On August 21, 2017, a special event called a total solar eclipse happened. This amazing sight could be seen across the United States. People in other parts of the world, like northern Canada, northern South America, northwestern Europe, northwestern Africa, and eastern Asia, were able to see a partial eclipse.

What is a Solar Eclipse?
Images for kids
See also

What is a Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth. When this happens, the Moon blocks the Sun's light. If the Moon completely blocks the Sun, it's called a total solar eclipse. If it only blocks part of the Sun, it's a partial solar eclipse.

The Path of Totality

During a total solar eclipse, there's a narrow path on Earth where the Sun is completely hidden. This is called the "path of totality." For the 2017 eclipse, this path went all the way across the United States, from Oregon on the west coast to South Carolina on the east coast. Millions of people traveled to be in this path to experience the full darkness of totality.

What People Saw

As the Moon slowly covered the Sun, the sky got darker, almost like twilight. Animals sometimes acted confused, and the air temperature could drop. During the few minutes of totality, the Sun's outer atmosphere, called the corona, became visible. It looked like a beautiful, glowing crown around the dark circle of the Moon. People also saw bright spots of light called Baily's beads and a "diamond ring" effect just before and after totality.

Watching the Eclipse

Many people gathered in parks, fields, and even college campuses to watch the eclipse. Special eclipse glasses or viewers were needed to look at the Sun safely before and after totality. Without them, looking directly at the Sun could hurt your eyes.

The Eclipse from Space

Even astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) got a unique view! They could see the Moon's shadow, called the umbra, moving across the Earth's surface. This showed how big the shadow was and how fast it traveled.

Impact and Excitement

The 2017 solar eclipse was a huge event. Many people traveled to see it, which caused a lot of traffic in some areas. News channels like NASA TV had live coverage, and millions of people watched from home. It was a memorable day for science and for everyone who got to witness this amazing natural phenomenon.

Images for kids

The path of totality across the United States
Viewing the eclipse at Oregon State University
Campers on a field near Madras, Oregon, three days before the eclipse
Totality over Timothy Lake, Oregon
Diamond ring effect and some prominences at the end of totality in Oregon
Total eclipse from Weiser, Idaho
People watching and photographing the eclipse in Yellowstone National Park
A crowd observes the eclipse in Ravenna, Nebraska
Approximately a minute before totality (Western Nebraska)
During totality (Western Nebraska)
Man watching the total solar eclipse at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois
An eclipse photographer in Madisonville, Kentucky
Totality from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee
NASA TV's live coverage was watched by 4.4 million people
Boundaries of the sunset partial eclipse in Western Europe
The Moon's umbra, as seen from the International Space Station
A variable-message sign alerting drivers of the eclipse
Traffic waiting to get on Interstate 25 at Glendo, Wyoming, after the eclipse
Traffic at a ramp to Interstate 75 near Sweetwater, Tennessee
Animation showing shadow movement of event from space.
Sequence starting at 9:06 am, totality at 10:19 am, and ending at 10:21 am PDT, as seen from Corvallis, Oregon
Totality and prominences as seen from Glenrock, Wyoming
Totality as seen from Columbia, Missouri
Totality as seen from Sweetwater, Tennessee
Totality as seen from Saint Paul, Clarendon County, South Carolina
Totality as seen from Newberry, South Carolina
Totality as seen from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Beginning of Diamond ring as seen from Glenrock, Wyoming
Diamond ring as seen from Jay Em, Wyoming
Baily's beads before totality from far western Nebraska
Diamond ring as seen from Corvallis, Oregon
Diamond ring as seen from Saint Paul, South Carolina
Diamond ring as seen from Newberry, South Carolina
Diamond ring (with large flare) as seen from Cullowhee, NC
Diamond ring as seen from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Seattle, Washington
North Cascades National Park, Washington. The ISS is visible as it transits the sun during the eclipse (4 frame composite image).
San Francisco, California
Mira Mesa in San Diego, California
Far western Nebraska
White House, Tennessee
Maine at 2:41 p.m. EDT before maximum 68% coverage at 2:45 p.m.
Brooklyn, New York
Ellicott City, Maryland shortly before maximum eclipse (~80%)
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Simpsonville, South Carolina
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Newberry, South Carolina
North Cascade mountains (British Columbia and Washington).
East Wenatchee, Washington
Moon, Pennsylvania
Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Chiapas), Mexico at 12:36 GMT-6.
Chihuahua, Mexico at 11:40 a.m.
Sunset from Zarautz, Basque Country, Spain
Sunset, viewed from Coimbra, Portugal