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[Skip to Main Content](https://weather.com/science/space/news/nasa-most-accurate-map-total-solar-eclipse-august#MainContent)[Accessibility Help](https://www.essentialaccessibility.com/the-weather-channel?utm_source=theweatherchannelhomepage&utm_medium=iconlarge&utm_term=eachannelpage&utm_content=header&utm_campaign=theweatherchannel) [22Today](https://weather.com/science/space/news/nasa-most-accurate-map-total-solar-eclipse-august#noloc_/weather/today/l/?traffic_source=footerNav_Today) [Hourly](https://weather.com/science/space/news/nasa-most-accurate-map-total-solar-eclipse-august#noloc_/weather/hourbyhour/l/?traffic_source=footerNav_Hourly) [10 Day](https://weather.com/science/space/news/nasa-most-accurate-map-total-solar-eclipse-august#noloc_/weather/tenday/l/?traffic_source=footerNav_Tenday) [Radar](https://weather.com/science/space/news/nasa-most-accurate-map-total-solar-eclipse-august#noloc_/weather/radar/interactive/l/?traffic_source=footerNav_Radar) [Video](https://weather.com/news/weather/video/oahu-hawaii-flooding-billion-dollar-damage-evacuations?adRef=nav?traffic_source=footerNav_Video) ### [Space](https://weather.com/science/space) # NASA Creates Extremely Accurate Map for August's Total Solar Eclipse ## #### By Brian Donegan #### August 20, 2017 Share The first [total solar eclipse in the Lower 48 states](https://weather.com/science/space/news/2017-great-american-solar-eclipse-sun) in more than 38 years will take place on Monday, Aug. 21, and NASA wants to make sure you know exactly what to expect. NASA data visualizer Ernie Wright created the map below, which NASA said is the [most accurate map](https://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/12458) for Aug. 21's total solar eclipse. **(MORE: [10 Best States to See the Total Solar Eclipse](https://weather.com/science/space/news/best-places-view-great-american-total-solar-eclipse))**   NASA data visualizer Ernie Wright created this map which shows a more accurate path of the upcoming Aug. 21 total solar eclipse. (NASA) In this map, data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [accounts for the moon's terrain](https://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/12458), which is then combined with elevation data on Earth and information on the sun's angle in order to create the most accurate map of the eclipse path to date, NASA said. Zoomed-in maps for each state which will experience totality can be found at [NASA's official eclipse 2017 website](https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-maps). Advertisement A narrow swath from Oregon to South Carolina will see the moon completely mask the sun. Nearly all other parts of North America – as well as parts of South America, Africa and Europe – will also see at least a partial eclipse. The eclipse will start mid-morning Aug. 21 in the Pacific Northwest, around midday in the nation's heartland and early afternoon in the Southeast and end in the Lower 48 after 4 p.m. EDT. Observers on the ground will see the eclipse for approximately two and a half minutes. "Standing at the edge of the moon's shadow, or umbra, the difference between seeing a total eclipse and a partial eclipse [comes down to elevation](https://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/12458) – mountains and valleys both on Earth and on the moon – which affect where the shadow lands," NASA said in a release. *Brian Donegan is a digital meteorologist at weather.com. Follow him on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WxBrianD) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/WxBrianD).* **MORE ON WEATHER.COM: March 2015 Eclipse** Advertisement [Trending Today](https://weather.com/news) [ What Does It Mean To 'Burp Your House'? The 5-Minute Habit That Could Improve Your Health](https://weather.com/home-garden/news/2026-02-18-why-meteorologists-recommend-burping-your-house) [ Feeling Foggy At Home? You Might Need To ‘Burp’ Your House](https://weather.com/home-garden/video/what-is-burping-your-house) [ Big Winter Temperature Shifts May Be Putting Your Plants At Risk](https://weather.com/home-garden/news/2026-01-03-winter-temperature-shifts-plants-impact) [![]() Don’t Just Toss Your Tree After Christmas](https://weather.com/home-garden/video/christmas-tree-reuse) Advertisement ## Our Cookies. Your Choice. The Weather Channel uses data, cookies and other similar technologies on this browser to optimise our website, and to provide you with weather features and deliver non-personalised ads based on the general location of your IP address. Find out more in our [Privacy Policy](https://weather.com/en-US/twc/privacy-policy). Manage cookie settings

By Brian DoneganAugust 20, 2017 The first [total solar eclipse in the Lower 48 states](https://weather.com/science/space/news/2017-great-american-solar-eclipse-sun) in more than 38 years will take place on Monday, Aug. 21, and NASA wants to make sure you know exactly what to expect. NASA data visualizer Ernie Wright created the map below, which NASA said is the [most accurate map](https://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/12458) for Aug. 21's total solar eclipse. **(MORE: [10 Best States to See the Total Solar Eclipse](https://weather.com/science/space/news/best-places-view-great-american-total-solar-eclipse))**  NASA data visualizer Ernie Wright created this map which shows a more accurate path of the upcoming Aug. 21 total solar eclipse. (NASA) In this map, data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter [accounts for the moon's terrain](https://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/12458), which is then combined with elevation data on Earth and information on the sun's angle in order to create the most accurate map of the eclipse path to date, NASA said. Zoomed-in maps for each state which will experience totality can be found at [NASA's official eclipse 2017 website](https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-maps). A narrow swath from Oregon to South Carolina will see the moon completely mask the sun. Nearly all other parts of North America – as well as parts of South America, Africa and Europe – will also see at least a partial eclipse. The eclipse will start mid-morning Aug. 21 in the Pacific Northwest, around midday in the nation's heartland and early afternoon in the Southeast and end in the Lower 48 after 4 p.m. EDT. Observers on the ground will see the eclipse for approximately two and a half minutes. "Standing at the edge of the moon's shadow, or umbra, the difference between seeing a total eclipse and a partial eclipse [comes down to elevation](https://nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov/12458) – mountains and valleys both on Earth and on the moon – which affect where the shadow lands," NASA said in a release. *Brian Donegan is a digital meteorologist at weather.com. Follow him on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WxBrianD) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/WxBrianD).* **MORE ON WEATHER.COM: March 2015 Eclipse** ## Our Cookies. Your Choice. The Weather Channel uses data, cookies and other similar technologies on this browser to optimise our website, and to provide you with weather features and deliver non-personalised ads based on the general location of your IP address. Find out more in our [Privacy Policy](https://weather.com/en-US/twc/privacy-policy).