Skip to main content
Space Space
Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter
RSS
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Space Exploration
    • Launches & Spacecraft
      • Private spaceflight
      • Human spaceflight
      • SpaceX
      • Blue Origin
      • Virgin Galactic
      • United Launch Alliance
    • Search for Life
      • Exoplanets
      • SETI
      • Aliens
    • Missions
      • International Space Station
      • Space Shuttle
      • Apollo
      • Artemis
      • Voyager
      • Asteroid & Comet Missions
      • Mars rovers
      • New Horizons
      • Parker Solar Probe
    • Satellites
  • Astronomy
    • Solar System
      • The Sun
      • Asteroids
      • Mars
      • Comets
      • Mercury
      • Jupiter
      • Saturn
      • Pluto
      • Venus
      • Dwarf Planets
      • Neptune
      • Uranus
    • The Moon
      • Moon Phases
    • The Earth
      • Live 4K video from space
      • Climate Change
      • Weather
    • The Universe
      • Stars
      • Black Holes
      • Dark Universe
      • Galaxies
    • Deep Space
      • James Webb Space Telescope
      • Hubble Space Telescope
  • Stargazing
    • Skywatching Kit
      • Telescopes
      • Cameras
    • Astrophotography
    • Eclipses
      • Lunar Eclipses
      • Solar Eclipses
  • Entertainment
    • Space Movies & Shows
      • Star Trek
      • Star Wars
    • Space Games
    • Space Toys & Lego
    • Space Books
    • Technology
      • Drones
      • Aerospace
    • Science
      • Particle Physics
      • Astrophysics
  • Videos
    • Subscribe to our Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Web Notifications
  • home
  • Space Exploration
    • View Space Exploration
    • Launches & Spacecraft
      • View Launches & Spacecraft
      • Private spaceflight
      • Human spaceflight
      • SpaceX
      • Blue Origin
      • Virgin Galactic
      • United Launch Alliance
    • Search for Life
      • View Search for Life
      • Exoplanets
      • SETI
      • Aliens
    • Missions
      • View Missions
      • International Space Station
      • Space Shuttle
      • Apollo
      • Artemis
      • Voyager
      • Asteroid & Comet Missions
      • Mars rovers
      • New Horizons
      • Parker Solar Probe
    • Satellites
  • Astronomy
    • View Astronomy
    • Solar System
      • View Solar System
      • The Sun
      • Asteroids
      • Mars
      • Comets
      • Mercury
      • Jupiter
      • Saturn
      • Pluto
      • Venus
      • Dwarf Planets
      • Neptune
      • Uranus
    • The Moon
      • View The Moon
      • Moon Phases
    • The Earth
      • View The Earth
      • Live 4K video from space
      • Climate Change
      • Weather
    • The Universe
      • View The Universe
      • Stars
      • Black Holes
      • Dark Universe
      • Galaxies
    • Deep Space
      • View Deep Space
      • James Webb Space Telescope
      • Hubble Space Telescope
  • Stargazing
    • View Stargazing
    • Skywatching Kit
      • View Skywatching Kit
      • Telescopes
      • Cameras
    • Astrophotography
    • Eclipses
      • View Eclipses
      • Lunar Eclipses
      • Solar Eclipses
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • Space Movies & Shows
      • View Space Movies & Shows
      • Star Trek
      • Star Wars
    • Space Games
    • Space Toys & Lego
    • Space Books
    • Technology
      • View Technology
      • Drones
      • Aerospace
    • Science
      • View Science
      • Particle Physics
      • Astrophysics
  • Videos
    • Subscribe to our Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Web Notifications
Don't miss these
A series of dark circles represent the moon during different phases of a solar eclipse, with the middle circle completely blocking a bright light (the sun) in a dark blue sky.
The Sun Most solar eclipse maps have a major flaw. Here's how to ensure you're really in the path of totality
The "Ring of Fire" effect caused during the annular solar eclipse is seen from Penonome, Panama, on October 14, 2023.
Solar Eclipses When is the next solar eclipse?
composite image of a partial solar eclipse showing the full sun in the middle surrounded by a circle of solar images during each stage of a partial solar eclipse.
Solar Eclipses Don't miss the partial solar eclipse Sept. 21! Where, when and how to see it
Sunrise over the ancient Temple of Nefertari, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Egypt
Solar Eclipses Eclipse experts' best travel tips for the total solar eclipse 2027
An image of the sun's disk during a partial solar eclipse. The moon's silhouette is blocking the entirety of the upper right section of the disk, leaving only its lower crescent visible, which is wreathed in thin clouds.
Solar Eclipses How to watch Sept. 21 partial solar eclipse live online for free
A photo of the sun captured during a partial solar eclipse. The silhouette of the moon covers the majority of the sun, transforming it into a crescent, or sickle shape.
Solar Eclipses 1 week to go until the moon takes a ‘bite’ out of the sun during partial solar eclipse on Sept. 21
A picture of the sun's disk almost completely obscured by the moon's silhouette against a black sky, with only a thin crescent of its lower edge visible.
Solar Eclipses What to expect from each stage of the partial solar eclipse today
Solar eclipse composite with observers in the foreground - lower right corner. above the stages of a total solar eclipse play out in the sky above.
Solar Eclipses Total solar eclipse 2028: Everything you need to know about totality in Australia and New Zealand
graphic showing a partial solar eclipse whereby the sun appears as a crescent shape, where the moon covers a majority of the sun. Where the moon is located, a clock graphic is situated.
Solar Eclipses What time is the partial solar eclipse Sept. 21?
a partial solar eclipse at sunrise, the sun looks like a large bright crescent in the early morning sky as it rises above the horizon.
Solar Eclipses A partial solar eclipse is coming: 1 month until the moon takes a 'bite' out of the sun
partially eclipses sun appears as a thin crescent behind clouds.
Solar Eclipses Partial solar eclipse September 2025: Everything you need to know about the 'equinox' solar eclipse
During a total solar eclipse, the moon blocks out the disk of the sun.
Eclipses Total eclipse of the smart: an eclipse themed space quiz
A picture of the sun's disk with its left side blocked by the curved outline of the moon's silhouette.
Solar Eclipses See the moon 'bite' the sun in 1st photos of September 2025 partial solar eclipse
view of annular solar eclipse with moon in the enter obscuring a majority of the sun's disk, leaving a ring of fire around the outside.
Solar Eclipses Annular solar eclipse 2026: Everything you need to know about the 'ring of fire'
a graphic of a partial solar eclipse and a location marker below conveying the location of the partial solar eclipse.
Solar Eclipses Where will the partial solar eclipse be visible Sept. 21?
Trending
  • Aurora Forecast
  • Lego Star Wars deals
  • Best Star Projectors
  1. Astronomy
  2. Solar System
  3. The Sun

Solar eclipse sights might vary on the edge of totality: report

News
By Elizabeth Howell published 2 April 2024

The amateur research is intriguing, but perhaps still preliminary.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

a solar eclipse with a bit of sun peeking through the edge of the moon's shadow
The Baily's Beads effect as seen from Madras, Oregon, during the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse. (Image credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

If you plan to watch the solar eclipse April 8 at the edge of the totality path, you might want to move further into the shadow.

New amateur calculations of the sun happens when the moon passes in front of our solar neighbor. Because the moon is so small, its shadow is narrow indeed and that means totality may only last a few seconds, or minutes, in a tiny part of the Earth's surface.

You may like
  • A series of dark circles represent the moon during different phases of a solar eclipse, with the middle circle completely blocking a bright light (the sun) in a dark blue sky. Most solar eclipse maps have a major flaw. Here's how to ensure you're really in the path of totality
  • Sunrise over the ancient Temple of Nefertari, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Egypt Eclipse experts' best travel tips for the total solar eclipse 2027
  • The "Ring of Fire" effect caused during the annular solar eclipse is seen from Penonome, Panama, on October 14, 2023. When is the next solar eclipse?

Related: April 8 total solar eclipse could bring uptick in fatal car crashes, scientists caution

Amateur John Irwin, on the 15 areas that may see some differences of the eclipse totality path.

On their Facebook page, the Besselian team describes themselves as "a team of dedicated amateur astronomers, passionate about solar eclipses", which means their work hasn't been fact-checked by scientists as you'll see in areas like professional journal publications.

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

Total solar eclipse 2024: Live updates

— about the new findings. 

Young didn't explicitly endorse Besselian's work, but said he will have a peer-reviewed paper coming out shortly showing the sun is slightly larger than expected. He told EarthSky that finding was uncovered during a previous U.S. total solar eclipse in 2017. That work, he added, may influence future eclipse mappings.

If you're looking for a takeaway solution, the best idea is to move as far into the region of shadow as you can to avoid any hiccups. And when you're observing the solar eclipse, make sure you have the right tools to do so. 

Our guide on 975 Amazon customer reviews

☆☆☆
Prime
$8.99
$13.99
View
Show more
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Elizabeth Howell
Former Staff Writer, Spaceflight (July 2022-November 2024)

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., was a staff writer in the spaceflight channel between 2022 and 2024 specializing in Canadian space news. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years from 2012 to 2024. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House, leading world coverage about a lost-and-found space tomato on the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?" (ECW Press, 2022) is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. 

Read more
A series of dark circles represent the moon during different phases of a solar eclipse, with the middle circle completely blocking a bright light (the sun) in a dark blue sky.
Most solar eclipse maps have a major flaw. Here's how to ensure you're really in the path of totality
 
 
Sunrise over the ancient Temple of Nefertari, Abu Simbel, Aswan, Egypt
Eclipse experts' best travel tips for the total solar eclipse 2027
 
 
The "Ring of Fire" effect caused during the annular solar eclipse is seen from Penonome, Panama, on October 14, 2023.
When is the next solar eclipse?
 
 
Solar eclipse composite with observers in the foreground - lower right corner. above the stages of a total solar eclipse play out in the sky above.
Total solar eclipse 2028: Everything you need to know about totality in Australia and New Zealand
 
 
composite image of a partial solar eclipse showing the full sun in the middle surrounded by a circle of solar images during each stage of a partial solar eclipse.
Don't miss the partial solar eclipse Sept. 21! Where, when and how to see it
 
 
graphic showing a partial solar eclipse whereby the sun appears as a crescent shape, where the moon covers a majority of the sun. Where the moon is located, a clock graphic is situated.
What time is the partial solar eclipse Sept. 21?
 
 
Latest in The Sun
close up view of the sun firing off a colossal X5.1 solar flare on Nov. 11.
Sun unleashes strongest solar flare of 2025, sparking radio blackouts across Africa and Europe
 
 
A series of red rings arcing over a white light in the middle of the image
ESA's sun spacecraft captures 1st close-up of our star's magnetic engine in motion
 
 
two panel image showing the location of the two X-class solar flares from Nov. 4 2025.
Sun unleashes 2 colossal X-class solar flares, knocking out radio signals across the Americas and Pacific
 
 
A NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory image of the sun.
Scientists find twisting magnetic waves on the sun. Could this help solve a huge solar mystery?
 
 
close up view of the sun with two bright "eyes" and a large coronal hole that looks like a smiling mouth.
NASA spots a spooky face glowing on the sun just in time for Halloween (photo)
 
 
A gray scale image shows a plume of energy coming from the center of the image
Sun's far side erupts in satellite image | Space photo of the day for Oct. 29, 2025
 
 
Latest in News
workers on scaffolding paint a nasa logo on a massive white building
'This all must end now.' NASA lab closures at Goddard Space Flight Center under Congressional scrutiny
 
 
An image of the night sky showing Mars as a red star-light object close ot a number of blue-white stars against a dark blue sky.
See Mars and Mercury shine in the glow of the setting sun on Nov. 12
 
 
A series of black streaks across a brown sandy surface
Mars orbiter spies 'barcode' aftermath of rare Red Planet avalanche caused by meteoroid impact
 
 
The Indian Space Research Organisation conducts a drop test of the parachute system for its Gaganyaan astronaut capsule on Nov. 3, 2025.
India tests parachutes for Gaganyaan astronaut capsule (video)
 
 
An image of a comet in black and white with lines streaking across the image.
Comet Lemmon photos are plagued by satellite streaks. Here's how amateur astronomers face the problem
 
 
An illustration of the Earth warping a flat sheet of white crisscrossing lines.
Does quantum gravity exist? A new experiment has deepened the mystery
 
 
MORE FROM SPACE...
  1. 'This all must end now.' NASA lab closures at Goddard Space Flight Center under Congressional scrutiny
  2. 3
    Mars orbiter spies 'barcode' aftermath of rare Red Planet avalanche caused by meteoroid impact

Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Advertise with us
  • Web notifications
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...

Follow Lee on X/Twitter - Father, Husband, Serial builder creating AI, crypto, games & web tools. We are friends :) AI Will Come To Life!

Check out: eBank.nz (Art Generator) | Netwrck.com (AI Tools) | Text-Generator.io (AI API) | BitBank.nz (Crypto AI) | ReadingTime (Kids Reading) | RewordGame | BigMultiplayerChess | WebFiddle | How.nz | Helix AI Assistant