The Great Solar Eclipse of 2017

The rare spectacle of a total solar eclipse has given scientists throughout history fleeting opportunities to delve into everything from the sun’s chemistry to Einsteinian relativity to Earth’s place in the solar system.

This video was reproduced with permission and was first published on August 16, 2017. It is a Nature Video production.

From ground, sky and space, researchers are ready to test latest technologies on the Great American Eclipse

Data designer Jan Willem Tulp provides a peek behind the scenes, and describes how he developed several visualizations for an article in the August 2017 issue

Data show the U.S. locations that offer the best chances for clear skies and light traffic

Non-scientists are being recruited to collect data on everything from the Sun’s outer atmosphere to animal behavior

In advance of the big solar eclipse on August 21, author and journalist David Baron talks about his new book American Eclipse: A Nation's Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World.

It's far too late to get a hotel room, but if you don’t mind sleeping under the stars, you’ve still got options

Photos don’t do it justice—it’s perhaps the most spectacular natural phenomenon you’ll ever see

 It helped bring national healing in 1878, so can’t history repeat itself?

Opportunities abound to watch the sun disappear if you live long and travel

The first total solar eclipse to cross the U.S. from coast to coast in 99 years is not only a must-see spectacle but also a valuable scientific opportunity

Use the interactive map below to find the next solar spectacular in your region

Earth may get great solar eclipses, but they don't happen all the time

America is preparing for a sea-to-shining-sea solar eclipse. Here’s how you can watch the spectacular display, and maybe even snap a photo to commemorate the event, without burning your retinas or damaging your camera’s optics.