Great American Eclipse | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

Explore the spectacular cosmic phenomenon of a total solar eclipse. In April 2024, the Moon’s shadow is sweeping from Texas to Maine, as the U.S. witnesses its last total solar eclipse until 2044. This extraordinary astronomical event is plunging locations in the path of totality into darkness for more than four minutes – nearly twice as long as the last American eclipse in 2017. Learn how to watch an eclipse safely and follow scientists as they work to unlock secrets of our Sun – from why its atmosphere is hundreds of times hotter than its surface, to what causes solar storms and how we might one day predict them.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTfQpdTD_3MShow more

Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:41 What Happens During a Total Solar Eclipse?
08:38 Protecting Your Eyes During an Eclipse
12:08 Studying the Sun’s Corona
20:24 Ancient Sightings of Solar Eclipses
27:00 Predicting Solar Eclipses and Solar Ejections
35:23 Testing a Coronagraph During an Annular Eclipse
41:26 The Heat of the Sun’s Corona
48:57 Conclusion

© 2024 WGBH Educational Foundation

All rights reserved

This program was produced by GBH, which is solely responsible for its content.

This program is made possible by viewers like you. Support your local PBS station here: https://pbs.org/donate/

Enjoy full episodes of your favorite PBS shows anytime, anywhere with the free PBS app: https://to.pbs.org/2QbtzhR