Eclipse Explorer is split into two parts: the main map and the user interface on the bottom. The interface can be collapsed by clicking the arrow on the left. NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
Have you ever wondered how to track
an eclipse down to the exact second? NASA has you covered! As the countdown to
the highly anticipated Oct. 14, 2023, annular solar eclipse continues, NASA is
proud to unveil the Eclipse
Explorer – an
interactive map designed to enhance your eclipse-viewing experience. Crafted to
complement our existing static eclipse maps, this tool enables users to dive into this amazing
celestial event like never before.
What Is the 2023 Eclipse Explorer?
The 2023 Eclipse Explorer
demonstrates that celestial events are predictable down to the second. Unlike
traditional static maps, this interactive version is feature-rich, offering
layers upon layers of details that space enthusiasts can toggle on or off to
explore each facet at their own pace.
Key features:
- Dynamic Layers: Toggle lines showing what percentage of
the Sun will be covered at the peak of the eclipse, outlines of areas
where the duration of annularity (when the Moon is entirely in front of
the Sun) is highest, and the path and shapes of the antumbra (the darkest
part of the shadow and where annularity occurs) and penumbra (the brighter
parts of the shadow, where only a partial eclipse is visible).
- Time Slider: Scrub through time to see the motion of
the eclipse shadows across the U.S. on the day of the eclipse.
- City Information: Click city labels to access detailed local
data including current weather conditions and a simulated image of the
eclipse for that particular location. For each city, buttons for different
phases of the eclipse automatically skip to the time on the map when each
of those events happen in that city.
- Countdown Widget: Count down to the moment of maximum
coverage for each city.
- Auto-Play: Automatically play the eclipse forward in
time at varying speeds. Clicking the "follow" toggle button will
move the map to track the shadow as it moves across the landscape
during the eclipse.
Moving the time slider in the user interface advances or reverses the eclipse through time on the day of the eclipse. NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
If a city pop-up is open, a simulated image of the eclipse evolves in time along with the shadows on the main map. NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
The pop-up for each city has buttons for the beginning, the half-way point to the maximum, the maximum, the half-way point after maximum, and the end of the eclipse. Clicking a button will automatically move the map to that moment in time. NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio
How to Use Eclipse Explorer
Using the 2023 Eclipse Explorer is
as easy as moving a slider! The interface comes with a grid of toggle buttons
at the bottom, divided into different categories: shadow components, city
labels (or bookmarks), eclipse paths, coverage percentages, and duration
intervals. Clicking any of the buttons will make that data appear (or
disappear) on the map. Additionally, clicking any of the city labels on the map
brings up a pop-up filled with additional information about the eclipse at that
location.
Pro Tip: Click the phase icons on the city pop-up to show the
map at that moment. For example, if you have the penumbra layer activated and
click the first and last eclipse icons, you’ll be able to see the penumbra
crossing the selected city.
Making the Map
The 2023 Eclipse Explorer is a web
application developed by NASA's Scientific
Visualization Studio (SVS). The application is written in Javascript and uses React, a powerful
user-interface framework, and Leaflet, an open-source map plugin, to display
map data and eclipse shapes. The eclipse shapes were calculated by SVS
visualizer Ernie Wright and account for the individual craters along the edge
of the Moon as mapped by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. This data is so precise that it takes a long time to
load in all at once! Handling all this data in Eclipse Explorer was a task all
by itself. To avoid having users wait while the data downloads, the app only
loads the necessary eclipse data on demand.
Call to Action
The NASA
annular eclipse broadcast team plans to use the 2023 Eclipse Explorer in the live broadcast, so
make sure to tune in and see the map in action on Oct. 14!
As we gear up for the April 2024 total solar eclipse, we welcome any feedback on the application via the
"get in touch!" button at the bottom of the SVS homepage.
For more resources about the 2023
solar eclipse, visit NASA's eclipse page.
Whether you're a casual skywatcher or an avid eclipse chaser, the 2023 Eclipse Explorer promises an exciting and educational interactive experience. So go ahead, toggle and slide your way into the next annular solar eclipse!
By Alex
Gurvich
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
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