In 2017 a total solar eclipse occurred within America's mainland. When was the last time one occurred prior to 2017?

In August 2017, America saw its first total solar eclipse since 1979. It is already being called the Great American Eclipse. For the first time in 38 years, the shadow of a total solar eclipse crossed the lower 48 states of the United States.

We have seen partial solar eclipses in the past. In a partial eclipse, you can use little cardboard pinhole viewers to see the sun's disk projected onto a piece of paper so you do not hurt your eyes. This activity is fun to do. But it is not the transformative experience of a total eclipse.

With a total eclipse, the apparent diameter of the moon is larger than that of the sun and blocks all direct sunlight. Day turns to night, birds go silent, and you can stare directly at the moon with the sun behind it without any eye protection. (People still have to be careful though! You must cover your eyes before the sun re-emerges).

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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50 Comments

Melissa Brooks

Billdvdman- Good write up. Your Q&A brought up my memory of walking down the sidewalk in Austin, Texas returning to work .... when the sunlight briefly dimmed and the shadows of the leaves on the trees were double imaged and had a crystal-like sparkle. Gave me an LSD flashback.....You are too young and probably clueless to the Age of Aquarius times I am talking about. Thank you for getting me to remember some very colorful times.

Stephanie Fox

Melissa Brooks, Love. I was in high school in Houston, at the time. I remember a few flashbacks, myself.

Carol Lauter

An easy one. I remember both eclipses!

Fred Keogh

Is the next due to happen on 4th Dec 2021?

JohnnyRoulette

I remember when it happened. My mother made me stay home from school because she knew I’d look directly at it if they told me not to. And I would have. I was 8 or 9 and I’m sure I took a peek without the homemade viewing box anyway.

larrywagner

I remember the 79 eclipse, I was working at Los Alamos at the time. We were watching the 2017 here in middle TN, and at the peak of it a large cloud covered it up. Well written Q&A.

Johnny Rock

I remember that one. In 2017 I didn't head down south from here (Portland Oregon) enough to view its totality.

Barbara Shaw

Remember last year's eclipse

anthonysloan acs

Got it right!! I was kid!! I remember

shirlavelle

Had my baby girl in 1979.. you always remember things from your kids' birth years

Val Wilkinson

Nancy Mueller, I remember that from the 1999 eclipse

Val Wilkinson

Fred Zeb Fudpucker, for once we agree!

Val Wilkinson

Peggy Tinsley, but it DOESN'T SAY "WHEN DID IT LAST HAPPEN IN AMERICA?" ! Don't patronise Michael Preston, because the question is badly written!

Val Wilkinson

Michael Preston, I saw that one from Cornwall - there have been others since. Badly written question (again). USA does not equal The World (whatever they might think)

Val Wilkinson

Very badly worded question! Doesn't matter that I got the points, get it right! should read "... when was the last time one occurred in the US mainland?" as they do occur, somewhere in the world, most years