Eclipse Map: Total Solar Eclipse of August 23, 2044

Solar Eclipse Circumstances

The blue shaded area, when it appears, is the region of totality or annularity. By locating themselves within the blue region, observers can see a total or annular eclipse rather than a partial eclipse. In addition, the red line within the region of totality/annularity marks the path along which a total or annular eclipse reaches its maximum magnitude. Accordingly, most eclipse trekkers will want to position themselves close to this line to observe the longest periods of totality/annularity. However, viewers located near the edge of the blue region can experience longer periods of Baily's beads and the diamond ring effects.

The green lines mark the locations where the greatest magnitude of the eclipse is 0, 25, 50, or 75 percent. In addition, the purple lines denote the locations where the eclipse begins or ends at sunrise or sunset. Finally, the yellow lines mark the areas where the magnitude of the eclipse is at its maximum with the eclipse on the horizon. These latter locations can provide a spectacular photo opportunity if the location provides an unobstructed view of the horizon.

Lunar Eclipse Circumstances

The lunar eclipse map shows the locations from which observers can view the eclipse. Observers in the shaded regions of the eclipse will not be able to see some or all phases of the eclipse as these phases occur when their locations are on the opposite side of the earth from the moon.

For example, in the shaded region between the P1 and P4 markers, no part of the eclipse is visible. On the other hand, in the shaded region between U1 and u4, only the penumbral phase of the eclipse eclipse is visible. By contrast, the partial and total phases are not visble in these regions. Finally, in the shaded area between U2 and U3, when it appears, the total eclipse phase is not visible, but the partial and penumbral phases of the eclipse are visible.

The definitons for contact times, P1, U1, U2, U3, U4, and P4 are here.