How solar and lunar eclipses work. Note: This is an update of a video we published in 2015. Sources: Getty Images https://www.amazon.com/Totality-Great-American-Eclipses-2017/dp/0198795696/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500557252&sr=8-1&keywords=totality NASA: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/search.cgi?series=383 Eclipse catalog: https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEcat5/catalog.html Dmitry Chulkov: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXJfVFbnfU Bernt Rostad: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brostad/2773255031 mtsrs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mtsrs/3768574487 CNES/CNRS/NASA: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11133 Marc Aragnou: https://vimeo.com/108544802 Jesse Olson: https://vimeo.com/57820123 redwing115: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yljQ3XsFU_8 Xavier Jubier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E53RbhQjajA vfr800hu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlnMc6biFCw mikewattsuk/bbc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt3C5MM7Jkg Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse is coming to the continental United States for the first time in 38 years, which may make it the most viewed total solar eclipse in history. These events generate so much excitement because the orbital mechanics of the earth-moon-sun system keep the moon's shadow small and mobile. It will touch any given spot on the planet only once in over 300 years on average. For that reason, most people must make a concerted effort if they are to witness this event in their lifetimes. In this video we explain the differences between a solar and lunar eclipse and why some believe that a total eclipse of the sun is the greatest natural phenomenon of them all. If you're anywhere in the continental United States that day, you can preview exactly what the solar eclipse will look like for your particular zip code, and when it will peak. Check it out: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/16019892/solar-eclipse-2017-interactive-map?utm_campaign=vox.social&utm_medium=social&utm_content=voxdotcom&utm_source=youtube Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com to get up to speed on everything from Kurdistan to the Kim Kardashian app. Check out our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE Follow Vox on Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H Or on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o