Interactively Visualizing the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses with NASA's Eclipse Explorer

With the 2023 annular and 2024 total solar eclipses on the horizon, we present the NASA Eclipse Explorer, a web application crafted for precise and real-time visualization of these events. The application is designed as both a resource for broadcasters to enhance their presentations and a platform for individual users to explore and understand the eclipses in depth. Its user-friendly interface is similar to popular map platforms, enabling easy and intuitive exploration of the eclipse's path. Using NASA's data on the precise size and shape of the moon's shadow, the tool provides visualizations at one-second intervals for the duration of the eclipses. Users can also click on any location on the map to view a simulation of the relative positions of the Moon and Sun at that moment from the that location’s perspective. Additionally, the application also integrates data from the National Weather Service’s hourly forecasts, keeping users informed without them having to leave the app. Overall, the NASA Eclipse Explorer stands poised to become an invaluable tool for broadcasters and enthusiasts alike to interactively explore the progress of the next great American eclipses.