Solar Eclipse Simulation Video Shows Sun Coverage for Each State

A viral video shows how much of the sun will be obscured by the moon in the upcoming total solar eclipse in parts of the U.S. outside the path of totality, including how the celestial occurrence will appear in the sky.

The clip, which was posted on TikTok on March 27 and has since been viewed 38.5 million times on the platform, shows which area of each state will see the greatest amount of obscuration of the sun, and when this is likely to occur.

On Monday, the total solar eclipse—when the sun is completely blocked by the moon—will be visible for different lengths of time along a path from northern Mexico, across the Midwest and up into New England. The path of totality—the area in which it will be seen—reaches across 13 states, as well as small areas of Tennessee and Michigan.

The Federal Highway Administration says that while around 32 million people live in the path of the total eclipse, between 1-5 million more are expected to travel to prime viewing locations to see it—raising concerns about stretched public safety resources.

Forecasters are also predicting that cloud coverage in some areas may obscure the spectacle, which could create localized areas of traffic as visitors move to locations with better visibility.

Outside of the narrow path of totality, the eclipse will still be visible in different parts of the U.S., but the moon will only partially obscure the sun due to the particular nature of the alignment of the two celestial bodies.

According to calculations by meteorological and astronomical data compilers Time and Date, on which the video appears to be based, the areas with the greatest coverage outside the path of totality will be Detroit and Dyersburg, Tennessee, where the moon will obscure 99.46 percent and 99.18 percent of the sun, respectively.

In Detroit, the maximum effect of the eclipse is due to occur around 3:14 p.m. ET, while in Dyersburg it is set to take place at 1:59 p.m. ET.

The further away from the path of totality, the slighter the partial eclipse is expected to be. Obscuration of the sun will be nearly 23 percent over Hawaii’s southernmost island, while it will be just 4.56 percent in Metlakatla, southeast Alaska—the part of the state with the greatest coverage.

In Hilo, Hawaii, the maximum of the partial eclipse is predicted to occur at 7:11 a.m. HT (1:11 p.m. ET) and in Metlakatla at 10:30 a.m. AKT (2:30 p.m. ET).

A partial eclipse will also be visible in many major cities across the U.S.

According to National Eclipse, an independent solar eclipse resource, Chicago will see a 93.9 percent eclipse just after 1 p.m. ET; Boston will see a 92.5 percent eclipse just before 3:30 p.m.; and New York City will see an 89.9 percent eclipse around 3:25 p.m.