Updated and Revised 16 January 2026
Around 200 million Americans lived within a day’s drive of the total eclipse path, of the 2017 total solar eclipse – a narrow band of territory from Oregon to South Carolina.
According to an article written just before the eclipse in The Atlantic, up to 7 million people , would travel to see the total eclipse. They would join the 12 million who were lucky enough to see the total eclipse without needing to travel. In the event it turned out to be the biggest movement of people in human history to see a natural phenomenon.
From an article in The Atlantic [1]
The 2017 Eclipse on Social Media and the Internet
Back in 2017 the growth of social media meant that the number of people who followed the eclipse on-line in real time was unprecedented. I was one of them
To find out more on the eclipse itself view my post on the on the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
Reference
[1] Boyle, R. (2017). The Atlantic. [online] The Atlantic. Available at: https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/the-greatest-mass-migration-in-american-history/535734/ [Accessed 15 Jan. 2026].
Explaining Science 
Sorry I won’t get to see it.
LikeLike
Me too. I’ll have to look out for the next one closer to home.
The Science Geek
LikeLike
[…] The latest Science Geek blog has much detail on today’s solar eclipse across North America. The Geek says that […]
LikeLike
Let’s hope you get a clear viewing on Monday. Where I live in North West England it is mild and damp all year round, so we have no fire season 🙂
The Science
LikeLike
So many friends have made reservations to experience the totality. But this is fire season in Oregon. Smoke is dominating our skies in southern Oregon. I couldn’t view the sky, much less the meteors the other night. Of course, this adds another interesting element to talk about when discussing this eclipse in the future. Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I remember that eclipse well , but I was in Manchester and only saw a partial eclipse
LikeLike
France, August 1st 1999, wonderful experience, rather spooky at the onset of dusk and silence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you have had good journey and if you’re driving you don’t get stuck in a traffic jam.
The Science Geek
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m travelling! We’ve had our hotel reservations for months. Too bad we can’t put in reservations for a cloudless sky.
LikeLiked by 1 person