There are many GOES loops showing the moon’s shadow from the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 (UW/CIMSS; CIRA; Satellite Liaison; NOAA). Time compositing, in this case selecting the minimum brightness, shows the shadow from several times in a single frame.

2017 and 2024 Comparisons

The size of the Moon’s shadow on the Earth during the total solar eclipses were very different between 2017 and 2024. We use ABI band 3 (0.86 um), since the land background tends to be bright (due to reflection off vegetation), hence giving more contrast with the dark shadow.

Similar to above, but with 5 min ABI imagery….

Full Disk

The above image is a composite of 21 images, from 16:30 to 19:50 UTC (image start times). The composite consists of selecting the darkest pixel. Note that a special enhancement was applied to each image before the compositing. The dark regions from the Moon’s shadow are clearly evident. Note that less clouds are apparent in the composite, since the minimum values were chosen over time. Another Full Disk composite, but hourly, and of the CIMSS Natural color composite image.

CONUS + Meso-scale

A research request was submitted to satellite operators to have an ABI meso-scale sector “follow” the shadow, from Mexico to Canada. This special schedule was scanned. The time compositing procedure was applied to the 1-min meso-scale sectors, as well the 5-min CONUS sectors. This consisted of over 100 images, between 17:51 and 19:59 UTC. The dark regions from the Moon’s shadow is evident. A toggle (animated gif) between the composited image and the predicted path.

CONUS + Meso-scale — Following the shadow

A direct link to the above mp4 animation.

H/T

Thanks to those investigating / scheduling the meso’s on April 8th, including the NOAA NESDIS User Services team. Fun fact, the meso research request was initially submitted on May 3, 2023. Thanks to many from UW/CIMSS/SSEC helping with this blog post. Thanks also for the Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC. McIDAS-X was used for image generation. Thanks to the satellite operators, SDM, PRO, SAB and the NWS as well as UW/CIMSS (especially M. Gunshor and J. Nelson) and the SSEC Data Services. More on the ABI and the GOES-R series.

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