Two people wearing total solar eclipse shirts sit in chairs and look up at the sky while wearing eclipse glasses. Behind them are several other people sitting in chairs and on grass also watching the eclipse.
A total solar eclipse. In the center, there is a black circle — the Moon. Surrounding it is the white glow of the Sun's corona.
Nine boxes showing hosts and correspondents in different locations.

2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA

NASA’s Live Broadcast Coverage
On April 8, 2024, the United States experienced the joy and awe of a total solar eclipse, spanning 15 states from Texas through Maine. All 48 states in the contiguous United States had the opportunity to witness at least a partial solar eclipse, weather permitting.

As part of the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Heliophysics Big Year, NASA played a key role in enabling safe participation in this celestial event and reached new audiences. To further engage the public, NASA broadcast this event on NASA+, the NASA App, NASA.gov, and multiple NASA social media channels.  

Peak Concurrent Livestream Views

1,458,212

Total Livestream Views

~40 Million

Social Platforms

YouTube, Facebook, X, Twitch, Instagram

Views from

The Ground, Earth's Atmosphere, and Space

Live Broadcast

2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA

Planning efforts for NASA’s total solar eclipse broadcast began 18 months in advance with a site visit in January 2023 to Kerrville, Texas, a city lucky enough to be at the crossroads of the “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse and total solar eclipse, just 6 months apart. NASA’s coverage of the annular eclipse in October 2023 served as a proving ground and ensured the infrastructure existed to support the larger total solar eclipse effort in April 2024.  

NASA's Broadcast Page
This video offers viewers highlights of the eclipse from NASA's live commentary. Different vantage points include the International Space Station, WB-57 aircraft, and 12 telescopes stationed across North America.
Credits: NASA

By the Numbers

The April 8, 2024 Total Eclipse Broadcast effort was the most ambitious live video project ever attempted by NASA. 

  • 3 hour coverage that spanned 3,000 miles across 7 states and 2 countries
  • 11 hosts and correspondents provided on air commentary, interviews and coverage
  • 20 telescope feeds
  • 9 watch party locations - Austin Public Library to NYC Times Square
  • 1 interactive “Eclipse Board” provided real time data analysis 
  • 1 live feed from astronauts aboard the International Space Station
  • 1 live view from NASA’s WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft

To make this possible, NASA deployed and enabled 67 cameras, 6 NASA Wide Area Network (WAN) control rooms, 38 encoders, 35 decoders, and 300+ production crew members. 20 live telescope feeds represented 12 locations across the path of totality. An internet-based intercom system was introduced with over 100 active users for production coordination and mix minus audio to on air talent. All of this was done via Internet Protocol (IP), at a scale never before endeavored by NASA.  

In total, NASA experienced almost 40 million views across its own distribution. Externally, the main broadcast was picked up in 2,208 hits on 568 channels in 25 countries. The telescope feed broadcast was picked up on an additional 552 hits on 317 channels in 32 countries.