US Solar Power Faces First Major Test During Eclipse, But Grid Prepared

The US has over 139 gigawatts of solar power capacity, more than 2.5 times what was available in 2017's eclipse. The drop in production could be up to 60 gigawatts.

Grid operators have planned for the eclipse's effect on solar power, so major outages are unlikely. But it will require careful coordination.

Eclipses let scientists study the solar corona to better understand and predict disruptive solar storms. More observations are still needed.

The next total solar eclipse over the US will occur in 2045.

NASA keeps a catalog of eclipses from 1999 BCE to 3000 CE. The next one visible from the US lower 48 states is in 2045.