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Why the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse appears to move backward on maps
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Latest from Live Science
Every total solar eclipse travels from west to east, because the moon and Earth move in the same direction — counterclockwise, or from west to east.
But if you've looked at maps of the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse , you may have noticed something puzzling.
The moon's shadow follows a smooth arc across Earth's curved surface and never changes direction, as shown by this animation .
An animation of the shadow path for the Aug. 12, 2026, total solar eclipse, from the point of view of the moon.
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