path of totality

English

Noun

path of totality (plural paths of totality)

1. (astronomy) The path traced on the Earth's surface by the moon's shadow (more precisely, the umbra) during a total eclipse of the sun.
   • 1993, Jacqueline Mitton, The Penguin Dictionary of Astronomy, 2nd edition (paperback), Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 127:

     Over a wider region either side of the path of totality, a partial eclipse is seen.

   • 1994, Joel Harris, Richard Talcott, Chasing the Shadow, Kalmbach Books, →ISBN, page 79:

     Keep the filter on the camera for all the exposures unless you’re in the path of totality.

   • 1999, Peter Coles, Einstein and the Total Eclipse, Totem Books, →ISBN, page 11:

     The path of totality can extend for many thousands of miles, and the duration of totality in any one place can be as long as about seven minutes.