PBS Series NOVA Shares the Great American Solar Eclipse with Audiences across the U.S. in Special Day-of-Event Presentation

PBS President and CEO Paula A. Kerger announced today at the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour a new program from PBS’ award-winning science series NOVA, produced by WGBH Boston. On Monday August 21, 2017, America’s eyes will be glued to the skies as the mainland United States experiences the first total solar eclipse since 1979. NOVA will capture the spectacular event in a special presentation to air hours after it takes place.

This extraordinary cosmic spectacle will pass through 13 states, and everyone in the continental U.S. will have the opportunity to see at least a partial eclipse, making it the most widely viewable eclipse of all time. Commencing at 10:15 a.m. PDT (1:15 p.m. EDT), a lunar shadow 73 miles wide will take one hour and 33 minutes to travel from Oregon on the west coast to South Carolina on the east, allowing continuous observation for 90 minutes.

“PBS is the destination for fascinating and comprehensive science programming year-round on NOVA and on other PBS science specials, said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming, PBS. “NOVA has broken new ground on fast-turnaround documentaries on important, timely topics. With a strong multi-platform presence on PBS and NOVA’s social and digital channels, “Solar Eclipse”(w.t.) will be must-see viewing for our audiences to fully experience this decades-in-the waiting phenomenon.”

NOVA’s fastest turnaround film to date, “Solar Eclipse”(w.t.) will be the ultimate companion to this spectacular celestial event. NOVA will follow teams working on the forefront of solar science and solar storm detection, use immersive CGI animation to reveal the sun’s secret mechanisms and integrate stunning sequences of the eclipse itself — including scenes filmed at iconic locations along the path of the eclipse — user-generated content, NASA footage and more.

“NOVA is thrilled to provide our audiences across the U.S. with an up close, in-depth look at this extraordinary scientific event,” said Paula S. Apsell, Senior Executive Producer of NOVA. “We are excited to share the experience with viewers — wherever they are — and the fascinating information it tells us about the inner workings of our sun.”

In conjunction with the broadcast, NOVA will engage PBS stations nationwide to host eclipse watching parties and other events. PBS and NOVA’s digital teams will engage audiences online with a cross-country Facebook Live event highlighting real-time footage of the solar eclipse and the people and communities experiencing it. Additionally, NOVA will produce a web video chronicling the excitement surrounding the event. Additional social media efforts will involve educational components, outreach to schools and other activities to be solidified closer to the event.

NOVA “Solar Eclipse” (w.t.) will be available to stream the morning after broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and PBS apps for iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast.

NOVA “Solar Eclipse” (w.t.) is produced for PBS by WGBH Boston. Senior executive producer for NOVA is Paula S. Apsell. 

National corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the David H. Koch Fund for Science, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and public television viewers.