how they get the time line of the solar eclipse so accurate down to the minute

Question

Just baffles me with how vast space is, yet these rocket scientists and astronomers can predict something so unique with such accuracy

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

Space is vast, but the objects we’re dealing with are *relatively* close. The Moon is one light second away, and the Sun is eight light minutes away. In contrast the observable universe is *billions* of light years across. Heck we’re even talking low numbers relative to the entire solar system. Pluto is five and a half light *hours* from us – more than 40 times further than the Sun.