Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - Will You Be Watching?

By I, Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0

This year, on August 21, there will be a total eclipse of the sun visible by much of the continental United States.  A total solar eclipse happens when the moon appears to completely cover the sun in the sky.  Day suddenly becomes twilight during midday, a very strange phenomenon to behold, which occurs only every 18 months or so and is not usually visible in the same places every time.



This year, in the United States, the path of the total eclipse, or the path of totality, includes: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.  Outside of the path of totality, residents of other U.S. states will be able to see varying partial eclipses.  There are many Solar Eclipse parties being held across the country on Monday, August 21, from The Oregon Solar Fest in Madras, Oregon, to the Chatooga Belle Farm and Distillery Eclipse Fest in Long Creek, South Carolina.  Other eclipse happenings can be found by clicking here.

If you're planning on attending a special eclipse viewing party, you should know that it is never safe to look directly at the sun; not even when it is partially obscured by the moon.  Doing so without protective eyewear can result in permanent damage to your eyes, and even blindness.  It is okay, however, to view the sun with your naked eye during totality, that is, for about 2 minutes when the sun is completely obscured by the moon.  If you're not sure whether you'll be able to view a partial or total eclipse, it is best to purchase some CE and ISO certified safe shades for direct sun viewing, as recommended by NASA.

The next total eclipse, visible from the United States, will not be until 2024.  For more information, please visit: https://www.space.com/33797-total-solar-eclipse-2017-guide.html

Will you be viewing the total eclipse?  Let us know in the comments section below.