In less than two weeks, on August 21, the sun will disappear across America.
For a swath of the country from Portland, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina, it will look like someone just turned off the sun in the middle of the day.
Fourteen states will experience about two minutes of darkness as the eclipse crosses from coast to coast between 10:15 a.m. Pacific time in Oregon until about 2:45 p.m. Eastern time in South Carolina.
Even if you live elsewhere in North America, a portion of the sun will partially disappear near midday. Parts of South America, Africa, Europe and Asia will also experience a partial eclipse.
It is being called the “Great American Eclipse.” And you can mark it on your calendar, down to the millisecond.
It’s been 99 years since a total solar eclipse crossed the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The total solar eclipse on June 8, 1918, crossed from Washington to Florida.
Federal agencies such as NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration all have plans to enable safe viewing of the eclipse, up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, crowd management and navigating traffic and parking.
“Never before will a celestial event be viewed by so many and explored from so many vantage points: from space, from the air and from the ground,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “With our fellow agencies and a host of scientific organizations, NASA will continue to amplify one key message: Take time to experience the August 21 eclipse, but experience it safely.”
Researchers will also take advantage of the rare eclipse to study the sun and the Earth using instruments on the ground and in space.
During the celestial event, the moon will pass between the sun and the Earth, appearing to block the sun for almost an hour and a half. You can replicate an eclipse by holding a flashlight and waving your hand slowly across it.
When the moon blocks the sun, it will cast two types of shadows. The umbral is the small shadow cast on Earth where people will be able to see a total eclipse. Others will experience the penumbral shadow, where they will experience a partial eclipse.
Salem, Oregon, will be one of the first towns to see the total eclipse, while Charleston will be one of the last.
Kansas City, Nashville and St. Louis are some of the cities that will have a good chance of seeing the sun totally covered.
Space enthusiasts have been getting excited about the eclipse, and some, like us, are counting down the days. Many are booking hotels for the big moment, while others have had their rooms booked for years.
The real question is, have you figured out where you will be on August 21?
