The first solar eclipse in the Continental U.S. since 1979 will take place on Monday, August, 21, 2017. The event will best be observed in the path of totality a swath about 65 miles wide across the globe. The path, in which the moon’s shadow sweeps across the Earth’s surface, will cross parts of 12 states: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
The duration is expected to be just under 2 minutes in Salem, Oregon and longest at 2 minutes 40 seconds near the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois, the time will decrease as it heads S.E. towards the South Carolina hills. The first point of contact will be at Lincoln Beach, Ore., at 9:05 a.m. PDT. Totality begins there at 10:16 a.m. PDT. Over the next hour and a half, it will cross through 12 states. The total eclipse will end near Charleston, S.C., at 2:48 p.m. EDT. Source: USA Today
WHAT IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE:
A solar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon, and earth form a straight line. The full moon blocks the sun creating a full shadow or umbra, people outside the path of totality will see only a partial shadow or penumbra. During the complete eclipse the suns corona which extends millions of miles into space will be easily seen by the naked eye. But it is safer to use filters designed for viewing the sun, these filters limit ultra violet and infra-red energy which can damage unprotected eyes or cause blindness. Some organizations will provide inexpensive paper frame glasses with those filters built in. Spectators can also try creating a pin hole projection for indirect viewing or use a shade 14 welder glass. Source: USA Today
THE NEXT ECLIPSE:
A total solar eclipse will be visible across portions of the southern and eastern U.S. on April 8, 2024.
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