The date is approaching — August 21st, 2017 when day will briefly be turned to night. The United States is going to bear witness to an epic and rare phenomenon — a total solar eclipse. It’s bound to take your breath away for those lucky enough to be in its path.
You might know the basics about a total solar eclipse — the earth, the moon, and the sun happen to align perfectly. The moon blocks the sun from the earth, causing a dark momentary shadow on our planet.
That’s the gist of it!
But how much do you really know about this celestial event? Let’s take a look at some interesting eclipse facts.
1. It’s totally different than a lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse is far more common than a solar eclipse — in fact, they happen a couple of times throughout the year. This happens when the earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, the earth then casts a shadow onto the moon’s surface. Some light does end up reaching the moon but not before going through our atmosphere, filtering out all the blue color — usually leaving us with a bright red moon.
A solar eclipse is rarer than a lunar eclipse
A solar eclipse isn’t totally rare because it does generally occur approximately every two years, visible only to a small population somewhere in the world. This type of eclipse happens when the moon comes between the sun and the earth. Since the moon is much smaller than the earth, it casts a smaller shadow — that’s why only parts of the world can see it.
2. This is the first solar eclipse visible in the U.S. in almost 40 years!
NASA reports that the last total solar eclipse in North America happened back on February 26, 1979. The most visible areas were in the northwestern United States and southwestern Canada. That’s what makes this event so special — this is almost a once in a lifetime event!
3. The temperature is going to drop for a moment drastically
According to Space.com, there was a total solar eclipse in 1834 that caused the temperature to drop 28 degrees! Imagine going from 75 degrees Fahrenheit to just 47 degrees in mere moments!
They are not expecting such a significant drop this time around; however, they are still predicting up to a 10-degree drop. You’ll be able to feel it, that’s for sure!
4. Even though the sun is shadowed, you’ll still need eye protection
Just because the moon overshadows the sun for a couple of moments, doesn’t mean that you can’t damage your eyes. No matter what — you should never look directly at the sun.
Certain companies create eclipse viewing glasses, or you can make some yourself. Just remember — do NOT wear regular sunglasses when viewing the eclipse, it will not provide adequate protection.
5. It’s rare for the U.S. mainland to see a total solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse is so rare because of the small shadow that it casts on our planet. The area of the United States in which you can see the entire sun covered by the moon is called the “path of totality.” This path is only 70 miles wide!
Only people located within this thin zone will be able to see the entire solar eclipse. Those outside the direct path may be able to see a partial shadow. Nonetheless, it will be a sight to see!
6. It will only be visible for a couple of minutes
People along the “path of totality” will get a glimpse of the totally shadowed sun but only for a moment. The entire eclipse will only be visible for approximately two minutes and 40 seconds. If you’re not in the path of totality, it will be even shorter — maybe just a few seconds.
The states with cities and towns along the path of totality are Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
7. The entire eclipse will only span an hour and a half
NASA says that the eclipse will start around 10:16 am PST beginning its journey across the U.S.; it will finish in South Carolina approximately an hour and a half later.
Crazy, right?!
8. Good luck getting a photo — one of the hardest to capture!
There are an exact science and art to snapping a coveted photo of a total solar eclipse, however, your chances of getting one are slim to none. That is — unless you’re a professional.
Don’t waste time fussing with your camera, and don’t even try on your phone camera! Take the time to witness something extraordinary and soak it all in.
9. Street lights might turn on
The moon moving in front of the sun will cast a shadow in the totality zone that is going to look remarkably similar to nighttime for a brief moment. It may even cause street lamps to turn on if they are on solar timers! Colors in the sky will look strange for a bit.
If you’re not in the totality zone, you still may experience a “twilight” type of feel along with some out of the ordinary colors in the sky. Get ready for a show!
10. The next one isn’t until 2024
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Don’t live in the totality zone? That’s okay! The United States is going to be spoiled again on April 8, 2024. But this time — the path will span from Texas all the way up to Maine. Mark your calendars!
