Source: Tristan Savatier / Getty
On Monday, August 21, the world will have its first total Solar Eclipse in 100 years, when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth and blocks all or part of the sun for nearly three hours. As excitement builds, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know about the Total Eclipse and how to be safe if you’re planning to watch the celestial event.
Here’s what you need to know:
Where can I see the eclipse?
A partial solar eclipse will be visible everywhere in the contiguous United States, but to see the total solar eclipse, you’ll need to be in a sash of land that cuts from Oregon to South Carolina.
The Path Of The Aug. 21 Eclipse
Can the eclipse hurt my eyes?
Yes. Never look directly at the sun during the eclipse without appropriate eye protection. And no, sunglasses don’t count. Real solar viewers are thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses.
As NPR’s Nell Greenfieldboyce reports:
“The only time it will be safe to look with the naked eye is during the brief window of so-called totality, when the sun is completely blocked by the moon. … When any part of the sun is uncovered and the eclipse is only partial, viewers need eye protection — even if there’s just a tiny crescent of sun left in the sky, [says Ralph] Chou, [a professor emeritus of optometry and vision science at the University of Waterloo].If you’re buying eclipse glasses, beware of scammers selling fraudulent products. The American Astronomical Society has a list of legitimate brands.
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon, the sun and the Earth all line up such that the moon completely obscures the sun to viewers on part of Earth’s surface.
Where can I buy Sunglasses?
Retail chains
7 Eleven
Best Buy
Bi-Mart
Casey’s General Store
Circle K
Hobby Town
Kirklands
Kroger
London Drugs
Love’s Travel Stops
Lowe’s
Maverik
McDonald’s (Oregon Only)
Pilot/Flying J
Toys “R” Us
Timing
The Great American Eclipse will cross the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. The path of totality will cross 14 states, but all 50 states will see a partial eclipse.
