Eclipse

Are you going to see the eclipse? Unless you're under a cloudy sky, it will be visible to some degree across the fifty mainland US states. To find out how much of the eclipse can be viewed in any area, check this map from the American Astronomical Society.

A solar eclipse happens when our moon comes between the sun and the earth, blocking some or all of the sun's disk. "Totality" occurs when the moon blocks the sun exactly, covering all of sun but none of the corona of light around it. An exact match.

photo: skyandtelescope.com

The last time a total solar eclipse went from one coast of America to the other was 1918, 99 years ago. It's expected that 2-7 million people will flood into the path of totality, and that's going to make for some crowded hotels and highways.

But the website www.greatamericaneclipse.com says:

"Despite this, we urge you to make every effort to travel to a spot inside the path of totality. You will be stunned at the apparition of the Sun's corona, the majestic light show in the sky, and the full sensory experience of totality. You will remember this sight for the rest your life and will never regret the effort to see totality."