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Total Eclipse of the Sun: August 21, 2017

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This page contains complete details about the Total Eclipse of the Sun: August 21, 2017.

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Download the Free Spacedotcom 2017 Eclipse App for iOS and Android

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On Aug. 21, 2017, skies darkened from Oregon to South Carolina in the first total solar eclipse visible from coast to coast across the United States in 99 years. Read our wrap story here: Rare Coast-to-Coast Total Solar Eclipse Thrills Millions Across U.S. Here is Space.com's complete guide to the epic event. It includes the latest amazing photos (which you can see in galleries here, here and here) and videos (which are compiled here; some are also highlighted in our eclipse stories here and here).

Miss the 2017 total solar eclipse? Another one's coming to the U.S. in 2024:
After 'Super Bowl of Eclipses,' US Looks Forward to 2024 Total Solar Eclipse | 2024 Eclipse Totality Path Maps
More Awesome Photos & Stories:
Interactive Solar Eclipse Maps | Eclipse Times | Weather & Traffic Guide | Best Video Streams | Complete Coverage

REMEMBER: During totality, when the sun's disk is completely covered by the moon, it is safe to view the eclipse with the naked eye. But skywatchers should NEVER look at a partial solar eclipse without proper eye protection. Looking directly at the sun, even when it is partially covered by the moon, can cause serious eye damage or blindness. See our complete guide to find out how to view the eclipse safely.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the disk of the moon appears to completely cover the disk of the sun in the sky. The fact that total solar eclipses occur at all is a quirk of cosmic geometry. The moon orbits an average of 239,000 miles (385,000 kilometers) from Earth - just the right distance to seem the same size in the sky as the much-larger sun. However, these heavenly bodies line up only about once every 18 months.

Outside the path of totality, skywatchers in the continental U.S. and other nearby areas will see a partial solar eclipse, in which the moon appears to take a bite out of the sun's disk. Two to five solar eclipses occur each year on average, but total solar eclipses happen just once every 18 months or so.

What will I see during a total solar eclipse?

During a total solar eclipse, the disk of the moon blocks out the last sliver of light from the sun, and the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible. The corona is far from an indistinct haze; skywatchers report seeing great jets and ribbons of light, twisting and curling out into the sky.

"It brings people to tears," Rick Fienberg, a spokesperson for the American Astronomical Society (AAS), told Space.com of the experience. "It makes people's jaw drop."

During totality, the area inside the moon's shadow is cloaked in twilight - a very strange feeling to experience in the middle of the day. Just before and just after totality, observers can see this cloak of darkness moving toward them across the landscape, and then moving away.

These effects are not visible during a partial solar eclipse, so skywatchers are encouraged to see if they are inside the path of totality during the total eclipse.

Where will the total solar eclipse be visible?

The path of totality for the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse is about 70 miles wide and stretches from Oregon to South Carolina. It passes through Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

You can use this interactive map from NASA to zoom in on the path and find out the exact locations from which it will be visible.

You can also check out our state-by-state guide to find out which major cities and prime locations will fall inside the path of totality. You may also want to attend one of the many eclipse parties and organized events taking place around the path of totality.

When will the total solar eclipse occur, and how long will it last?

The timing of the total solar eclipse and its duration both depend on where you are inside the path of totality.

At most, the moon will completely cover the disk of the sun for 2 minutes and 40 seconds. That's about how long totality will last for observers positioned anywhere along the center of the path of totality. As you move toward the edge of the path, the duration of totality will decrease. People standing at the very edge of the path may observe totality for only a few seconds.

The chart below lists the moment of mid-totality and the duration of totality for a handful of cities that lie close to the center of the path. Data from NASA.

Because the shadow of the moon will move from west to east, totality will occur later in the day the farther east you travel. Use the NASA interactive eclipse map to find out exactly when totality will occur and how long it will last in the location where you plan to observe the eclipse. Just click on a spot on the map, and an informational box will appear with specific times.

Do I need any equipment to view the eclipse?

Anyone planning to view the total solar eclipse of 2017 should get a pair of solar viewing glasses. These protective shades make it possible for observers to look directly at the sun before and after totality. The following four companies sell eclipse glasses that meet the international standard (ISO 12312-2) recommended by NASA, the AAS and other scientific organizations: Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics, Thousand Oaks Optical, Lunt Solar Systems and TSE 17.

Sunglasses cannot be used in place of solar viewing glasses. See our complete guide to find out how to view the eclipse safely.

During totality, when the disk of the sun is completely covered by the moon, it is safe to look up at the celestial sight with the naked eye.

Binoculars are helpful for seeing more detail in the solar corona. Telescopes are not necessary, but some skywatchers may use low-powered telescopes to observe the sun's atmosphere during totality. Note that telescopes, binoculars and cameras must be fitted with solar filters before and after totality. Pointing an unprotected lens directly at the sun can damage the instrument. NEVER look at the sun through binoculars, a telescope or a camera lens without a solar filter -- the magnified light can damage your eyes faster than looking at the sun unaided.

Skywatchers outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial solar eclipse. Solar viewing glasses allow skywatchers to look directly at the moon's progress across the face of the sun. You can also view the progress of a partial solar eclipse using a pinhole camera.

For more information, see our complete guide for how to view the eclipse safely.

What else should I know before viewing the eclipse?

Aug. 21, 2017, may be one of the worst traffic days in national history, some NASA representatives predict. Although about 12 million people live within the narrow band of totality, approximately 25 million reside within a day's drive of it, and the agency has estimated that the population inside the path of totality may double on the day of the eclipse.

With that in mind, make sure you plan for extra travel time, especially on the day of the eclipse. Most hotel rooms inside the path of totality have been booked for months or years, so you may not be able to stay inside the path the night before.

When selecting a location where you plan to view the eclipse, keep in mind your proximity to food, water, parking and facilities. Attending an organized eclipse event is an ideal way to make sure those things are close by. Traveling even short distances could be difficult in some areas, and midday in the middle of August can mean punishing heat in many parts of the country.

When is the next time a total solar eclipse will be visible from the U.S.?

In 2024, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies above Mexico and Texas, up through the Midwest and northeastern U.S.

For more information about the total solar eclipse of 2017, check out these additional articles:
General eclipse info Get Ready for Major Traffic Jams During the 2017 Solar Eclipse Where to See the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, State by State How Long Will the 2017 Solar Eclipse Last? Depends Where You Are How to Survive the Total Solar Eclipse of 2017 How to Safely Watch the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse 7 of the Best Total Solar Eclipse Apps for Aug. 21 Eclipse science and history Here's What Scientists Have Learned From Total Solar Eclipses NASA Wants YOU to Be a Citizen Scientist for the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse This Is How YOU Can Do Science During the Great American Eclipse Eclipse events and photography Solar Eclipse Photography: Tips, Settings, Equipment and Photo Guide How to Film or Photograph the 2017 Solar Eclipse Like a Pro Eclipse Party! 13 Solar Eclipse Celebrations Across the U.S. How to Use Your Phone or DSLR to Help Make an Eclipse 'Megamovie' Watch a Livestream of the 2017 Solar Eclipse From 100,000 Feet in the Air
Editor's note: If you take an amazing photo of the 2017 solar eclipse or any other celestial sight you'd like to share with us and our news partners for a possible story or image gallery, send images and comments to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

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Here Are the Most Amazing Photos and Videos of the 2017 Solar Eclipse

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On Aug. 21, 2017, skies darkened from Oregon to South Carolina in the first total solar eclipse visible from coast to coast across the United States in 99 years. Read our wrap story here: Rare Coast-to-Coast Total Solar Eclipse Thrills Millions Across U.S. Here is Space.com's complete guide to the epic event.

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The total solar eclipse of 2016 taken from a NASA webcast on March 8, 2016. The image was taken from Woleai Island in Micronesia. The next total solar eclipse will cross the entire continental U.S. on Aug. 21, 2017.

Credit: NASA TV

Editor's note: The eclipse is here! Remember to use safe solar eclipse glasses and other equipment during the partial phases, and soak up the darkness during totality!

We're just days away from the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21 , and it's a good time for a refresher course on how to safely observe the event. Your parents probably told you to NEVER look directly at the sun with your naked eye. In fact, you've probably been told that by lots of reputable sources ( including our own Space.com). But according to NASA and four other science and medical organizations, it's OK to look at a total solar eclipse with the naked eye - but only when the face of the sun is totally obscured by the moon.

A total solar eclipse happens when the central disk of the sun is completely covered by the moon. Many people have probably seen a partial solar eclipse, in which the disk of the moon appears to take a bite out of the sun's disk but never fully obscures it. But total solar eclipses are a much rarer sight. And on Monday, a total solar eclipse will cross the continental U.S. from coast to coast.

A joint statement from NASA and the four other organizations says that with the right information, skywatchers can safely view the total solar eclipse in its full glory with the naked eye.

Solar Eclipse Glasses: Where to Buy the Best, High-Quality Eyewear

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Fake Solar Eclipse Glasses Are Flooding the Market: How to Stay Safe

Anyone in the United States on Aug. 21, 2017, will be able to see at least a partial solar eclipse (weather permitting, of course). But only those people in what's known as the " path of totality" will see a total solar eclipse. For the Aug. 21 eclipse, the path of totality is about 70 miles wide (112 kilometers), and extends from Oregon to South Carolina. Depending on where observers are located, the sun may be completely obscured by the moon for up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

The path of the total solar eclipse of 2017. Locations within the path of totality will experience up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds of darkness.

Credit: NASA

"During those brief moments when the moon completely blocks the sun's bright face ... day will turn into night, making visible the otherwise hidden solar corona (the sun's outer atmosphere)," according to NASA's Eclipse website. " Bright stars and planets will become visible as well. This is truly one of nature's most awesome sights."

But in order to see this awesome natural sight, skywatchers need to know how to view the eclipse safely. In an effort to inform the public on this topic, NASA, along with the American Astronomical Society (AAS), the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Academy of Optometry and the National Science Foundation, have written and released an informational guide on safe viewing.

Looking directly at the sun without eye protection can cause serious eye damage or blindness. But there are ways to safely observe the sun. During a partial solar eclipse, people often use pinhole cameras to watch the progress of the moon across the sun's surface (pinhole cameras are easy to make at home). This is an "indirect" way of observing the sun, because the viewer sees only a projection of the sun and the moon.

To view the sun directly ( and safely), use "solar-viewing glasses" or "eclipse glasses" or "personal solar filters" (these are all names for the same thing), according to the safety recommendations from NASA. The "lenses" of solar-viewing glasses are made from special-purpose solar filters that are hundreds of thousands of times darker than regular sunglasses, according to Rick Fienberg, press officer for the American Astronomical Society (AAS). These glasses are so dark that the face of the sun should be the only thing visible through them, Fienberg said. Solar-viewing glasses can be used to view a solar eclipse, or to look for sunspots on the sun's surface.

But beware! NASA and the AAS recommend that solar-viewing or eclipse glasses meet the current international standard: ISO 12312-2. Some older solar-viewing glasses may meet previous standards for eye protection, but not the new international standard, Fienberg said.

" Manufacturers that meet this standard include Rainbow Symphony, American Paper Optics and Thousand Oaks Optical," according to the information sheet on safe eclipse viewing. (Click any of the company links to find out how to purchase eclipse glasses). "Homemade filters or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the sun."

Fienberg said some manufacturers are making solar-viewing glasses with plastic frames, rather than the traditional paper frames. While these may look like regular sunglasses, do not be mistaken. Sunglasses are never a substitute for solar-viewing glasses. Fienberg said some people may even try to view the sun through two or three pairs of sunglasses in an attempt to replicate the protective power of real solar-viewing glasses; however, even multiple pairs of sunglasses will not protect your eyes from sun damage.

Telescopes, cameras, binoculars and other optical devices need their own solar filters. Solar-viewing glasses are not a substitute for a proper solar filter on magnification devices. Never view the disk of the sun through a telescope, binoculars or camera without a proper solar filter. Solar-viewing glasses are not powerful enough to protect your eyes from magnified sunlight. Even if you are wearing solar-viewing glasses, viewing the disk of the sun through a magnification device will result in serious eye damage if the device is not equipped with a proper solar filter, according to the viewing safety sheet.

"The concentrated solar rays will damage the filter and enter your eye(s), causing serious injury," according to the safety recommendations. "Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, a telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device."

Fienberg said there is no need for skywatchers to use a telescope during the eclipse, but a pair of binoculars can be helpful during totality. But, per the recommendations, do not attempt to look at the disk of the sun through binoculars, even with solar-viewing glasses.

The safety sheet offers these tips regarding solar filters/eclipse glasses/solar viewers:

Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched or damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter. Always supervise children using solar filters.

Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright sun. After glancing at the sun, turn away and remove your filter - do not remove it while looking at the sun.

Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars or other optical device.

Now that you have some general information about how to view the sun safely, here are NASA and the AAS' recommendations for how to safely view the total solar eclipse with the naked eye. Again, these tips come from NASA's safety information sheet here.

Viewers who are looking at the eclipse with solar-viewing glasses will be able to see when the sun's face is completely obscured by the moon (because, once again, the only light that can penetrate these solar-viewing glasses is the light from the sun's disk). Viewers will be able to observe the moon creep slowly over the sun's disk and eventually cover the sun entirely.

In the moments before totality, viewers looking through their solar-viewing glasses will see a crescent of light from the sun growing thinner and thinner as the moon progresses over its face. In the last few seconds just before the disk of the sun is entirely covered by the moon, the crescent will break up into a series of small dots of light that look like beads on a string (typically there are about three to eight such dots, according to Fienberg). These are called Baily's beads (after Francis Baily, the British astronomer who discovered them). Once the last bead disappears, the face of the sun has been covered by the moon, and totality has begun. [ Solar Eclipses: An Observer's Guide (Infographic)]

"If you are within the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the moon completely covers the sun's bright face," according to the official safety information sheet.

This image from NASA shows that the only time it is safe to remove your eye protection during a total solar eclipse is when the disk of the sun is entirely covered by the moon.

Credit: NASA

The safety information sheet also recommends that viewers be aware of another drastic change that takes place during a total solar eclipse: L ight levels drop dramatically, as if the world had suddenly been plunged into dusk. This is one indicator that totality has begun and that it is safe to take off your eclipse glasses.

When should you put your glasses back on? The official recommendations from the agencies suggest that viewers put their solar-viewing glasses back on before any part of the sun's disk becomes visible again.

"Experience totality; then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to glance at the remaining partial phases," the information sheet says.

To anticipate when the disk of the sun will reappear, viewers should first be aware of about how long the total eclipse should last where they are standing - the total eclipse will last, at most, about 2 minutes and 40 seconds. The nearer that viewers are to the edge of the path of totality, the shorter the total eclipse will be. Viewers who want to observe the total solar eclipse with the naked eye should try to move closer to the center of the path so that there is ample time to observe the eclipse safely.

Fienberg said that viewers should be aware of the moon moving across the surface of the sun during totality. The side of the sun that was the last to disappear behind the moon will be opposite to the side that is first to reappear. On the side of the moon where the sun will reappear first, viewers should look out for the "reddish hue" of the chromosphere, the layer of the sun's atmosphere that is closest to its surface. The sun will begin to reappear just as it disappeared - first as dots of light. If a dot of sunlight appears on the edge of the moon, it means totality is complete.

The AAS and NASA are expecting huge crowds to flock to the path of totality for the 2017 total solar eclipse, including more experienced eclipse watchers. These seasoned observers may start shouting "Baily's beads!" when the spots of light appear at the edge of the moon. As the eclipse nears totality, people may also shout "Diamond ring!" Fienberg explained that when only one "bead" is still visible at the edge of the moon just before totality, it will glow like a diamond, and the red corona of the sun will create a circular band of light. Together, they will look like a diamond ring.

Experienced observers may decide to look at the eclipse with the naked eye just before the sun is completely covered by the moon, when the diamond ring appears.

"If you're in a group, you'll hear people start screaming, 'Diamond ring! Diamond ring! Filters off!'" Fienberg said. "If you're paying strict attention to the recommendation that you should not look at the sun without a filter, when any part of the bright face is still visible, you'll wonder if all those people are going blind, but they're not. The reason they're not is because it only lasts a second or so. And then it's gone and you see the corona, and it's dark and it's spectacular and beautiful."

While you may see some people removing their solar-viewing glasses before the eclipse reaches totality, this is not recommended by the official eclipse-viewing guide from NASA and the AAS.

While Fienberg is adamant about eclipse-viewing safety, he is equally insistent that skywatchers should view the total solar eclipse with the naked eye, because the experience is like nothing else on Earth.

The sun's atmosphere "is always there, but we can't see it," Fienberg said. "Satellites in orbit that block out the bright disk of the sun can see it, but from the ground, we don't see it except during totality. And it is just magnificently beautiful. It's awesome in the truest sense of the word. It just makes your jaw drop. The first time you see it, you just can't believe how beautiful it is. And it brings tears to people's eyes."

This composite image captures close to what the human eye sees during a total solar eclipse. The ribbons of light are the sun's atmosphere, which is controlled by the magnetic field.

Credit: NASA/S. Habbal, M. Druckmüller and P. Aniol

The sun's atmosphere isn't a uniform haze like the Earth's atmosphere, Fienberg said. It's "a tangle of streamers and jets and loops and twists, and all kinds of stuff, because it's controlled entirely by the sun's magnetic field, which is very tangled and twisted."

The chromosphere, the atmosphere closest to the sun's surface, "is an unbelievably beautiful, pure magenta-red color. If the chromosphere is active and there are eruptions going on on the edge of the sun, you'll see prominences - they look like flames or jets of this really beautiful hot-pink magenta gas that are extending out beyond the silhouette of the moon," he said.

None of these features will be visible to viewers wearing eclipse glasses.

Fienberg is an eclipse chaser; he has traveled all over the world to see total solar eclipses. On his very first eclipse-viewing trip, before seeing the event, he met a man who hosted a music radio show in the city where Fienberg lives. The radio host was an eclipse chaser, and Fienberg said he'd never heard the host talk about astronomy on his show.

"I'm not interested in astronomy," the man told Fienberg. "I'm interested in beauty."

"That told me right then on my first trip, this isn't just about astronomy," Fienberg said. "This is about beauty. This about being out in nature and being one with the universe - I mean, it sounds silly! But you really feel like you're just part of it all and you're privileged to be able to see such a beautiful thing."

The unified message from Fienberg, NASA, the AAS and many other sources regarding the upcoming eclipse: Observe safely, and get to the path of totality on Aug. 21, 2017!

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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How to View a Solar Eclipse Without Damaging Your Eyes

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Editor's note: The eclipse is here! Remember to use safe solar eclipse glasses and other equipment during the partial phases, and soak up the darkness during totality! We're just days away from the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21 , and it's a good time for a refresher course on how to safely observe the event.

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We're just 18 weeks away from the "Great American Total Solar Eclipse" that will darken skies across the continental U.S. on Aug. 21. Are you ready for it?

If you haven't started preparing to see the eclipse, the time to start is now. Between travel, lodging and eclipse-watching gear, there's a lot to plan for - and that's only the beginning. To ensure that your total solar eclipse experience isn't a total flop, there are a few more things to take into account in the days leading up to the eclipse and to the moment of totality itself.

Two veteran eclipse chasers shared their tips on how to successfully see the total solar eclipse at the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) in Suffern, New York, last weekend (April 8-9). Space.com sky columnist Joe Rao and astronomy professor Mike Reynolds of Florida State College in Jacksonville, Florida, spoke from personal experience about what to do - and what not to do - before and during the solar eclipse. Here we'll go over some of the biggest take-aways from their discussions. [ Total Solar Eclipse 2017: When, Where and How to See It (Safely)]

Space.com sky columnist and FiOS1 weatherman Joe Rao gives a talk about the total solar eclipse of 2017 at the Northeast Astronomy Forum in Suffern, New York, on April 9.

Credit: Imelda B. Joson

Rao and Reynolds both highly recommend that people who plan to observe the solar eclipse on Aug. 21 get to the centerline, or the path of totality, rather than settling for a view of the partial eclipse, which will be visible over most of North America.

Over the course of about 90 minutes, the skies will darken along a 70 mile-wide (113 kilometers) path from Oregon to South Carolina as the moon's shadow moves across the country from the northwest to the southeast.

For viewers in the path of totality, the eclipse will be an entirely different experience than it will be for viewers elsewhere in the country. Even a 99.99 percent partial eclipse, in which the moon comes close to covering the entire face of the sun, is nowhere near as spectacular as totality, Rao said.

During totality, observers will experience up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds of darkness, whereas those who view the eclipse in its partial form will need eclipse glasses or other protective eyewear to notice the eclipse. So get to the path of totality. "It's really an opportunity you should not pass up," Reynolds said.

Twelve million people live along the path of totality, and another 25 million live within one day's drive, Rao said. But people from all over the U.S. will be flocking to the centerline to experience the rare and amazing celestial event that is totality. As with most crowds of people heading to a major event, there will be traffic - lots and lots of traffic.

"State departments of transportation and police are expecting hurricane evacuation-like traffic," Reynolds said. So if you're planning on taking a small road trip the day of the event, give yourself plenty of time to get to the path of totality. Don't get stuck watching a partial eclipse in standstill traffic on your way to the centerline. Allot at least a few extra hours of driving, or seek lodging the night before.

If you haven't made arrangements already, the time to map out a travel plan is now.

Hotels and campgrounds along the path of totality are filling up fast, and many are already totally booked. You may want to consider finding a place to stay that is just outside the path of totality to find better prices. Just make sure you'll have a way to get to centerline in time.

And if you plan on renting a car or an RV, make those reservations sooner rather than later. Rental prices will likely go up the longer you wait.

As with most skywatching endeavors, clouds can ruin the view. Don't let the weather turn your eclipse excursion into a complete waste of time - plan ahead! Check your weather forecast regularly during the days before the eclipse and the morning of. If clouds are headed your way, you may want to drive toward clearer skies.

If you do encounter clouds on the day of the eclipse, and traveling to better weather isn't an option, don't lose hope ― a total solar eclipse can part obstructing clouds, Rao said. As the moon's shadow glides across the country, the pocket of cold air it creates can break up convective clouds, like cumulus and cumulonimbus, which form when hot air rises and cold air sinks.

"Convective clouds may actually fade away as the eclipse progresses and as the heat and light of the sun disappear behind the disc of the moon, so the eclipse may actually help you," Rao said. "That convective cloud cover may actually fade away almost completely - hopefully - thanks to the eclipse. But then again, it may not." He added that historical weather statistics may be useful.

The best weather prospects are out West, while the East Coast is the most likely to see clouds roll in, Rao and Reynolds explained.

Professor Mike Reynolds of Florida State College in Jacksonville, Florida, discusses the weather forecast for the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017, at the Northeast Astronomy Forum in Suffern, New York, on April 9.

Credit: Hanneke Weitering

It is never a good idea to look directly at the sun. You may have heard that watching a total solar eclipse can make you go blind. But it's not the eclipse that will blind you, Reynolds said. In fact, you should absolutely take off your eclipse glasses during totality if you want to see it in all its glory.

Before and after the eclipse, when the moon is not completely blocking the sun, it's essential to have some sort of protective eyewear to avoid damage to your eyes. Anyone watching the eclipse in its partial form will need to wear the glasses the entire time.

When it's finally time to sit back and enjoy the show, don't forget to watch! Think twice if you're considering taking photos or a video of the eclipse, Reynolds said. "Do not get stuck behind a telescope or camera during the entire eclipse." If you do plan to photograph the eclipse, be sure to test the equipment beforehand.

Don't let traffic jams, clouds or distractions kill your eclipse fever on the big day. With these tips, you can make the most of your eclipse-watching experience.

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How to Survive the Total Solar Eclipse of 2017

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We're just 18 weeks away from the "Great American Total Solar Eclipse" that will darken skies across the continental U.S. on Aug. 21. Are you ready for it? If you haven't started preparing to see the eclipse, the time to start is now.

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An artistic depiction of the July 29, 1878 total solar eclipse by E.L. Trouvelot.

Credit: New York Public Library

When the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse descends on the U.S., skywatchers will be plunged into twilight at midday and will witness twisting streamers of light emanating from the edges of the obscured sun. While these features tend to dominate most people's total eclipse experience, there is much more to see if you know what to look for.

A total solar eclipse changes the very air around you; the loss of sunlight can cause the temperature to drop 10 or more degrees. The change in lighting also makes shadows look sharper on the ground, so it's possible to see individual hairs on your head in your shadow. During a total solar eclipse, skywatchers might see stars become visible in the daytime or perhaps catch a glimpse of the planet Mercury, which is difficult to see on a normal day because of how close it orbits to the sun.

"It's an assault on the senses," Rick Fienberg, press officer for the American Astronomical Society (and a bit of an eclipse hunter), told Space.com. "But a good assault." [ How to Safely Watch The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse]

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon covers 100 percent of the sun's central disk. It is important to note that many of the effects described below will not take place during a partial solar eclipse, when the moon appears to " take a bite" out of the sun but does not cover the star entirely. The Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse will be visible only inside the " path of totality," which stretches from Oregon to South Carolina. Totality (the period when the sun is completely obscured) will last for, at most, 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Check out our main total eclipse guide to find answers to basic questions about when and where totality will be visible.

REMEMBER: Looking directly at the sun, even when it is partially covered by the moon, can cause serious eye damage or blindness. NEVER look at a partial solar eclipse without proper eye protection. See our complete guide to find out how to view the eclipse safely.

Students in the United Kingdom observe a partial solar eclipse while wearing protective solar-viewing glasses.

Credit: Rob Stothard/GettyImages

A total solar eclipse "isn't just about astronomy," Fienberg told Space.com. "[It] is about beauty."

Just about every person who has seen a total solar eclipse says it is awesome, amazing, incredible and indescribable. Eclipse chasers like Fienberg will travel around the world to see total solar eclipses. People who have witnessed a total solar eclipse often describe it as a life-changing event, said C. Alex Young, a NASA solar scientist and the agency's lead outreach specialist for the 2017 total solar eclipse.

The elation and excitement that a total solar eclipse invokes is on display in many videos takein during total solar eclipses; people witnessing the event shout, moan and repeat exclamations like "Wow! Oh wow!" and "Oh my god!" and other phrases we won't print here.

"[It's] about being out in nature and being one with the universe," Fienberg said. "I mean it sounds silly, but you really feel like you're just part of it all and you're privileged to be able to see such a beautiful thing."

Eclipse experts like Fienberg and Space.com columnist Joe Rao recommend that people who are viewing a total solar eclipse for the first time sit back and enjoy the show - don't fuss with a camera during your first viewing.

The jets and streamers present in the sun's corona become visible to the human eye during a total solar eclipse. These features are not typically visible in photographs of a total solar eclipse; this composite image makes them visible.

Credit: NASA/S. Habbal, M. Druckmüller and P. Aniol

The dominating feature of any total solar eclipse is the appearance of the sun's atmosphere. The layer closest to the sun's surface is a deep-red ring called the chromosphere; above that is the corona.

The word "atmosphere" most likely makes people think of the indistinct haze that sits atop the Earth's surface. But the sun's corona is vastly different.

"It's not just an amorphous glow," Fienberg said. "It's a tangle of streamers and jets and loops and twists and all kinds of stuff, because its controlled entirely by the sun's magnetic field, which is very tangled and twisted. It creates these streamers that go out into space along which the solar wind flows."

The structure visible in the sun's corona is almost impossible to capture in a single photograph. That's why many photographs of the sun during a total eclipse show only a fuzzy crown of light emanating from the edge of the moon. A group of photographers used multiple images to create a composite, which you can see above, that more accurately represents what the human eye sees during totality.

These atmospheric features of the sun are always present, but the incredible amount of light coming from the sun's central disk typically obscures them. The corona and chromosphere are visible only when the moon completely covers the sun's central disk; even 99.99 percent coverage won't reveal these features, according to eclipse experts. So, make sure you're inside the "path of totality" on Aug. 21. [ What Is the Sun Made Of?]

When the moon completely blocks out the sun during a total solar eclipse, daylight suddenly turns into twilight. This change of lighting is so overwhelming that animals will sometimes behave as if night has arrived early; birds typically stop singing when the light dims, and cows have been observed heading back to the barn, under the impression that it is time to settle in for the night, according to Fienberg.

This sudden change in lighting is not quite so disorienting for humans, but it's still one of the most incredible features of a total solar eclipse. On Aug. 21, the shadow of the moon will be about 70 miles (110 kilometers) wide, and will travel from Oregon to South Carolina along the path of totality. What's more, it's possible for observers to see the shadow coming toward them in the last few minutes before they experience totality, and to see the shadow moving away from them in the minutes after totality, Fienberg told Space.com. This is sometimes described as a "cone of darkness" or a " tornado of darkness" moving across the landscape. The shadow of darkness crossing the Earth's surface is clearly visible in the video above, which was taken from an aircraft.

At the edge of the path of totality, where the sun's disk is 99 percent covered by the moon, observers might notice a slight dimming of the light. But for the most part, this effect is visible only where the moon entirely covers the face of the sun.

When the sun disappears behind the moon during a total solar eclipse, it often causes such a quick change in the air temperature that people will reach for a sweater, according to Fienberg.

During the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, two scientists will measure the temperature drop from Salem, Oregon. They also measured the temperature change during the 2015 total solar eclipse, which took place in Svalbard, an island in the northern Norwegian archipelago. The temperature dropped about 15 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) during that total solar eclipse.

The gorgeous, streaming jets of material in the sun's corona that become visible during a total solar eclipse are not the only things normally hidden by the brightness of the sun. Stars and most of the planets in the solar system are not visible until close to sunset or long after the sun has gone down.

But during a total solar eclipse, stars and planets may be visible . Venus, which orbits closer to the sun than the Earth does, is "impossible to miss" during an eclipse, said Fienberg. "It's almost always visible during totality."

Jupiter and Saturn may become visible if they are positioned in the daytime sky. Mercury is fainter than Venus and orbits so close to the sun that many people have never seen this planet in the sky. It is typically visible only just above the horizon shortly after sunset, and only when it is positioned to the side of the sun, rather than in front of or behind it. Mercury will be visible during a total eclipse only if it lies just to the side of the sun, which will be the case during the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse. But seeing these planets during a total solar eclipse, particularly when they are close to the sun, "can really be quite striking," Fienberg said.

During the August eclipse, the star Regulus in the constellation Leo will sit close to the sun and should be visible, Fienberg said.

A bead of the sun's disk emerges from behind the moon during a total solar eclipse.

Credit: Milos Bicanski/GettyImages

On a normal sunny day, a person standing outside will cast a shadow on the ground. The shadow will have the same general shape as that person, but "the edge is kind of fuzzy," Fienberg said. That's because light from the sun isn't coming from a "point source," but instead from the entire disk, so different beams of light hit an object (like a person) at slightly different angles.

But during an eclipse, as the sun's disk is slowly reduced to a small sliver, the source of the light is reduced to a smaller area and the shadows cast by people and objects sharpen, Fienberg said.

"You can see individual hairs on your head and on your arms in the shadows," he said. "It's very different than what you're used to seeing."

This effect is visible outside the path of totality where the moon obscures a significant portion of the sun's disk.

The total solar eclipse also creates a strange phenomenon known as shadow bands, in which alternating streaks of light and dark appear on the ground. Shadow bands appear shortly before totality (only "tens of seconds" according to Fienberg), and are usually visible only in places where the ground is "really smooth, with a light, uniform color," such as places covered by snow or sand.

Shadow bands are "unpredictable from eclipse to eclipse," according to NASA, and there is no complete explanation for the phenomenon. It seems likely that the appearance of shadow bands has something to do with Earth's turbulent atmosphere, which can distort light from distant objects ( a serious issue for some ground-based telescopes_, the agency said. Looking at these objects through the atmosphere can be like looking up from the bottom of a swimming pool, and in fact, this is what causes stars to appear to twinkle when viewed from the surface of the Earth.

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.

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What You'll See During the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

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When the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse descends on the U.S., skywatchers will be plunged into twilight at midday and will witness twisting streamers of light emanating from the edges of the obscured sun. While these features tend to dominate most people's total eclipse experience, there is much more to see if you know what to look for.

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Map showing the path of the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017.

Credit: NASA

The highly anticipated total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 may be spectacular, but it won't last long.

The duration of totality, as experienced by observers on the ground, tops out at a few precious minutes for all total solar eclipses, and some don't even last that long.

This brevity is rooted in the movement of the dark shadow of the moon known as the umbra, for when you are inside the umbra, the entire solar disk of the sun appears to be covered by the dark disk of the moon. (Don't worry; we'll get to details about the Aug. 21 event. But first, some eclipse basics.) [ Where to See the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, State by State]

The umbral shadow is projected out into space by the moon and is shaped like a long, tapering cone. That shadow cone is about 235,000 miles (378,000 kilometers) long. But the moon's average distance from Earth is about 239,000 miles (385,000 km).

So, in order for the umbra to touch the Earth, it must be closer than the average Earth-moon distance. But even when the moon is at the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, the umbra is but a dark "dot" measuring no more than 170 miles (274 km) across. And many times, the shadow width is considerably smaller than that. During the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse, for example, the shadow will average only about 68 miles (109 km) wide.

The other thing to take under consideration is the speed of the shadow. During its orbit around Earth from west to east, the moon moves at an average speed of 2,288 mph (3,683 km/h). Because the natural satellite is traveling in an elliptical orbit, the moon's speed is not constant; the object moves faster when it's closer to Earth.

The moon's shadow moves at the same speed as the moon itself. So one might think that during a solar eclipse, the speed of the moon's umbra on the Earth would average close to 2,300 mph (3,700 km/h).

The moon's shadow on Earth, as seen by the NASA-NOAA Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft during the total solar eclipse of March 8-9, 2016.

Credit: NASA/DSCOVR-EPIC Team

But it's not as simple as that for two reasons:

1) The Earth is rotating on its axis in a west-to-east direction.

2) The Earth is a sphere.

In the first case, since Earth is turning in the same direction that the moon is traveling, any particular spot on Earth's surface is, in essence, "racing" the moon's shadow across the globe during a solar eclipse. And how fast any particular spot on Earth moves depends on its location: The planet spins fastest at the equator: 1,037 mph (1,670 km/h).

Even there, Earth's rotation is less than half the speed of the moon's shadow, so the shadow will win every race. Nonetheless, along the equator and at tropical latitudes, because the rotation of the Earth can stay with the moon's shadow for a greater length of time, the ground speed of the moon's shadow is noticeably less than the shadow's actual speed through space. [ Amazing Total Solar Eclipse Photos Show 'Black Hole in the Sky']

Let us say, for example, that the moon's shadow is moving west to east along the equator at an average speed of 2,288 mph (3,683 km/h). But Earth's rotational speed at the equator makes the ground speed of the shadow 1,251 mph (2,013 km/h). Some military jets have actually flown faster than this and are capable of outracing the moon's shadow for short distances.

In fact, in the past, aircraft have been used to stay within the umbra for long periods of time, thereby lengthening the duration of totality. On June 30, 1973, scientists aboard a prototype Concorde 001 supersonic jet stretched the length of a total solar eclipse to an incredible 74 minutes, while those stationed on the ground experienced totality for a maximum of 7 minutes and 4 seconds. (This latter figure was still extraordinary, just 28 seconds less than the longest duration of totality possible for a ground-based observer.)

The other thing to consider is that the moon's shadow is being projected not onto a flat surface, but onto a sphere (Earth). Near the middle of the totality path, the shadow is moving at its slowest along the surface of the planet. But at the very beginning of the totality path, and at the very end, the shadow is striking Earth at a very oblique angle; at these points, the shape of the shadow on Earth resembles an extremely elongated oval, or even a cigar.

In fact, at the moment that the shadow is just moving onto (or off of) the Earth's surface, it is traveling at infinite speed, because at these points the axis of the lunar shadow cone is tangent to the globe of the Earth. When the shadow begins to move onto the Earth's surface (at local sunrise), its speed begins to slow as it travels, in essence, "uphill," over the curve of the Earth. Later, as the shadow begins to move toward the end of its path (at local sunset), its ground speed increases as it moves "downhill" along the curve of the Earth, ultimately sliding completely off the planet's surface.

On March 8, 2016, I was one of 163 lucky passengers on board an Alaska Airlines 737-900 jet, which intercepted the moon's umbra over the Pacific Ocean en route from Anchorage to Honolulu. When the shadow enveloped our aircraft, we were 700 miles (1,130 km) north of Honolulu and very close to the sunset point of the eclipse path.

In fact, the shadow was already beginning to slide off the Earth's surface as totality ended for us. At that moment, the shadow was moving at a speed of about 8,000 mph (12,900 km/h). [ Incredible Solar Eclipse View Shot During Alaska Airlines Flight (Video)]

The upcoming total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 marks the first time that the umbral shadow will cross the lower 48 United States from coast to coast in 99 years. During this landmark event, when the shadow arrives at the coast of Oregon, it will be moving at 2,240 mph (3,600 km/h), which, coincidentally, is very close to the average orbital speed of the moon around Earth.

The moon's shadow, however, will still be approaching the midpoint of its path, and still climbing along the bulge of the Earth. The lowest speed will take place in Tennessee, to the southeast of the point of greatest eclipse (the instant at which the axis of the moon's shadow is closest to the center of the Earth); the speed there will be 1,323 mph (2,129 km/h).

The maximum duration of totality for this eclipse will be 2 minutes and 40 seconds. After the shadow passes through the midpoint of the eclipse path, it will begin to accelerate as the slope of the Earth curves away from it; the shadow will then be moving downhill, ultimately sliding off Earth's surface over the waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean. As the umbra bids a fond farewell to the United States at the coast of South Carolina, the shadow will be moving at 1,354 mph (2,179 km/h). See the table below for eclipse characteristics at various spots along the path of totality.

How the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017 will vary according to viewing location along the path of totality.

Credit: Joe Rao/Space.com

In short, the moon's umbral shadow will take a "leisurely" trek across the United States, covering 2,496 miles (4,017 km) in just 90.7 minutes, whizzing by at an average speed of 1,651 mph (2,657 km/h).

And that's why the total phase of a solar eclipse cannot last very long!

Editor's Note: Space.com's Night Sky columnist, Joe Rao, will be giving a presentation about the upcoming total eclipse ("How to Survive the Aug. 21 Total Solar Eclipse") on Sunday (April 9) at 2:45 p.m. at the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF), which will be held this weekend at the SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York. NEAF features displays of telescopes, telescope accessories and other astronomy-related products, as well as presentations by scientists and skywatching experts. For more details about NEAF and a full schedule of events, go to: http://www.rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.html.

Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium. He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for Verizon Fios1 News, based in Rye Brook, N.Y. Follow us @Spacedotcom, or . Originally published on .

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How Long Will the 2017 Solar Eclipse Last? Depends Where You Are

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The highly anticipated total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 may be spectacular, but it won't last long. The duration of totality, as experienced by observers on the ground, tops out at a few precious minutes for all total solar eclipses, and some don't even last that long.

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The dark shadow of the moon - the umbra - will first touch the Earth's surface far out over the North Pacific Ocean, nearly 1,000 miles south of Alaska's Aleutian Islands, at 9:48 a.m. local time. For 27 minutes, the umbra will sweep rapidly to the east over the ocean.

Finally, the umbra will arrive along the coast of Oregon at 10:15 a.m. local time.

From there, the moon's shadow is going to race from coast to coast across the United States. That's a distance of almost 2,500 miles, from Oregon to South Carolina,and it will take the umbra just 94 minutes to travel that distance.

That works out to nearly 27 miles per minute (43 km/minute), or about 1,600 mph (2,574 km/h) - about three times faster than a commercial jetliner.

That's why, along the path of totality, the sun will appear completely covered for no more than 160 seconds.

Now, let's take an imaginary trip and follow the moon's dark shadow as it rushes across the country.

We will travel from state to state, visiting a few of the interesting places that will have a chance to experience the eerie effect of daytime darkness that accompanies a total solar eclipse.

I will also mention some places that are located just outside the total eclipse path. If you live in one of these places, please take our advice and make every effort to position yourself somewhere inside the total eclipse path instead.

Understand that even with 99 percent of the sun covered, the slightest sliver of sunlight that remains will spoil the spectacular effects that you can only get from a total eclipse.

So make an effort to get yourself inside the path!

Let's start with the first state that the shadow will visit: Oregon.

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Where to See the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, State by State

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The dark shadow of the moon - the umbra - will first touch the Earth's surface far out over the North Pacific Ocean, nearly 1,000 miles south of Alaska's Aleutian Islands, at 9:48 a.m. local time. For 27 minutes, the umbra will sweep rapidly to the east over the ocean.

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We had an absolute blast seeing the solar eclipse today. Words can't describe, and cameras can't capture how awesome the eclipse was. Shadow bands, stars, 360 horizon.

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Total Eclipse from atop Grand Teton!!! BEST Eclipse View EVER!

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alaska airlines changes flight solar eclipse

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Alaska Airlines Solar Eclipse Flight #870

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You can't help but get excited when you fly with us and see a solar eclipse. We adjusted Flight #870 from Anchorage to Honolulu on March 8, 2016 just so our passengers could catch the solar eclipse from 35,000 feet.

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Total Solar Eclipse 2017 from Beatrice, Nebraska, 21 August 2017

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The Total Solar Eclipse 2017 seen from Beatrice, Nebraska, on 21 August 2017, 13:02 CDT (18:02 UTC). Credit:NASA

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Salem goes dark as total solar eclipse dazzles crowds in Oregon

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North America was treated to a total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017. Over the 100 minutes, 14 states across the United States experienced more than two minutes of darkness in the middle of the day. Subscribe to TimesLIVE here: https://www.youtube.com/user/TimesLive

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2017 Solar Eclipse from Rexburg, ID BETTER THAN NASA FOOTAGE

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The full 2017 Solar Eclipse from Rexburg ID. Sped up at 5000x until totality. Special thanks to Arthur Saraiva for the footage! Shot from the Robinson's home in Rexburg, ID

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Total Solar Eclipse August 2017 Hopkinsville, Kentucky

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total solar eclipse from hopkinsville, ky Forget to put the camera focus in manual so sorry the footage went in and out of focus a lot. I was too busy watching the eclipse with my own eyes to watch the equipment :)

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2017 Eclipse from Scottsville, KY Totality at 3:30

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Solar Eclipse From Kentucky NASA Footage!

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Uploaded under "Fair Use" provisions for discussion and commentary at http://PolitiBrew.com 8-21-17...2:30 PM EST.

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If you want to be awe-inspired, see an eclipse for yourself. It's fascinating to see the world stop - no law enforcement, no mail, no transit, no traffic, and no worries - just a million people looking toward the heavens, but only for fewer than five minutes. Enjoy!

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Solar Eclipse in Totality 2017 with STARS, sunset, confused birds Idaho Falls, Idaho

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I get it, you LOVE horizontal videos. Here is the footage of the BEST family reaction to the Solar Eclipse from my wife's phone on this same eclipse: https://youtu.be/RQLDk8W5-W8 You are welcome! :) Log in to Beachbody on Demand: bit.ly/700HOMEWORKOUTS We want YOU to be in our TRIBE EMAIL ME: coachscottiehobbs@outlook.com LEARN HOW TO JOIN OUR TEAM: http://bit.ly/joinscottiesteam Success Stories and training: www.scottiehobbs.com Welcome to my YouTube Channel!

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Cr: @HardeeBurger from Wattpad

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Cr: @HardeeBurger from Wattpad

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Cr: @HardeeBurger from Wattpad

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Cr: @HardeeBurger from Wattpad

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Cr: @HardeeBurger from Wattpad

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PEOPLE WHO SAW THE AUGUST 21 SOLAR ECLIPSE - Improve Your Writing - Wattpad Forums

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Hello, I am planning to add that total solar eclipse on one (or maybe two) of my stories. But the thing is I live across the world, and while I did watch a live streaming during the event, it's still different from the actual people who went to see that celestial event.