As many of you may not know, we are just a week away from a very exciting day. On August 21, 2017, there will be a Solar Eclipse. This is going to be exciting because most of the United States will be able to view this event. (Hopefully the weather will be clear and we can view it easily (that's with special Eclipse glasses).
What is a Solar Eclipse?
According to Wikipedia (which we know is always true, lol), a Solar Eclipse is when the moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. It essentially is a shadow to simplify things. When a the eclipse happens, it will appear to look like it is nighttime outside even though it will be around 2 in the afternoon.
Why is the August 2017 Solar Eclipse so important?
The reason this eclipse is so important is that the entire United States will be able to view this amazing event. Yes, Hawaii and Alaska are included (however it won't be as much as the mainland of the US. Exciting stuff right?
Is there anything I should be concerned about for this Eclipse?
Since a solar eclipse involves the Sun and not the moon, there are some safety concerns for this event that people should be aware about. NASA has a list of all the safety information for this Eclipse.
The first and VERY IMPORTANT safety information is: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. Even if you have sunglasses. Sunglasses will not help during this event. You will be able to buy Eclipse glasses on Amazon or some local eye doctor offices might have a pair you can purchase. Looking at the sun if you don't have special eclipse eye-ware will hurt your eyes.
There are other safety warnings that NASA has about viewing with filters or on a telescope. Make sure to read about all these safety warnings before August 21st, 2017.
There has also been word that this day could be the worst travel day in history? We will wait and see. If you happen to be out while the Eclipse is happening, PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
If there are some people who miss this event, do not worry. The next time a Solar Eclipse will happen is April 2024. Only 7 more years! The 2017 Eclipse will be an exciting one and will sure be the talk of years to come.
