3 Things to Know About the Total Solar Eclipse Happening on August 21st 2017 in America

tumbleweeds (32)in #science • 7 years ago

#1 – When? On August 21st, 2017, the total solar eclipse will sweep the continental United States starting in Oregon and finishing in South Carolina. Keep in mind even if you aren’t in the path of totality you will still see a partial eclipse of at least 55% in the continental United States (barring clouds). The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in the United States was February 26th, 1979 and it only passed through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and parts of North Dakota. Below is a map of where, when, and the length of the total eclipse on the 21st of August.

#2 – What Happens? A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. This creates a shadow blocking the sun’s light from reaching the Earth’s surface, below is a diagram illustrating a total eclipse. The umbra (path of totality) is where the total eclipse is visible, while the penumbra will allow viewing to a partial eclipse. During an eclipse a few things happen as a result of the moon momentarily blocking out the sun’s rays. The lack of radiant heat causes a drop in temperature between 5°-30°F, with an average drop of 10°F. Wind speeds are also known to decrease and change direction. These atmospheric changes confuse animals causing them to believe it is night time. Birds will stop chirping (with the exception of owl hoots) and make their way to their nests.

#3 – Eye Protection. Viewing an eclipse without proper eyewear will cause serious damage to your eyes. Make sure the glasses you choose are ISO certified (DO NOT use regular sun glasses). This ensures that the harmful UV, infrared and 99.999% of intense visible light is filtered out. Tips to prevent injury:
• Check filter to make sure it is not damaged
• Put glasses on before looking at sun
• Do not remove glasses while looking at sun
• Limit viewing to 3 minutes