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#Eclipse2017 happens in less than a month--Aug. 21, 2017! Learn how, where, and when to watch at http://eclipse2017.nasa.gov
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Here’s all you need to know
The American solar eclipse is less than a fortnight away. It will be visible across the United States during the morning and early afternoon of Monday 21 August.
If you’ve never seen a total eclipse of the sun, the chances are that you are going to turn to the internet for some tips on how to make the most of the opportunity. And you are going to find so much advice that – however well meaning – it is going to set your head spinning.
It’s a minefield of jargon such as first contact and umbra, and of things to look for like shadow bands and Bailey’s beads.
In trying to do everything you risk seeing nothing. It is no exaggeration to say that a total eclipse of the sun is one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena it is possible to see. So do yourself a favour and just soak it up.
To enjoy it, there are only three things you need to do.
No 1: get to the track of totality
Totality is the central moment of the eclipse. It is when the moon completely covers the sun.
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The track of totality is the locations on the Earth where the total eclipse can be seen. Make no mistake, you have to be on the track of totality to see the total eclipse.
Nothing compares to totality. If you are a little way off and seeing a 95% partial eclipse, do not think that you will be experiencing 95% of a total eclipse. It simply does not work like that. Only if you are in the track of totality will the sky go dark and the beauty appear.
On 21 August, the track of totality is roughly 70-mile (113km) wide and moves from the west coast to the east coast. It starts near Salem, Oregon, and finishes near Charleston, South Carolina.
The eclipse begins in Salem at 9:05am PDT. The moon then takes over an hour to move across the sun and so totality starts at 10:18am PDT. In Charleston, the eclipse begins at 1:16pm EDT, with totality coming along at 2:46pm.
So get somewhere on the track. Once there, put out your deck chair, sit back and relax. You have made it, you are going to witness a total eclipse. And if the sky is clear, what you are going to see will make your jaw drop.
No 2: wear eclipse glasses
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the Indonesia eclipse of 2016. Photograph: Solo Imaji / Barcroft Media |
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