The Great American Eclipse

Annular Solar Eclipse "Ring of Fire"

Many people will be traveling long distances on August 21st to view the total solar eclipse that will be visible from the United States. We even know someone who is coming over from Europe to see the event. Cities from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina, and small towns in between have been preparing for over a year for the influx of visitors during this celestial event. Some experts are projecting that the days leading up to August 21 will see more air, train and auto traffic than any other time this year. Although I know that solar eclipse are spectacular events, I wondered what makes this one so special and why some are calling it a once in a lifetime event, since I recalled the occurrence of a solar eclipse visible in New Hampshire during my life-time. Many people I spoke with did not remember this event. However, the website timeanddate.com is great for researching specifics of past and upcoming eclipses. It turns out that on May 10, 1994 there was an annular solar eclipse that was visible across the United States. Although I mistakenly thought that this was a total solar eclipse, it was not, since the moon was too far away to block the sun entirely. An annular eclipse is pretty special in its own right, because from certain locations, while the moon's shadow is covering the center of the sun a "ring of fire" is visible around the shadow. Although the day does not become completely dark during an annular eclipse, seeing the "ring of fire" is pretty cool.

There are several things that make the August 21st eclipse eventful. First, if you are an American, it is a very unique event in that not only will this eclipse be visible in totality from the west to the east coast, the first time this has occurred since 1918, it will only be visible in totality from within the United States, thus the reason it is being called the "Great American Eclipse." Many of our Nation's public lands, including 20 national parks, will fall within the path of the eclipse, providing other sightseeing opportunities for visitors traveling to view the eclipse. When we were in the Grand Tetons National Park, the visitor center's gift shop had its own section devoted to 2017 eclipse paraphernalia. In this Washington Post report locations are highlighted that offer special viewing opportunities across the country. If you do plan on viewing the solar eclipse in totality, space.com offers an excellent page on safety precautions and eclipse lingo you may hear such as "Bailey's beads" and "Diamond ring."    

It is also exciting to know that everyone in the United States has the possibility of seeing at least a partial eclipse. In New England we will only be experiencing a partial eclipse and do not plan on traveling that day. However, if you are one of the several million people who plan to travel to view this event, you better have already booked your lodging and mapped in advance your viewing location(s). And, if you happen to live along the path of the eclipse, it wouldn't hurt to fill up your car with gas and have your cupboards stocked with extra food and beverages, in anticipation of these items selling out at the stores. For all the hype, let's hope that it is a clear day for everyone coming out to view this spectacular event in person.