Millions converge across US to see sun go dark

by Dramelin 12:00 AM 0 comments

In fact, the U.
mainland hasn`t seen a total solar eclipse since 1979 — and even then, only five states in the Northwest experienced total darkness before the eclipse veered in Canada.
Monday`s total eclipse will cast a shadow that will race through 14 states, entering near Lincoln City, Oregon, at 1:16 p.
EDT, moving diagonally across the heartland and then exiting near Charleston, South Carolina, at 2:47 p.
The path will cut 2,600 miles (4,200 kilometers) across the land and will be just 60 to 70 miles (96 kilometers to 113 kilometers) wide.
Mostly clear skies beckoned along much of the route, according to the National Weather Service.
Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois will see the longest stretch of darkness: 2 minutes and 44 seconds.
All of North America will get at least a partial eclipse.
Central America and the top of South America will also see the moon cover part of the sun.
Michele Arsenault of New York City and her son, Michael, spent Sunday driving south and stopped for dinner in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Tupelo Honey Cafe where several other tables were also occupied by travelers heading to eclipse zones.
Arsenault has been comparing weather charts for days as she finalized plans and had lodging reserved in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a reserved parking spot in Sweetwater, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) away.
Her son, who`s about to start graduate school, said he tagged along because "I appreciate the idea of a good adventure.
" NASA and other scientists will be watching and analyzing the eclipse from telescopes the ground and in orbit, the International Space Station, airplanes and scores of high-altitude balloons, which will beam back live video.
Citizen scientists will monitor animal and plant behavior as daylight turns into twilight and the temperature drops.
NASA`s associate administrator for science missions, Thomas Zurbuchen, took to the skies for a dry run Sunday.
He will usher in the eclipse over the Pacific Coast from a NASA plane.
"Can`t wait for the cosmic moment Mon morning," he tweeted.
Near Victoria, British Columbia, where 91 percent of the sun will be eclipsed, science and math teacher Clayton Uyeda is planning to watch from a ferry along with his wife.
He said he is "expecting to have a real sense of connection with the heavens.
" He has similarly lofty hopes for his students if they can bring themselves to look up at the sky instead of down at their electronic devices.
Scientists everywhere agree with Uyeda: Put the phones and cameras down and enjoy the greatest natural show on Earth with your own (protected) eyes.
The only time it`s safe to look directly without protective eyewear is during totality, when the sun is 100 percent covered.
Otherwise, keep the solar specs on or use pinhole projectors that can cast an image of the eclipse.
The next total solar eclipse in the U.
will be in 2024.
The next coast-to-coast one will not be until 2045.