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For the first time in almost a century the United States is preparing for a coast-to-coast solar eclipse, a rare celestial event millions of Americans, with caution, will be able to observe.
During the eclipse on August 21—the first of its kind since 1918—the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, casting a dark shadow and making visible the sun's normally obscured atmosphere, or solar corona, as well as bright stars and planets.
Observers will be able to see the moon's 70-mile (113-kilometer) wide shadow from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the east over the course of more than two daylight hours, with two minutes of darkness engulfing 14 states.
Almost 12 million Americans live within this strip of the country, while some two-thirds of the nation's population reside within a day's car ride, said Martin Knopp of the Department of Transportation.
The US will be the only country to experience the total eclipse, and international visitors are expected to descend for the event.
Spacecraft, NASA aircraft, more than 50 high-altitude balloons and astronauts aboard the International Space Station will capture images.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @10:25AM (6 children)
Well, I'd rather stay in Canada for it. View the 70% partial instead. Thanks.
(Score: 2) by shipofgold on Friday June 23 2017, @11:53AM (1 child)
I booked my travel to see it. I read a description that said something to the effect "360 degrees of dusk and a hole in the sky showing the stars which makes it look like a portal into another universe....gotta see that.
Next total eclipse in USA is in 2024 but I am not waiting.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @01:02PM
That 2024 eclipse will be just as awesome, cutting a long path from up around Maine down across Texas.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @02:20PM (3 children)
Well, we'd rather keep you fucking terrorists from coming down and stabbing our security guards anyways, so I don't think we're going to miss you either. Besides, unless you have the time and money to chase these things around the world, these opportunities only come along a few times in a lifetime, and I'm not inclined to pass up an event like this because I have some arrogant stick up my ass and an adolescent desire to appear morally superior. God help those who have to deal with you every day for the rest of the year as I am sure they will very quickly tire of your "I'm happy with my 70 percent coverage because I'M not going to travel down there. Am I right???"
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @02:43PM (1 child)
You seem to be a very confused. Most people I know have no desire to travel to US anymore. That used to be different. As for me traveling specially to see the eclipse, no, I'm happy with the 70% I get without traveling extra miles to potentially see full eclipse, or just clouds. So kind of a double reason as to why not to travel to Nebraska somewhere.
So your comments were about yourself, ok, so transference ;)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 23 2017, @06:31PM
Hey, that's great! Most people I know would be quite happy that you and the people you know would stay where you are. It's wonderful that we can agree on something! That's what we used to call "detente". :-)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 27 2017, @03:23PM
Loves the irony...Unless, of course, you meant that you have an arrogant stick implanted and an adolescent desire to appear morally superior, but you are going to see the event anyway? Then, it sounds like you are spot on.