Solar Eclipse 2017: Millions of people across US street to watch rare phenomenon

On August 21, people all over the world are going to experience a total solar eclipse. The solar eclipse will be witnessed at the morning of August 21. However, India will not be fortunate enough to experience such a beautiful incident. A total solar eclipse will be seen all over the United States, while other countries will witness the partial form of the same. 

391 millions of Americans are coverging on a narrow corridor stretching from Orgeon to South Carolina to watch the rare phenomenon. It gonna be the first total solar eclipse to sweep coast-to-coast across the United States in 99 years. 

Monday’s total eclipse will cast a shadow that will race through 14 states, entering near Lincoln City, Oregon, at 1:16 p.m. EDT, moving diagonally across the heartland and then exiting near Charleston, South Carolina, at 2:47 p.m. EDT. 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.

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 behaviour as daylight turns into twilight and the temperature drops.

Also Read: Solar Eclipse 2017: 5 myths around greatest astronomical event of the year

Astronomers consider a full solar eclipse the grandes tof cosmic spectacles. Southernmost Illinoiswill see the most darkness: 2 minutes and 44 seconds. All of north america will get a least a partial eclipse.People are waiting eagerly for this moment for many years and the next total solar eclipse in the US will be in 2024 but the next caost-to-coast will not be before 2045.

However, with the help of various sorts of filtering device or indirect viewing, one can safely view the eclipse. 

In 2017, an estimated 500 million people will be able to observe the total solar eclipse, in partial or total form: 391 million in the U.S., 35 million in Canada, and 119 million in Mexico (plus Central America and parts of South America and northwestern Europe).

According to safety warnings issued by NASA, one should not look directly at the sun without appropriate protection except during totality as that could cause serious harm to the eyes.

Also Read: Solar Eclipse 2017: What you can expect and look for as world grows dark on August 21