Greg Shanos is a skygazer. 

It all started back in 1985-1986, when Halley's Comet made one of its historical appearances in the earth's night skies.  

Shanos lived in Providence then, and a local group, Skyscrapers, Inc. Astronomical Society of Rhode Island, helped him get into astronomy.

From then on, Shanos was hooked.

Fast forward three decades and four evolutions of recording equipment, and here is a partial list of the places Shanos has traveled for eclipses: Bolivia, Australia, the Galapagos islands, Greece, Spain, Easter Island, Aruba, South Africa, Turkey, China and Mongolia.

"It's the most incredible natural phenomenon there is," Shanos explained. 

Shanos, who now lives in Sarasota County, is traveling to Nebraska for the upcoming solar eclipse. He is planning on being in the small strip of land crossing the United States where the eclipse will be complete-- or as astronomers call it- totality.

Why Nebraska?

"Because Nebraska and Wyoming have the best weather prospects," explained Shanos.

Greg Shanos in Aruba. (Photo courtesy of Greg Shanos)

He has traveled hours on planes only to miss an eclipse thanks to cloudy weather. 

For him, it is a chance worth taking.

Our area of Florida will reach about 80% of totality, which might be fine for a novice, but not for Shanos, an official NASA Solar System Ambassador. 

As part of NASA’s volunteer public engagement group, Shanos has given hundreds of lectures on the wonder of the heavens.

He hopes his work will guide other skygazers.

"I hope that people will see it and – especially children – and develop an interest in science as a whole," said Shanos. "Hopefully, they'll have a career in the sciences, and that could have been sparked by an eclipse of the sun."

Tips for the Solar Eclipse, courtesy of Greg Shanos

Florida will experience an 80% partial solar eclipse starting at 1:17 p.m. local time, maximum eclipse at 2:49 p.m. and ending at 4:13 p.m. from St. Petersburg. (www.timeanddate.com/eclipse) 


  • Keep your solar eclipse glasses on for the entire eclipse.
  • Do not stare at the sun directly even during maximum eclipse. 

  • One can now watch NASA live broadcasts of totality on their computer or smart phones from multiple locations.
  • Keep hydrated and wear sunscreen.

  • Use an umbrella to provide shade. 

  • Clouds will obscure the view so be mobile-weather can change quickly, so be prepared to move to clear skies if necessary. 

  • Don’t fixate only on the sky – air temperature changes as the eclipse progresses, do listen for insect sounds, and watch the darkening along the horizon.

  • Take in the experience with Local Amateur Astronomy Clubs