Originally posted on: Monday, July 24, 2017

We're less than a month away from the most anticipated solar event of many of our lifetimes.

On Monday, Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible from coast to coast in the U.S. Scientists from across the country will be setting up various experiments along with citizen observers, helping to advance our knowledge of the sun's magnetic field and the effect on the Earth's atmosphere.

Dr. Alex Young of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, spoke with meteorologist Maureen McCann about what we can expect from the celestial show.

Maureen McCann: Walk me through what's going to happen on Aug. 21, and what we'll see here in Central Florida?

Young: The moon is going to move between the sun and the Earth and cast a shadow, which will reach the U.S. in Oregon and travel across 14 states at about 1,400 mph, ending in Charleston, South Carolina. Everyone in the U.S., including those in Orlando, will experience a partial solar eclipse.

About 85 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon in many places. If you happen to be in the narrow path that's about 70 miles wide called the "path of totality," you'll see a total solar eclipse. But (here), you'll still get to see a deep partial eclipse and you're going to see the moon's shadow move from west to east and feel changes in temperature and light. It's going to be really spectacular.

McCann: Why is this particular eclipse so special, Dr. Young?

Young: This is an opportunity for us to not only study the sun, but also study the Earth. The shadow that is cast on the ground is well understood. We know exactly where it is and so we can see the change in light that reaches the ground as it moves across the country. This is changing the atmosphere itself, changing the clouds, temperature, and etc.

So, this gives us an amazing opportunity to study changes in our atmosphere and understand the impact of the sun on the Earth.

McCann: What sort of citizen science will NASA be doing for this eclipse to involve people who will get to see it themselves?

Young: During that day, everyone who's experiencing this partial eclipse will get to be a NASA scientist. The environment around you is going to change. The clouds will change, the temperature will change, so if you download the Globe Observer app on your smart phone, you'll take that along with a thermometer and you'll be able to record the changes in your environment as that shadow is going across the country.

In turn, you'll be providing data to be part of one of the largest citizen science experiments we've ever done and allowing us to better understand our Earth and our atmosphere.

McCann: Are there any safety tips that you would like to pass on?

Young: It's never safe to look directly at the sun unless you have your safe solar viewing glasses. So make sure you have these on hand when viewing the sun during the eclipse.

You can also view the eclipse in an indirect way by projecting the phenomenon on paper. Anything with a hole will create a pin-hole, allowing you to see it. Overall, you want to enjoy it, see it, and be safe by protecting your eyes.


You can find out more details about the safety as well as the science, including the citizen science, here.