Millions brace for total solar eclipse on April 8

JACKSON, Tenn. — Catch history in the making this Monday, April 8, when a total solar eclipse sweeps across parts of the continental U.S.

Solar eclipses happen somewhere in the world about every year and a half, but most of them aren’t in our own backyard.

To have a total solar eclipse cross the U.S. is a special opportunity.

More than 31 million people across 15 states stretching from Texas to Maine will have a front-row seat to experience the moon covering the bright disk of the sun, briefly turning day into night.

Don’t worry if you’re outside the eclipse’s path of totality, though; you will still have a spectacular opportunity to watch a partial eclipse in your hometown.

“Interlace your fingers in waffle pattern and come out to the side that way the sun being behind you when you’re looking forward the sun’s light will pass through your fingers and then it’ll project little images of the sun in the ground in front of you,” said Heather Futrell, NASA Program Executive.

Get ready to grab those solar viewers, step outside, and soak in this rare experience!

Another total solar eclipse won’t cross the U.S. until 2045!

To enhance your viewing experience and contribute to global research, there are two apps you can use.

Sunsketcher and Globe Observer can be used to log analytical data to better help scientists understand the sun and global environment.

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