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Tr a v el S c o pe 5 0
While solar eclipses happen somewhere on Earth at least twice a year, the last time there was a total solar eclipse over the
USA was in 1979. At that time, the Sun just grazed the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana. The coast to coast August
2017 total solar eclipse is expected to be the most watched celestial event in American history.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is close enough to Earth in its orbit so that it blocks the entire disk of the Sun
from view. The partial phases of a total solar eclipse leading up to totality are incredible to watch. The Moon will fi rst appear
as a small dark dent in the edge of the Sun, growing to a large bite. If you are in the path of totality, the Sun will eventually
become a thin crescent and will disappear completely. For a couple of minutes, daytime turns to deep twilight and bright
stars and planets are visible in the daytime sky. After totality, the process reverses itself as the Sun reemerges from behind
the Moon. It is a sight that should not be missed.
How much of a given total solar eclipse you can see will depend greatly on where you are located. The closer you are to
the centerline of the path of the Moon's shadow, the greater the percentage of the Sun will be blocked and the longer the
solar eclipse will last. In order to experience totality, you need to be directly under the Moon's shadow. This path of totality
is extremely narrow and for the 2017 total solar eclipse is only 75 miles (120km) wide. If you are too far north or south of
the path of totality, you will only see a partial solar eclipse. Even if you are unable to travel to the path of totality, everyone
in the continental United States and most of Canada will be treated to a partial solar eclipse with at least 60% of the Sun
covered by the Moon.
With your EclipSmart telescope, you are ready to be part of history.
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