If you’re thinking about making some plans to watch this summer’s total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 — coined the “Great American Eclipse” — it’s better to do so sooner rather than later.
Some of the Missouri cities and towns that will experience the longest period of “totality” on Aug. 21 — two minutes and 40 or 41 seconds — are St. Joseph, Boonville (near Columbia,) De Soto and Ste. Genevieve. Many other nearby municipalities and rural areas will experience more than two minutes of totality, including Park Hills, Farmington, Leadwood, Bonne Terre and Potosi.
“Totality” is the period of a total solar eclipse when the moon appears to be completely blocking the sun and all that is visible is a 360 degree glowing corona. A total solar eclipse can only take place during the phase of “new moon,” when the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth in a direct line and its shadow falls upon the Earth’s surface.
The exact period of totality will vary slightly, depending on location. In Park Hills, for example, the total time of the eclipse will last close to three hours, beginning at 11:49 a.m. and ending at 2:45 p.m. The time of the total eclipse — when the sun, moon and Earth are perfectly aligned and the sun appears to be completely blocked out by the moon — will begin at 1:17 p.m. (at the 30-second mark) and last for two minutes and 17 seconds.
Although everyone in the continental U.S. will see at least a partial eclipse, only those within the direct path of the eclipse will experience a true total solar eclipse, including residents living in the Parkland. There will, however, be thousands of people from outside the area who have already been making arrangements for lodging and plans for the best places to watch the rare event.
The Hampton Inn in Farmington, for example, is already almost booked up for the weekend prior to the eclipse through that Monday. And while several businesses and communities already have firm plans in place for viewing sites and parties, others are quickly following suit.
The direct path of the eclipse will cross 12 states — beginning with Oregon, then moving through Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina. In each of those states, people visiting or living in the direct path will get to experience “totality,” given clear skies.
No other country anywhere in the world will experience this total eclipse.
For more information about the Great American Eclipse, including totality maps, how to safely view the eclipse and area viewing events, visit stlouiseclipse2017.org.
For more information or to reserve a spot at one of the 42 locations in the state park system where you can see the total eclipse, visit mostateparks.com/2017Eclipse.
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Considering the number of announcements for astrological occurrences over the years, I don't think that I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing an eclipse or anything else for that matter ever. With all the things that are happening on the same day this time around, it would be a shame to miss this one at least!
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