Total Solar Eclipse Front-row Seat August 21, 2017
You’d have to already be in the dark if you haven’t heard about the Great American Total Solar Eclipse. It’s the first total eclipse to sweep across the United States in 99 years and Nashville has a front-row seat to the August 21 show.
The incredible celestial event will darken skies as the sun and moon arch along a stretch of land about 70 miles wide from Oregon straight through our own city of Nashville around 1 p.m. and onto South Carolina. Day will turn into night as the moon completely blocks out the sun along this path of totality for an unforgettable experience.
We’re so excited about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we’re getting an early start on preparing for the phenomenon which will last less than two minutes. Here are some tips for preparing yourself and your family for the day.
Best Viewing
As we’ve said, the eclipse will carve a 70-mile wide path and Nashville proper is the largest city wholly within its path. That means there are plenty of great local places from which to experience the eclipse. But stake out a viewing place early, because some estimates predict that between 360,000 and 1,440,000 people will travel to Tennessee on eclipse day. To find a public location that’s right for you, check out the list of public viewing locations on the visitmusiccity.com Website or the official NASA Total Eclipse site.
How to View
Looking directly into the sun’s rays is dangerous and can cause damage to your retina on any day. To avoid damaging your eyes, you can use a certified filter that is specifically designed for viewing the sun, use specially-designed eclipse glasses or special materials. Here’s a great Youtube video of 5 ways to safely view the 2017 total solar eclipse.
When to View
Bring a chair, some blankets, and some snacks and park yourself for a few hours. The totality of the eclipse will start around 1:27 p.m., on August 21 and will last for approximately one-and-a-half minutes. However, partial eclipse views will be visible from 11:58 a.m.
Best Resources for More Information
In addition to the links we’ve mentioned, The Tennessean has great resources for everything from how and where to get an unobstructed view to how to take the best photos. Space.com offers a wealth of information for any fun-loving geeks interested in learning the science behind the total eclipse. If you’re an app person, check out the site’s list of 7 of the best total solar eclipse apps for the August 21 event.
No matter where you go or how you get there, we hope you’ll take time out of your day to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the wonder of our world. Maybe we’ll be watching next to you.
Aspen Grove Dental is interested in Glowing Suns and Glowing Smiles.
