A Total Eclipse of the Sun will occur on Monday, August 21, 2017 in a portion of the continental United States. The eclipse will run across the entire U.S., an event that last occurred in 1918.
Eclipses are total only in a narrow strip that is approximately 72 miles wide. This means that the 2017 eclipse will only be total across narrow portions of the following states: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina. The total eclipse can be viewed in the following cities: Salem, OR; Casper, WY; St. Joseph, MO; Carbondale, IL; Nashville, TN; and Columbia, SC. Everyone else in the U.S. will see a partial eclipse.
The Total Eclipse will begin in Salem, Oregon at about 10:15 a.m. (Pacific Daylight Time) and end about 2:48 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) in Charleston, South Carolina. In all, it will take 90 minutes to cross the continental U.S., moving through four time zones, traveling at 1,450 mph.
Watching the Partial Eclipse in Monroe County, Michigan will require special glasses. Make sure the glasses you acquire say ISO 12312-2 certified on the back, otherwise your eyes may not be protected sufficiently when gazing at the sun. Limited quantities of these glasses are available at the following Monroe County Library System branches: Bedford, Blue Bush, Carleton, Dundee, Ellis, Frenchtown, Ida, Maybee, Navarre, Newport, South Rockwood, Summerfield-Petersburg and Vivian
MONROE COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM ECLIPSE PROGRAMMING
August 5, 2017, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Maybe Branch Library will host DIY Solar Eclipse Viewer
August 8, 2017, 7:00 p.m. The Ellis Library and Information Center will host Solar Eclipse 2017: What is it and how should you prepare?
August 21, 2017, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m. The Bedford Branch and the Ellis Library and Reference Center will host Viewing Events that include watching NASA’s Eclipse Live Stream, and actual viewing of the Partial Eclipse. ISO 12312-2 certified glasses will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
NASA’s Total Eclipse Website is filled with a variety of information and resources from the Science of an eclipse, to safe viewing, to eclipse events across the country. NASA has Maps by State showing exact locations in the direct path of the total eclipse. NASA will also provide an Eclipse Live Stream featuring a dozen locations across the U.S. using airplanes, ground telescopes and high altitude balloons, so that viewers worldwide can experience the phenomena.
Star*net offers a free Eclipse Guide published for libraries and their communities. The 24-page booklet, titled The “All-American” Eclipse introduces readers to eclipses in general; gives pointers on how to safely view an eclipse; where to get, and how to use, eclipse glasses; and provides a timetable for the eclipse based on large U.S. cities.