Countdown begins: Six months to the eclipse

Six months. Six months until the grandest show in the heavens returns: the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21. There have been plenty of lunar eclipses and partial solar eclipses in the United States this century, but there has not been a total solar eclipse to touch the mainland of America since 1979. Professional astronomers, amateur star gazers and even casual watchers of the sky are getting excited. So should you.

Here’s what will happen on Aug. 21, 2017

Although the exact timing of the eclipse will vary depending on your location, one thing is for sure: Monday Aug. 21, the moon will slide in front of the sun. Minute-by-minute, it will block more and more of the sun’s disc, creating an ever-increasing partial solar eclipse. After about 90 minutes, the sun will still shine brightly but will be diminished to a crescent shape. After about another 90 minutes, the sun will slowly return to normal and the eclipse will be over.

The 'Big One,' astronomically speaking, is coming next year

If you’re in the right place at the right time, somewhere within a 75-mile-wide swatch of the country from coast to coast, the moon will block the entire sun in the middle of the 3-hour event. It will get eerily dark, dramatically colder, the brighter stars and planets will shine and the sun will appear to have been swallowed whole. This is totality, and it will last a little over two minutes, and blow your mind.

Here’s what you need to decide: Do I stay or do I go?

Will you view the total solar eclipse or merely take in a partial eclipse? Obviously, seeing the total solar eclipse, the most breathtaking, awe-inspiring sight in all astronomy, would be preferred. But from anywhere in the United States, you will be able to see a partial solar eclipse. If you want to experience totality, you may have to travel – to parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina or South Carolina. For a detailed map of where you need to be, visit: go.nasa.gov/2ibqRIk.

Getting away from work or school on a Monday afternoon in order to travel hundreds of miles could be tough. From your hometown, you may still see 70-90 percent of the sun eclipsed by the moon. You may need to stay home and see the partial eclipse – which is still pretty cool. But with six months’ notice, you may want to ask for the day off.

Here’s what you need: Keep it simple

Looking at the sun is dangerous. If even a little sliver of sunlight is showing, you could damage your eyes. So you’ll need some protection when viewing the partial eclipse. You can view with specially filtered telescopes and cameras, but probably the best and safest method for first-time eclipse-viewers is to use eclipse glasses or No. 14 welder’s glass. When you look through these ultra-dark shades, you can safely look at the sun anytime. However, the view is much more dramatic during an eclipse when you can see the arc of the moon cutting across the solar disc. I recommend buying them early because they may sell out closer to the eclipse.

The only time you can look at the eclipse without special protection is during totality. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for – being at the right place at the right time on Aug. 21. Let’s hope it’s not cloudy in six months.

Dean Regas is the Astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory, co-host of PBS’ "Star Gazers," and author of the book "Facts from Space!" He can be reached at dean@cincinnatiobservatory.org 

Countdown to the Eclipse at the Cincinnati Observatory

What: Drop by the Observatory to demo our variety of safe solar viewing methods – from eclipse glasses to sun funnels to expensive filters on our historic telescope. 

When: Tuesday Feb. 21 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Admission: Free, plus free eclipse glasses to the first 50 visitors.

Information: 513-321-5186 or visit: www.cincinnatiobservatory.org