Counting down to eclipse, millions converge across US to see sun go dark

Millions of Americans have converged on a narrow corridor stretching from Oregon to South Carolina to watch the moon blot out the sun Monday for a wondrous couple of minutes in the first total solar eclipse to sweep the US coast to coast in 99 years. Veteran eclipse watchers warned the uninitiated to get ready to be blown away. Planetariums and museums posted “Sold out of eclipse glasses” on their front doors. Signs along highways reminded motorists of “Solar Eclipse Monday,” while cars bore the message “Eclipse or bust.” With 200 million people within a day’s drive of the path of totality, towns and parks braced for monumental crowds. It’s expected to be the most observed, most studied and most photographed eclipse ever. Not to mention the most festive, what with all the parties. In Salem, Oregon, a field outside the state fairgrounds was transformed into a campground in advance of an eclipse-watching party for 8,500. “It’s one of those ‘check the box’ kind of things in life,” said Hilary O’Hollaren, who drove 50km from Portland with her two teenagers and a tent, plus a couple friends. Astronomers consider a full solar eclipse the grandest of cosmic spectacles. The Earth, moon and sun line up perfectly every one to three years, briefly turning day into night for a sliver of the planet. But these sights normally are in no man’s land, like the vast Pacific or the poles. This will be the first eclipse of the social media era to pass through such a heavily populated area. The moon hasn’t thrown this much shade at the U.S. since 1918. That was the country’s last coast-to-coast total eclipse. In fact, the U.S. mainland hasn’t seen a total solar eclipse since 1979 – and even then, only five states in the Northwest experienced total darkness before the eclipse veered in Canada. Monday’s total eclipse will cast a shadow that will race through 14 states, entering near Lincoln City, Oregon, at 1.16pm EDT (4.16am Tuesday, HK time), moving diagonally across the US heartland and then exiting near Charleston, South Carolina, at one hour and 31 minutes later. The path of totality will cross 4,200km across the land but will be only about 100km wide. Mostly clear skies beckoned along much of the route, according to the National Weather Service. Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois will see the longest stretch of darkness: 2 minutes and 44 seconds. All of North America will get at least a partial eclipse. Canada, Central America and the top of South America will also see the moon cover part of the sun. Michele Arsenault of New York City and her son, Michael, spent Sunday driving south and stopped for dinner in Asheville, North Carolina, at the Tupelo Honey Cafe where several other tables were also occupied by travelers heading to eclipse zones. Arsenault has been comparing weather charts for days as she finalized plans and had lodging reserved in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a reserved parking spot in Sweetwater, about 80km away. Her son, who’s about to start graduate school, said he tagged along because “I appreciate the idea of a good adventure.” Nasa and other scientists will be watching and analysing the eclipse from telescopes the ground and in orbit, the International Space Station, airplanes and scores of high-altitude balloons, which will beam back live video. Citizen scientists will monitor animal and plant behaviour as daylight turns into twilight and the temperature drops. Nasa’s associate administrator for science missions, Thomas Zurbuchen, took to the skies for a dry run Sunday. He will usher in the eclipse over the Pacific Coast from a NASA plane. “Can’t wait for the cosmic moment Mon morning,” he tweeted. Near Victoria, British Columbia, where 91 per cent of the sun will be eclipsed, science and math teacher Clayton Uyeda is planning to watch from a ferry along with his wife. He said he is “expecting to have a real sense of connection with the heavens.” He has similarly lofty hopes for his students if they can bring themselves to look up at the sky instead of down at their electronic devices. Scientists everywhere agree with Uyeda: Put the phones and cameras down and enjoy the greatest natural show on Earth with your own (protected) eyes. The only time it’s safe to look directly without protective eyewear is during totality, when the sun is 100 per cent covered. Otherwise, keep the solar specs on or use pinhole projectors that can cast an image of the eclipse. The next total solar eclipse in the US will be in 2024. The next coast-to-coast one will not be until 2045.