The 2017 total solar eclipse that is approaching in August 21st, will be attracting a huge audience. The path that the solar eclipse will be taking is a 65-mile-wide path from Oregon to South Carolina. This is a very rare and beautiful opportunity if you safely participate in the event. What is the total solar eclipse you ask? A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, causing darkness in different portions of the Earth. This beautiful rare moment can be seen from anywhere in the United States according to NASA.

There are many things to consider on the day of the total solar eclipse, some important things to know to be prepared for this event are the science behind it, safety and when and where to see it.

The Science

During the total solar eclipse, the moon's disk will block out the light from the sun, causing the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere to become visible. Including the corona, you will also likely to be able to see other parts, including helmet streamers, the thin red ring of the chromosphere, and maybe a few prominences. So during and after totality, the moon causes a shadow and cloak of darkness that people watching will see move towards them and across the landscapes. This is an amazing moment which to many people will be jaw dropping and it's encouraged to be a part of something so spectacular, and in order to do so, viewers are recommended to watch the explore safely.

Safety

Knowing that looking directly at the sun on a normal day isn't good for your eyesight, it's obvious that you shouldn't do that on a total solar eclipse day either. The only way you can look directly at the partially eclipsed or uneclipsed sun safely is if you wear special purpose solar filter glasses or hand-held solar viewers. Using ordinary sunglasses won't be safe because during this event the sun will transmit thousands of times more sunlight. If you don't participate directly, the sun could cause serious injury to your eyes or even blindness.

When and where to see it

Like mentioned above, the total solar eclipse will be a 65-mile-wide path from Oregon to South Carolina. It passes through Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. The duration of the eclipse will depend on where you are inside the path of totality. In an article from TIME, you can enter any location and see an animation of the eclipse.

The best place to gain the most accurate information is the official website for the 2017 total solar eclipse. There are further instructions that readers can learn about the event which will be handy during the watch. The next time a total solar eclipse that will be visible from the U.S. will be in 2024 when the path will pass by the skies above Mexico and Texas, and through the Midwest and northeastern U.S.