First total solar eclipse in almost a century will plunge the United States into darkness on August 21 – TheLiberal.ie – Our News, Your Views

First total solar eclipse in almost a century will plunge the United States into darkness on August 21




A rare and wondrous astronomical event will be visible across the US on August 21.

On that date, a total solar eclipse will plunge vast swathes of the country into an unnatural darkness lasting for almost 2 minutes.

America will be thrown into a maw of obscurity as the Moon passes in between Earth and the Sun. During that period, the Sun’s corona will be clearly visible. The brighter stars and planets will also be discernible in the darkened sky.

The event, the first total solar eclipse in the US since 1979 and the first coast-to-coast solar event since 1918, will be visible around the country for a total of 2 hours, coast-to coast.

NASA’s aircraft and spacecraft will be on stand-by to film and photograph the event.

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