NASA has party tips to make this the best solar eclipse
NASA is ready to party.
On Aug. 21, 2017, for the first time since 1918, a total solar eclipse will cross the entire continental United States--and NASA just released a long list of things you can do to prepare for the big day.
The actual eclipse won't take that long: At the point of max totality in Carbondale, Illinois, the moon will block the sun for a full 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Elsewhere, it's about 2 minutes of celestial fun.
To make the most of this day party (the sun has to be out for the eclipse to happen--it starts around 9 a.m. on the Oregon coast and finishes up before 3 p.m. near Charleston, South Carolina), start with picking a location. NASA suggests one of its official viewing sites, or "local community centers, museums, observatories, parks or open fields."
If you can't make it IRL, get online. Many livestreams, online discussions (#Eclipse2017 is the hashtag to use), simulations, online videos, and animations will be there to entertain and educate you. The official NASA megacast comes out of Carbondale, where a 4.5-hour livestream will start at 11:45 a.m. ET. This is the best way to track the entire eclipse from start to finish.
For more low-tech party tips, NASA suggests poster contests, edible eclipse models, and using "triangles and proportions to create a shoebox eclipse simulator." You know, normal party activities.
One party recommendation can't be stressed enough: watching the eclipse with proper safety gear.
Sasha is a news writer at Mashable's San Francisco office. She's an SF native who went to UC Davis and later received her master's from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. She's been reporting out of her hometown over the years at Bay City News (news wire), SFGate (the San Francisco Chronicle website), and even made it out of California to write for the Chicago Tribune. She's been described as a bookworm and a gym rat.
