The last time most Americans experienced a total solar eclipse was 1991. In 2017, an estimated 500 million people will be able to observe the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse, in partial or total form: 391 million in the U.S., 35 million in Canada, and 119 million in Mexico (plus Central America and parts of South America and northwestern Europe) . This is a golden opportunity to observe one of nature’s most exciting splendors and to engage and educate diverse audiences in the U.S. and internationally, using a backdrop of this amazing celestial event coupled with NASA unique assets.
Already there is great excitement and planning underway for the eclipse. A quick Google search on “eclipse 2017”, for example, yielded over 35 million hits! Numerous planning meetings are now being held within universities, K-12 institutions, museums, civic groups, and amateur astronomy clubs around the nation and abroad. Where will you be on August 21, 2017? What will you be doing for the eclipse? This website has many suggestions for safe eclipse viewing, eclipse parties, activities, and experiments you can do.
