Those that look to the stars for meaning will not have to look far on August 21, 2017. That's because the first total solar eclipse in the past 99 years will occur over the entire lower 48 States. Millions of Americans will be able to drive to a point at which they'll be able to see the sun disappear.
"August 21, 2017, may turn out to be the most popular vacation-day request in history," Michael Bakich writes in Astronomy magazine.
The Washington Post has a guide to where you'll be able to easily see the event.
"The sun will disappear for about 2½ minutes, beginning in Oregon about 10:15 a.m. local time; the phenomenon will move eastward, ending an hour and a half later in South Carolina. In between, the eclipse will be visible from Grand Teton and the Great Smoky Mountains national parks, from St. Louis and Kansas City and Charleston, S.C., and all points in between."
The eclipse's path will travel from the northwest to the southeast; you can view the exact path of the phenomenon here. Perhaps the coolest aspect of the eclipse will be the color it bathes everything in. Essentially, the light will be equivalent to a 360-degree sunset. A super-magic-hour, if you will.
If you want to tempt madness and look directly at the eclipse, make sure you have proper eyewear. That means optical Mylar or #14 Welder's glass. Both are available for only a few dollars. You should also make sure not to look right at the eclipse except during totality.
Read the rest of Bakich's guide to the eclipse here.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
This Is How You Do A 3-Day Weekend
Flights To Cuba Are Just $54 — But Only For A Very Limited Time