Career Girls

Get ready for a rare and breathtaking event on August 21st, when the Moon will block at least part of the Sun’s light across the entire continental United States. Although an eclipse of the Sun occurs on average once every 18 months somewhere on Earth, you’ll be lucky to see a total solar eclipse from a specific location on Earth once in a lifetime! This is because the Moon’s shadow travels in a narrow band across the Earth as the Moon’s orbit around the Earth passes in front of the Sun. 

 

An eclipse can last for hours, measured from the time the Moon starts to cover the Sun. If you’re fortunate enough to be in the narrow band of totality, at maximum coverage the Moon will completely block the light from the Sun for a short period of time (about a couple of minutes). Under clear skies, the sky will grow dark and bright stars will appear. The temperature will drop dramatically and animals will suddenly become quiet. All of a sudden, you see long tendrils of the Sun’s atmosphere forming a halo around the black “hole” where the Sun was an instant earlier! 

 

A total solar eclipse offers astronomers the opportunity to learn more about the Sun’s atmosphere, and it offers everyone the chance to experience one of nature’s most remarkable events. It is ONLY safe to look at the Sun directly without special eye protection during totality, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun. If even a small portion of the Sun is visible, it’s extremely important to use certified eclipse eyewear to look directly at the Sun or use an indirect method to view the Sun. The Adler Planetarium’s web site has lots of great information about solar eclipses and tips on safe solar viewing. 

 

During my lifetime, I’ve tried to see a total solar eclipse on two previous occasions – from Mexico in 1991, and from France in 1999. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate either time! So where will I be on August 21st , 2017? My family and I will be ready to “hop” between airports in southern Illinois in a twin-engine airplane. If it looks like there’ll be clouds at one location, we’ll be ready to relocate quickly. I’m hoping that “third time’s a charm,” and I’ll finally get to witness this awesome spectacle!

 

Grace Wolf-Chase, Ph.D.

Dr. Wolf-Chase is an astronomer at the Adler Planetarium, and a long-time Career Girls role model. Watch Dr. Wolf-Chase's videos and learn how to prepare for a career as an astronomer!

 

 

This eclipse map that shows the times and path of the Moon’s shadow across the US on August 21st, as well as the fraction of the Sun that will be covered by the Moon at maximum coverage for different locations in the US.