A Complete Guide to the Solar Eclipse

If Monday, August 21st isn’t on your calendar, get ready to mark it down!

For the first time in decades, America is going to witness a coast-to coast solar eclipse. This rarity – deemed the Great American Eclipse – is a unique event in which the moon will completely cover the sun, causing darkness across the country.

Since Georgia will have an up-close view of the eclipse, I wanted to pass along some helpful information I’ve gathered in preparation for the big day.

Eclipse Path: Not all areas of the country will experience a total eclipse. In fact, just a 70 mile wide path from Oregon to South Carolina are in the “path of totality”, with other areas of the country experiencing varying degrees depending on their distance from the path. View the overall eclipse map here and learn more about the path projection here.

Your View: Curious what the eclipse will be like where you live? Enter your zip code in this interactive site for a detailed report, or use this simulator to see how clear the skies are expected to be from your location.

Safety: Looking directly at the sun during an eclipse can result in permanent eye damage, making it imperative that certified safety glasses are worn. Learn more about eclipse safety and where to obtain approved glasses here. And don’t forget that you can receive free eclipse glasses from designated Metro Atlanta libraries in August!

School Delays: Contact your local school to confirm their schedule for August 21st. Some schools (Gwinnett, Cobb and Marietta) have already announced delayed dismissals in preparation for the afternoon eclipse.

If you want to learn even more about the solar eclipse, NASA and Space.com are great resources with up-to-date information.