The “Great American Eclipse” sounds like a hit movie, but it is not. Many hotels in the United States reported having sold out spaces and fully booked rooms, reserved for space enthusiasts lined up to watch a momentous solar eclipse coming this August.
According to a report on Mashable, many hotels are fully booked especially in areas where the Total Solar Eclipse is bound to happen.
The report quoted NASA saying that the total solar eclipse starts in Oregon, particularly in Lincoln Beach. From that area, “the deep shadow of the moon” will transpire over the states of North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon.
The total solar eclipse is happening on the 21st of August and is ending at around 4:09 p.m. ET, according to the report.
For those who want to experience the full eclipse show, Mashable reminded everyone to head over to Carbondale, Illinois to witness the skies for two minutes and 40 seconds.
Total solar eclipse
In the legends, eclipses are seen as phenomena that relate to worshipping gods and religion. But scientifically, eclipses are an interaction between the moon, the Earth, and the sun in such fashion that they pass by each other in various position.
Mashable explained that in a solar eclipse, the moon passes through between the sun and the Earth, overshadowing part of the stars from the location.
A partial solar eclipse, on the other hand, is scientifically the passing by of the moon in front of the sun. From viewers watching this, the sun appears to have been bitten off.
While reports said that hotels are sold out in areas along the “line of totality,” Mashable also pointed out that someone hoping to see a glimpse can position himself or herself somewhere as long as the skies are clear for them to check the sky event.
Love a good read? Grab your cuppa for this one. ☕️ The Great American Eclipse of August 21, 2017 - What is ...https://t.co/MgWy0K5IiC
— Beauty Above Us (@beauty_above_us) July 31, 2017
What you need to prepare
Since it involves the sun and some radiation, what do viewers need to prepare?
Mashable also pointed out that expectations need to prepare total solar eclipse glasses to avoid radiation.
Whether or not there is a presence of a telescope at hand, it reportedly does not matter. Telescopes can be used to get good shots of the sky image. Binoculars can also come in handy with the same purpose as the telescopes.
Viewers can begin consulting experts on how to set up cameras on site.
NASA reminds on the use of protective gears, and they also provide a guide on how to prepare for this momentous event.
