It may be difficult for some people to view the solar eclipse as cloudy weather will interrupt viewing parties across the US.
The first solar eclipse since 2017 has caused hysteria among about 34 million people, who are expected to reach the path of totality on Monday.
Stretching across the northeastern US, the moon will cast its shadow, blanketing the sky from Texas to Boston in darkness. Depending on the location, the astronomical event is predicted to occur in the afternoon, but the exact time varies by location.
Monday’s solar eclipse could be blocked by cloudy weather for some in the path of totality
Scientist Bill Nye called the solar eclipse a ‘swath of darkness’ that is a ‘spectacular thing’
While some locations along the trail will have a clear view of the spectacle, other places, such as Kansas, Missouri and East Texas, will be challenged by cloudy conditions.
AccuWeather meteorologist Joe Lundberg said, “Other areas of poor visibility conditions will extend from Wisconsin west through South Dakota and Nebraska to Washington and Oregon.”
There is also room for similar weather to interrupt the eclipse in western and central Pennsylvania and New York. Clouds may form in Chicago, Kansas City, Indianapolis and St. Louis in time for the afternoon showing.
Scientist Bill Nye called the solar eclipse a “band of darkness” that is “spectacular.”
He told MSNBC that this eclipse is ‘special’ because it was expected to pass over North America.
‘The special thing about earthly life, about life here on this planet, is our satellite, the moon. I like this word: ‘oppressed.’
“It blocks the same width of the sky as the sun.”
Besides clouds blocking the great view, there is also room for passing rain and thunderstorms.
There is also a chance of more intense storms that could bring hail, strong winds and flooding on the day of the eclipse.
But for many who aren’t in the path of storm clouds, Nye said to enjoy it — even if there are people living along the places where only a partial eclipse can be seen.
“So it’s cool and enjoy it, but if you can get on the trail, that’s great,” Nye added.
While the solar eclipse is taking place, NASA announced Three Black Brant IX rockets will be launched from the Wallops Flight facility launch pad in Virginia.
Around 2:40 PM on Monday, the rockets are expected to lift off about 45 minutes before, during and after the local solar eclipse.
For the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path mission, the rockets will investigate how “Earth’s upper atmosphere is affected when sunlight temporarily dims over part of the planet,” NASA said.
The eclipse will spread 185 miles from Maine to Texas on Monday, but astronomers say the path of totality has shifted by 2,000 feet
Spectators watching the last solar eclipse in August 2017 from Bernal Heights Hill in San Francisco
At the Houston Museum of Natural Science, children look up at the July 1991 eclipse in Houston. One of them wears a welding helmet to shield his eyes from the sun
Each rocket will be launched at different times: the first at 2:40 PM, the second at 3:20 PM and the last at 4:05 PM.
Some may be able to see the rockets launching in the mid-Atlantic, depending on the weather.
Spectators have been reminded to buy special glasses for the solar eclipse as the brightness of the sun can cause eye damage.
“The disk of the moon blocks the disk of the sun and all you want to do is stare at it,” Nye said.
“And that’s how you hurt your eyes.”
As with any solar eclipse, it is important not to look directly at the Sun with the naked eye during the event, even through sunglasses, binoculars or a telescope.
You can buy viewing glasses for a solar eclipse online. Special sunscreens are also an option and are considered much safer.
Recently, the path of the eclipse shifted by about 2,000 feet as viewers on the edge of the path were advised to move closer to the center.
Amateur astronomer John Irwin has released a new map of the 115-mile path from Maine through Texas, showing that the path has changed about 2,000 feet.
The updated calculation has suggested that people in places like Rome, New York, Effingham, Illinois and some parts of Fort Worth, Texas will no longer have a perfect view of the eclipse.
While many people are expected to see the eclipse, hundreds of thousands of viewers will now be left out of the direct path and unable to view the event.
Spectators have been reminded to buy special glasses for the solar eclipse as the brightness of the sun can cause eye damage
A new map of Airbnb bookings shows how desperate people are to find suitable accommodation to view the solar eclipse – with orange dots showing 100% occupancy and blue dots showing just 10% occupancy
While not everyone will be able to see it, some have taken matters into their own hands and made sure they will see the eclipse.
A map of Airbnb bookings in the US has revealed just how much hysteria over the solar eclipse has swept the country.
Experts estimate that millions more Americans will travel for this upcoming solar eclipse, with totality beginning in Dallas, Texas, around 1:40 PM and lasting until 1:44 PM CDT.
More than 20 million people in the US traveled to another location to observe the previous solar eclipse, which took place in 2017.
This widespread increase in interest in the solar eclipse has been good for Airbnb, which appears poised to cash in on the solar craze.
The app, which offers short- and long-term accommodation, reported at the end of February that they had recorded a “1000% increase in searches for stays along the solar eclipse path of totality in the US.”
To meet the flood of skygazers, more than a thousand new Airbnb hosts “are planning to welcome guests for the first time to meet demand.”
Within the path of totality, the cities that will receive the most visitors are Austin and Indianapolis, followed by Cleveland, Dallas and Montreal.
Most travelers come from New York City or Mexico City.