Eclipse Map

The August 21 total solar eclipse that will be seen across the continental United States is being described as an "event of the century". Given the rarity of solar eclipses, especially in the U.S., it will be.

The best map I've seen so far that shows the path of the eclipse is in the EclipSmart Solar Shades kit by Celestron that arrived in the mail yesterday. It is in the Solar Eclipse Observing Guide that came was included in the kit.

I am heading up to the Idaho Falls, Idaho area to experience the eclipse. (Just hope the skies are clear that day.) I recommend getting one of these kits. I got mine from Adorama through Amazon.com.

Here's the map:

Celestron EclipSmart Kit Arrived

Above, the Celestron EclipSmart Solar Shades Sun and Eclipse Observing Kit. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Celestron EclipSmart Solar Shades Sun and Eclipse Observing Kit has arrived.

I ordered it last week through Amazon.com. The dealer that I bought the kit from turned out to be Adorama, a big name dealer in photography and astronomy equipment. I became aware of Adorama back in the 1980s when I subscribed to a couple of photography magazines.

The Solar Eclipse Observing Guide that came with four solar shades is by Fred and Patricia Espenak. Fred is a retired astrophysicist from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and was the agency's expert on eclipses and has authored several books.

His wife Patricia is a retired chemistry teacher and amateur astronomer.

The Guide includes:

Science & history of solar eclipses, fun facts for the entire family, helpful hints and safe viewing tips, maps and diagrams, information on partial eclipses in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Now I am ready for viewing the eclipse when I head up to Idaho in August.