
The total solar eclipse that will pass over the United States on Aug. 21 will bring with it an astonishing event.
The total solar eclipse happening over the United States this summer will be a truly astonishing event on its own, but something else will take place during it that will make it an incredibly spooky event. That’s because when the sun slowly dims and goes dark on Aug. 21 for a couple minutes, the temperatures will plunge by perhaps as much as 30 degrees, creating an eerie chill in the air.
The entire United States will see at least a partial solar eclipse, but a narrow band stretching from Oregon to South Carolina will see a total eclipse, and it could be a truly one of a kind experience. Back during the 1834 total solar eclipse, temperatures dived by 28 degrees, going from 78 to 50 degrees. While the temperature drop will depend very much on location and other factors, it experts believe it will be like going from temperatures during midday to temperatures at sunset, all in a span of minutes.
So if you’re planning to visit an area where the total solar eclipse is occurring, be prepared for a truly eerie and awe-inspiring event that will feel like space itself touching the Earth.
“On Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. Anyone within the path of totality can see one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights – a total solar eclipse,” NASA’s website states. “This path, where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s tenuous atmosphere – the corona – can be seen, will stretch from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina. Observers outside this path will still see a partial solar eclipse where the moon covers part of the sun’s disk. NASA created this website to provide a guide to this amazing event. Here you will find activities, events, broadcasts, and resources from NASA and our partners across the nation.”
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