Why we talk so much and so loudly about the Solar Eclipses?

The last time most Americans experienced a total solar eclipse was 1991. This year on August 21, more than 500 million people will be able to observe the total solar eclipse, in partial or total form: 391 million in the U.S., 35 million in Canada, and 119 million in Mexico (plus Central America and parts of South America and northwestern Europe).

In 11 days, scientists will have a golden opportunity to observe one of nature’s most exciting splendors, and to pursue a number of unique science and engineering problems. The very dark color of the moon can be used to calibrate X-ray imagers to properly record the ‘zero signal’ state, while the eclipse will block out the disk of the sun letting the light from the mysterious inner corona within 100 km of the solar photosphere shine into various experiments for detailed study.

This Total Solar Eclipse is also a huge opportunity for amateur astronomers and lifelong learners to explore lunar features, solar activity, sun’s atmosphere, and to investigate extrasolar planets.

For the Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017 NASA has collected a number of the citizen science programs at every level from the most basic observations to publishable research opportunities in partnership with NASA and university scientists.

Numerous planning meetings are now being held within universities, K-12 institutions, museums, civic groups, and amateur astronomy clubs around the nation and abroad.

Already there is great excitement and planning underway for the eclipse. But if you want to experience the excitement of learning, and making real discoveries join NASA!

http://science.nasa.gov/citizenscientists/ (link is external)

If you want to participate in Citizen Science discussions and receive a newsletter devoted to CS activities across NASA, join the listserv at

https://lists.hq.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/nasa-solve (link is external)

Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017 will be visible in N. America, & S. America at 18:26:40 Pacific time and will last for 2m 40s.

Next Total Solar Eclipse will be on July 02, 2019 at 19:24:07 Pacific time and it will last for 04m33s in s Pacific, S. America [Total: s Pacific, Chile, Argentina]