The Best Time to View the 2017 Solar Eclipse in Cedar Rapids

A total solar eclipse will make its way across the United States on Monday, August 21! For a few moments the sky will darken, the stars will appear, and people all over the U.S. will be in awe.

The moon will completely cover the sun creating a total solar eclipse. Not to be confused with a lunar eclipse where the earth falls in between the sun and the moon, making the moon go dark. Even though the eclipse can be seen from everywhere, a TOTAL solar eclipse will only be seen the path outlined below via a map graphic provided by NASA.

As you can see from the map above, the total solar eclipse doesn't appear in Iowa. According to Vox.com, the "totality" (where the sun is completely blocked by the moon) is about 70 miles wide. To see what kind of a view you're going to get based on your area, follow this link and type in your zip code.

As you can see from the snapshot below, if you're within the zip code 52404 in Cedar Rapids you'll have a pretty good view! The peak will be around 1:12 p.m. and the moon will block out about 92% of the sun. If you want to see a total solar eclipse, you'll need to travel about 170 miles southwest.

The data from the animations are based on data provided by the United States Naval Observatory.

And this probably goes without saying, but you shouldn't stare into the sun on this day. Get yourself some protective glasses!

[Vox.com, NASA.gov]