Solar Eclipse Viewing Party

Unless you live along the “path of totality” (a 70-mile-wide ribbon crossing the U.S.) or are perhaps among the estimated 7.4 million people expected to invade Nashville, Kansas City and hundreds of unassuming (and quite possibly unprepared) “solar eclipse boom towns,” you won’t be experiencing a total eclipse of the sun on Monday. That being said, everyone in North America and parts of South America, Africa and Europe can at least see a partial solar eclipse — and that money shot along the path of totality will only last about two minutes. The first total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous U.S. since 1979 (and the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse since 1918), the rare celestial event makes for a great excuse to visit a state park (Guadalupe River State Park, Bastrop State Park and South Llano River State Park are all hosting viewing parties), a wide open space or a local treasure like the Scobee Education Center. Situated on the campus of San Antonio College, Scobee will be prepared for the occasion with solar telescopes, safety viewing glasses and pin-hole viewers as well as family-friendly activities, barbecue and tacos from Most Wanted Smokers and shaved ice from Flamingo Rey’s. Regardless of where you watch it, it’s essential to protect your eyes and sunglasses won’t do the trick — pick up free safety glasses from Central Library or Pan American Library (while supplies last), or order NASA-approved “Eclipse Glasses” or handheld viewers from one of the vendors listed at eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety.