On Monday, the U.S. will experience a rare solar eclipse that will pass through 15 states and be seen by over 31 million people. But what exactly is a solar eclipse? According to Bill Nye, an eclipse occurs when sunlight is blocked. When the earth’s shadow falls on the moon, it’s a lunar eclipse, but when the moon’s shadow falls on the earth, it’s a solar eclipse. Bill Nye, now CEO of the Planetary Society, explained this concept during his appearance on “CBS Mornings” from Fredericksburg, Texas, which is in the path of totality.
During a solar eclipse, the atmosphere is unique. The crickets start making noise, birds start chirping and a breeze can often be felt due to the cooling of the ground. It’s not like a ‘cloudy day’ dark,” Nye described. He emphasized the importance of wearing eclipse safety glasses for anyone planning to view the eclipse because these glasses are 100 times darker than regular sunglasses and can block out all light completely when shone through them.
Nye encouraged people to take in their surroundings and share their experience with others during this rare celestial event. He advised against using phones during the event and urged everyone to fully immerse themselves in the moment. NASA predicts that 99% of the population in North America will experience some sort of solar eclipse either partially or completely. The next total solar eclipses in North America are not expected until 2044 and 2045
