Americans are about to experience a solar eclipse.
On August 21, the entire US will be able to see at least a partial eclipse. The lucky people living along a 70-mile-wide streak of the country will be able to see a total solar eclipse – the moment when the moon crosses between the Earth and the sun, completely blocking out the sun's light.
Here's what that path looks like. The eclipse will start on the West Coast around 10:15 Pacific time, and then make its way east, hitting the East Coast around 2:45 p.m Eastern time. Cities that will get to see the total eclipse include: Salem, Oregon; Nashville, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina.
If you're interested in taking a road trip or happen to be near the totality area, the National Centers for Environmental Information listed some of the major cities that will get to see a total eclipse on August 21, what time they'll see it, and how cloudy that day has been historically.
Here's a map outlining the areas that will be likely be more or less cloudy at the time of the eclipse.
A word of warning for viewing the eclipse: don't look directly at the sun. There are solar filters designed to let you see the eclipse in a way that will keep your eyes from getting damaged.
SEE ALSO: Here's what the solar eclipse will look like from different cities around the US
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