Two Minutes of Darkness
On August 21, an eclipse will sweep across the United States, from the redwood forests of Oregon to the shores of South Carolina. Read The Atlantic’s coverage here.
Will Trump Take Notice of the Eclipse?
Previous presidents and political leaders have joined in the rare cosmic spectacle, but the president has no eclipse plans so far.
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Edgar Su / Reuters The Procrastinator’s Guide to Cosmic Marvel
So you want to see the total eclipse ...
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Vasily Fedosenko / Reuters Is the Solar Eclipse a Message From God?
Some communities are anticipating the two-minute astronomical event through the lens of faith.
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Yannis Behrakis / Reuters The Eclipse Conspiracy
Something doesn’t add up.
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Albeiro Lopera / Reuters Should You Try to Take a Photo of the Total Eclipse?
The cosmic event may be fleeting, but your friends’ reactions will be worth capturing.
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What Scientists Have Learned from Eclipses
Under the moon’s shadow, humans have created both grand myths and scientific breakthroughs.
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Send Us Your Eclipse Viewing Party Pictures
On August 21, the Great American Eclipse will sweep the country from coast to coast, covering the land below in…
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Khaled Desouki / Stringer / Getty Small Towns Prepare to Cash In for the Solar Eclipse
People are charging astronomical prices to rent out their homes for those chasing the moon’s shadow.
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AP The Blue-Collar Eclipse
Finally, a spectacular celestial sight is accessible to all Americans, not just affluent globetrotters.
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Olga Dar / ostill / Shutterstock / Zak ... The Eclipse as Dark Omen
America’s skies are set to dim at a strange hour of its history.
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New York Public Library The Eclipse That Made America Great
The solar eclipse of 1878 was a chance for the young nation’s scientists to finally shine.
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Jon Olav Nesvold / Stringer / Getty Annie Dillard's Classic Essay: 'Total Eclipse'
“Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him.”
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Phil Noble / Reuters Advice for Eclipse Newbies
Get your eclipse glasses and sunscreen ready.
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Paul Spella / The Atlantic How Blind Astronomers Will Observe the Solar Eclipse
Eclipses are a total sensory experience even for those who can’t see them.
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Alexander Demianchuk / Reuters The Largest Mass Migration to See a Natural Event Is Coming
This month’s solar eclipse is likely to put major pressures on infrastructure.
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NASA / Hinode / XRT Are Eclipse Goggles a Scam?
They’re essential for anyone who wants a direct view of the solar action—but knockoffs are dangerous, NASA warns.
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Beawiharta Beawiharta / Reuters What Are Your Eclipse Plans?
We want to know how you’re celebrating the celestial event of the summer.
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Beawiharta Beawiharta / Reuters Astronomers Are Using Ancient Eclipse Records to Solve a Cosmic Mystery
Babylonian tablets suggest that Earth’s rotation is slowing less than expected.
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Jay Pasachoff / NASA How Artists Have Depicted Eclipses Across History
In some cases, their paintings have improved our scientific understanding of these strange cosmic events.
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BlueRidgeKitties/Flickr How Cicadas, Squirrels, and Bees React to Solar Eclipses
What happens to animals when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun
