Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Brace yourself this one chance, come 21st August, if you don’t want to wait for seven more years to watch a stunning solar eclipse. The incredible sight that the eclipse bestows has people chasing destinations to not miss any facet of this occult or partial blocking of the sun. This year the event is even more special, owing to the fact that it is after twenty-six years that the moon will completely cover the sun, meaning this will be an out and out, total solar eclipse! Looking forward to this phenomenon are people or “eclipse chasers” who have planned ahead of time to visit these best places to watch solar eclipse 2017.

Listed below is a state-wise breakup of places across what is dubbed as “the path of totality”, along with the estimated and duration of the eclipse. This is a fairly thin strip of a path, stretching at some 70-odd miles in width. Estimated to have the best weather along with a favourable geographical location from where you can embrace this once in twenty-six years opportunity! All these places bequeath you with an opportunity to watch a total eclipse.

Oregon

Image Source: Pixabay.com

Oregon is the state that will have the honour of the first rays of the solar eclipse touching it. No landmass will experience the phenomenon before Oregon does. The best places to look forward to watching the total eclipse are the Oregon SOLARFEST in Madras and the event being organized by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Other places to look out for include-

1. Newport

Time: 10:15AM; Duration: 1 minute, 50 seconds 

2. Salem

Time: 10:17AM; Duration: 1 minute, 54.5 seconds

Additionally, the cities of Dallas, Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon, Philomath, McMinnville and Woodburn too will see the total eclipse. 

Idaho

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The beautiful region characterized by the flourishing River Snake is one place to watch for viewing the solar eclipse. Extremely clear weather is predicted in the state making the experience further anticipating. With an altitude of 12,688 feet, the Borah Peak, can be an unparalleled destination to watch the eclipse. Other places include- 

Idaho Falls

Time: 11:33AM; Duration: 1 minutes, 49 seconds 

Additionally, the cities of Stanley, Mackay and Rexburg too will see the total eclipse.

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Wyoming

Image Source: Pixabay.com

With some of the nation’s most scenic national parks, the Yellowstone and the Grand Teton, Wyoming boasts of a plethora of places you can look out for watching a solar eclipse. The eclipse here, owing to dramatically beautiful geographical terrains is said to be highly elaborate. Check out these places in Wyoming for watching Solar Eclipse 2017-

1. Grand Teton National Park

Time: 11:35AM; Duration: 2 minutes, 20 seconds

2. Pavillion

Time: 11:38AM; Duration: 2 minutes, 23 seconds

3. Shoshoni

Time: 11:39AM; Duration: 2 minutes, 23 seconds

4. Riverton

Time: 11:38AM; Duration: 2 minutes, 23 seconds

5. Casper

Time: 11:43AM

Nebraska

Image Source: Kelly Delay/Flickr

As if being divided into two equal parts, the Path of Totality crosses Nebraska almost through its exact centre. There is not a lot of vegetation in the area so you can watch the eclipse in all its clarity. The western part of the state is especially estimated to have a very clear weather. Check out these places you can look forward to watching the solar eclipse in Nebraska- 

1. Alliance

Time: 11:49AM; Duration: 2 minutes, 30 seconds 

2. Scottsbluff

Time: 11:48AM; Duration: 1 minutes, 43 seconds

3. North Platte

Time: 12:54PM CDT; Duration: 1 minute, 40 seconds

4. Stapleton

Time: 12:54PM CDT; Duration: more than 2 minutes, 30 seconds

5. Hastings

Time: 12:58PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 13 seconds

6. Grand Island

Time: 12:58PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 35 seconds

Missouri

Image Source: Branson Convention And Visitors Bureau/Flickr

This is the first state that the rays of the eclipse will hit characterized by a significant rise in population, as compared to the previous states. With cities like St Joseph bang on the middle of the Path of Totality, check out these other places too-

1. Kansas City

Time: 1:08PM

2. St. Joseph

Time: 1:06:26PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 38 seconds

3. Columbia

Time: 1:12PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 36 seconds

4. Jefferson City

Time: 1:14:19PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 29 seconds

5. Saint Clair

Time: 1:15:40PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 40 seconds

6. Carrollton

Time: 1:09PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 37 seconds

7. Marshall

Time: 1:10PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 39 seconds

8. Lathrop

Time: 1:07:42PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 39 seconds

Cities of St. Louis, Liberty and Excelsior Springs are going to be in the path. Check out some popular caves in Missouri.

Kentucky

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While western Kentucky is what will enjoy most of the solar eclipse totality, here’s a list of some places that boast of a good duration. The state is also considered to have the largest span of the eclipse, termed as the most exiting 2 minutes 40 seconds of astronomy. 

1. Paducah 

Time: 1:22PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 20 seconds

2. Eddyville

Time: 1:23PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 39 seconds

3. Hopkinsville

Time: 1:24:41PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 40 seconds

4. Franklin

Time: 1:26:48PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 26 seconds

5. Russellville

Time: 1:26PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 29 seconds

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Tennessee

Image Source: Tim Creque/Flickr

Home to the largest city, Nashville that will experience the total solar eclipse among all places, Tennessee is gearing up for the event in an extravagant manner. Here’s a list of some more places-

1. Nashville

Time: 1:27PM; Duration: 1 minute, 54 seconds

2. Clarksville

Time: 1:25PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 17 seconds

3. Springfield 

Time: 1:26PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 36 seconds

4. Portland

Time: 1:27PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 37 seconds 

5. Westmoreland

Time: 1:27PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 28 seconds

6. Lebanon

Time: 1:28PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 24 seconds

7. Crossville

Time: 1:31PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 31 seconds

8. Dayton

Time: 2:31PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 21 seconds

North Carolina

Image Source: Mr.TinDC/Flickr

If you are looking forward to one place with brilliant eclipse celebrations, that too in the mountains of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park, you’ve got to visit the state of North Carolina. And if that’s too much for you, you can still check out these other venues-

1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Some part of the park at undetermined time 

2. Murphy 

Time: 2:34PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 26 seconds

3. Andrews 

Time: 2:38PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 38 seconds

4. Franklin

Time: 2:35PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 30 seconds

South Carolina

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

The state of South Carolina is where the solar eclipse will leave the continent. After having travelled for a good 94 minutes from Oregon, the eclipse exits USA from this state. The state holds more significance owing to the fact that it lies in a highly populated region, plus there will be people from states like Florida coming to see the eclipse here. Some cities to look forward to for eclipse events include- 

1. Greenville

Time: 2:38PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 14 seconds

2. Greenwood

Time: 2:39PM; Duration: 2 minutes, 28 seconds

3. Charleston

Time: 2:00PM; Duration: 1 minute, 33 seconds 

If you do not live in any of the above-mentioned places, you might want to hurry up and book a hotel as they are selling out! Keep the following tips of solar eclipse safety precautions in mind as you bask the eclipse’s beauty-

• Never, ever look at the sun with open eyes
• Do not rely on popular methods of viewing solar eclipses like x-ray films, camera filters, smoked glass or even sunglasses
• Opt for special eclipse glasses or solar filters

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