In Charlottesville today, the sky remains an untainted blue as residents prepare to witness a spectacle of the skies. Between the hours of 2:00 and 4:30 PM, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across central Virginia, reaching about 86% totality at 3:17 this afternoon.
For days now, people from all over the nation have trekked to America’s heartland in order to catch a glimpse of the sight. From the pinelands of Northern Maine to the dusty Plains of central Texas, the path of total eclipse will snuff out the sunshine for every watching eye. Lodging prices have soared in the surrounding area—enabling even traditional, economy motels such as Super 8 to charge rates as high as $949 a night.
Here in the Shenandoah valley, local organizations have planned viewing parties in a number of towns. At UVA, the Astronomy Club will be hosting an event on the South Lawn from 1:30 to 4:30 PM. Food and beverages will be offered as well as official “Eclipse Glasses” for the first 1500 students to arrive. In addition, UVA’s state of the art McCormick Observatory will be open for the afternoon viewing.
Be sure to find yourself a pair of Eclipse Glasses to ensure your vision remains properly protected. Local retail stores and pharmacies across the city usually have them for sale at the check out counter. Simply wearing sunglasses won’t do the trick. Make sure your pair of Eclipse glasses “meet the international standard, ISO 12312-2″ (usually written on the somewhere on the glasses themselves ) to keep out harmful radiation.
For the first time since 2017 and the last time until 2044, North America will experience a total solar eclipse. Despite only allowing for 86% visibility, the conditions in Charlottesville couldn’t be better. Be sure to step out of the air-conditioned indoors and take in the sunshine…that is, of course, until it disappears.
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