Get Ready For The First Total Eclipse In 38 Years!

SHARE THIS

CBS News

A total solar eclipse is one of those things that many never get to see.  In fact, you might not have even been alive the last time one happened in North America.  It was February 26th, 1979 when the moon last fully blocked the sun.

That year, Jimmy Carter was President, Sony released the Walkman, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was in the 800’s, a gallon of gas cost about 83 cents, a new Toyota Corolla was about $3,700 and the average cost of a home was $58,000.

Times have changed, but now in 2017 could be your year.  On August 21st you may be lucky enough to witness this historic event.

We have the perfect places for you to set up camp if you want to check it out.

According to data collected by scientists, your best chance to view the eclipse is between Salem, Oregon and Charleston, South Carolina.  If you live in Nashville, Tennessee, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Greenville, South Carolina, Carbondale, Illinois, St. Joseph, Missouri, North Platte, Nebraska and Casper, Wyoming you have a good shot and seeing the eclipse, as long as the weather cooperates.

Be careful though, NEVER look directly at the eclipse, even using your cell phone.  You need to buy special glasses (make sure they aren’t cheap ripoffs)

Now, if you miss out this time around, don’t fret.  There is another total eclipse on April 8th, 2024, best seen between Central Texas and Cleveland, Ohio.

Check out this video we found from CBS News from the last total eclipse of the sun, featuring the late Walter Cronkite.

SHARE THIS