Preparing for the Total Eclipse

Lunar eclipses happen often, but many people miss getting to witness them because they happen at night. Solar eclipses, however, are a much bigger deal. On Monday, August 21, the sun will be blocked by the moon as it passes over the northwest, central and southeast United States (also called the path of totality). The sky will appear to darken slightly, and those with the right tools will be able to witness the phenomena first-hand. The last total solar eclipse in the United States occurred in February 1979, and the next one that partially crosses the U.S. will not come around again until April 8, 2024 (and it won’t be until 2045 that the rest of the country gets a chance to see it again)—so it’s a pretty big deal.

GET THE INFO

Check out diagrams such as this one created by NASA to determine what kind of visibility you will be able to get in your area. NASA also provides individual state maps to illustrate the path of totality as well. For an exact time, check out Wired’s Precision Eclipse Computation which will tell you when the eclipse begins, ends, and how long it will take. For quick reference, the states that will be able to view a total eclipse will be Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina.

HOW TO VIEW SAFELY

1. Eclipse Glasses: Now may be too late to find genuine glasses to see the eclipse (most vendors are sold out ahead of time). However, if you’re still out to find some, make sure they are authentic and ISO certified. (Vendors like Amazon have recently been paying close attention to the vendors selling unsafe glasses.) NASA has also donated many glasses for special viewing locations too, such as libraries, museums and schools.
2. Pinhole Projection: There are many ways to fashion a D.I.Y. pinhole projector, such as poking a small hole in some cardstock, allowing the sun to pass through and show the progress of the eclipsing sun on the ground or onto a wall. Or you can build one from things you might have laying around the house. Just note that you DO NOT look through the pinhole directly upward at the sun—that doesn’t do anything, and it is extremely harmful to your vision.
3. Live Streams: If you don’t have the right tools, the safest way to view the eclipse is in the in cool comfort of your own home or office. NASA, as well as many other scientific communities will be documenting the eclipse through live streams.

MAKE A PARTY OUT OF IT

With all of the details out of the way, now you can put together your own eclipse viewing party. Total eclipses are rare, and you may only have a few opportunities in your lifetime to witness one, so you might as well use it as an excuse to hang out with friends—and possibly consume some cannabis. The eclipse won’t be quick, and it should take about a few hours from start to finish, depending on where you live. With the in-between moments when you’re waiting for that exciting moment of totality, here’s a few things you can do.

1. Prepare some eclipse-themed edibles: The world is your oyster and if you’re into decorating, make some handcrafted infused-moon pies to consume at home before you head out to your eclipse viewing location. Don’t forget to also assemble easy snacks like Sun Chips or Orbitz chewing gum.
2. Choose some themed sativa strains: The eclipse happens in the morning for the west coast, and at midday for the east coast. Be sure to choose a strong, uplifting strain to keep you awake and excited, and preferably one named something like Satellite OG, Carl Sagan or Orion Nebula.
3. Entertain while you wait: Listen to a few space-tunes like “Rocket Man” by Elton John, or put on a screening of 2001: A Space Odyssey. Get creative with those references!