The Sun Isn't Yellow Or Orange; It's White
The sun's true color is almost pure white; it only appears to be amber near the horizon.
LEARN MOREJust How Popular Is August's Total Solar Eclipse Going To Be?
The 2017 total solar eclipse is expected to attract millions of people to its path across the U.S.
Just How Popular Is August's Total Solar Eclipse Going To Be?
NASA
June 19, 2017
On Monday, Aug. 21, it'll get dark during the day. For a few minutes, the moon will orbit perfectly between Earth and the sun and cause a total solar eclipse.
It's been 38 years since this last happened in the continental U.S., and this one will probably create even more of a buzz: Millions of people in 14 states will see the sun blacked out — and that's before we count the millions of others who will travel to see it.
"We don't have a precedent for this, so it's hard to predict," Dr. Angela Speck says.
Speck directs the astronomy department at the University of Missouri. She's been investigating just how popular this once-in-a-lifetime eclipse could be.
"Twelve million people live on the path of totality across the whole country," Speck says. "There are four times as many people that live within 100 miles. There are seven times as many people that live within 200 miles."
Any other day, most of these spots would be off the beaten path. In August, they'll be the best place for millions of people to see the event. Nearby cities and towns are bracing for huge crowds.
Experts will also join the temporary migrations. Eclipses aren't just a spectacle — they're a rare chance to investigate the sun, moon and our own weather.
So if you plan to travel, you might want to hurry. Hotel rooms in eclipse country are filling up and getting more expensive as August approaches.
Northern lights observed and could continue into the weekend
A coronal hole high-speed stream caused the northern lights to be visible in parts of the U.S., but could cause some issues with the power grid.
When you'll be able to see 5 planets align in the night sky
Five planets — Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Mars — will align on the evening of March 28.
Where 2 upcoming solar eclipses can be seen in the US
New NASA maps show who will have the best view of two major solar eclipse events in the next 13 months.
Top Stories
2:49
Donald Trump's threats toward Black prosecutors spark violence worries
Former President Donald Trump has verbally attacked two district attorneys and an attorney general, all of whom are investigating him.
8:05
No Rescue: Why animal shelter euthanasia is rising
A Scripps News investigation finds euthanasia rates are climbing at cramped animal shelters nationwide.
Disney appears to strip DeSantis' Reedy Creek board of power
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' chosen board to oversee a Disney government could be facing a legal battle, as reports say Disney stripped it of power.
