Two cartoon aliens play catch with the Moon in today's Google Doodle, celebrating the Great American Eclipse on August 21, 2017.
That's not how an eclipse works, but it is super-adorable. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, briefly blocking out the Sun's light as it passes. If you happen to be standing right in the center of the Moon's shadow on Earth, you'll experience a few minutes of total darkness in the middle of the day, a phenomenon astronomers call totality. Over seven million people have traveled to destinations along a 65-mile wide strip from Oregon to South Carolina to witness the big moment. If you're not in the path of totality, though, you can still witness a partial eclipse.
And you really, really don't want to miss it. The last time a solar eclipse cast its shadow across the whole breadth of the United States was in 1918, and it won't happen again until 2045 (although eclipse enthusiasts in some parts of the country are in for a treat in 2024). In case you're wondering when the very final showing of this astronomical spectacle will be, the answer is about a billion years from now.
To get ready for the big event, check on what time the eclipse will peak in your area and what sort of view you can expect. Don't look directly at the Sun unless you're wearing real eclipse glasses, and remember to protect your phone. If you're outside the Moon's shadow altogether, stuck indoors, or rained in, you can always catch NASA's livestream of the event.
If you want to amaze your friends with lots of nerdy eclipse trivia while you watch, you can read about
