On July 24^th, Expert TA’s CEO, Dr Jeremy Morton, spoke with with Dr. Richard Gelderman about the upcoming solar eclipse that will be visible across the united states. Dr. Gelderman is a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Western Kentucky University and the director of the Hardin Planetarium.

During the interview Dr. Gelderman shared some of his personal experience and offered advice on how and where to watch the eclipse.  You can listen to the full interview here.

Key Takeaways

Will the Eclipse happen where I live?

This website is one of many that provide information about the path of the eclipse across the United States. Type in your Zip Code and this site will show you what percentage of the full eclipse your location will experience, and will let you know how far you will need to travel to see the total eclipse.

If I am not in the path of the total solar eclipse, should I try to travel in order to see it, or should I just view the partial eclipse?

If it is reasonable for you to travel, you should definitely consider it. Dr. Gelderman describes why this is such an incredible experience, and worth the travel time to take part in such a rare event.

What equipment do I need in order to watch the eclipse?

The short answer is Solar Viewers.  You can buy these in many retail stores and many places online. They cost about $8 per pair and they resemble the old cardboard frame 3D movie glasses. 

Important -- During the interview Dr. Gelderman recommends that you purchase Solar Viewers made by one of these three companies: Thousand Oaks, Rainbow Symphony, or American Paper Optics.

Solar Pinhole Projectors aren’t necessarily recommended. They are fine in theory, but ultimately people want to turn around and look up at the actual eclipse. For that you will need…. Solar Viewers.

 Anything Else?

Don’t worry about trying to watch the eclipse with magnification, or attempting to photograph the eclipse; unless you really know what you are doing it just isn't worth the effort. Enjoy the experience!