If you missed the total solar eclipse that bisected the continental United States in 2017, you have another shot to see this amazing phenomenon on July 2. All you have to do is travel to Chile or Argentina to see it. Once every 18 months or so, the moon aligns completely with the surface of the sun, casting a narrow shadow along the surface of the Earth.
People lucky enough to be in the path of the totality on July 2 will see a sublime sight (if it’s not cloudy): the entire face of the sun turned black by the moon, all surrounded by a glowing white light. That glowing white light is the solar corona, or atmosphere. And it’s only visible to our eyes during an eclipse. The upcoming eclipse might be particularly beautiful, as it will occur right before sunset. The peak of the eclipse, the totality, will last for around 2 minutes.
If you can’t see it in person, no worries. You’ll be able to watch it happen online.
