Next Monday, August 21, 2017, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun. It is one of nature’s rarest and most awe-inspiring sights – where the moon covers the sun and the sun’s tenuous atmosphere , the corona, can be seen.

The path where the eclipse can been seen in totality will stretch from Salem, Oregon all the way to Charleston, South Carolina.

Here in Southern California, we’ll only see a partial solar eclipse, but it will still be significant.  Beginning around 9:05 am, it will at first look like a small bite was taken out of the top of the sun. That bite will get larger as the moon moves in its orbit. At 10:21 am, we will see the maximum eclipse, and by 11:45, it will be over.

If you’re planning to watch the eclipse, or if you are visiting Forest Lawn at the time, experts caution you not to look at the sun without proper equipment. Looking at the sun without solar eclipse glasses or an indirect viewer such as a pinhole camera can sunburn your eyes potentially damaging the cornea and retina. You can obtain solar eclipse glasses in stores or online, or you can make a homemade pinhole camera.

Want to learn more about this exciting phenomenon coming to Southern California on Monday, August 21?  A great website with safety tips, interactive maps, facts, information on how to make a pinhole camera and much more is www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov.

Be safe and enjoy one of Mother Nature’s special treats!