Solar eclipse 2024: When and where to watch the phenomenon
>>> TOMORROW AFTERNOON MILLIONS >>> TOMORROW AFTERNOON MILLIONS OF YOU WILL GET OUT THOSE SPECIAL GLASSES TO WATCH THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE AS IT PASSES FROM THE PACIFIC COAST OF MEXICO, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND UP INTO CANADA. THE LUCKIEST AMONG YOU WILL SEE THE ECLIPSE WITHIN THE PATH
OF TOTALITY, WHERE THE MOON COVERS THE SUN COMPLETELY, THE SKY GOES DARK, AND THE STARS COME OUT. NBC’S PRISCILLA THOMPSON TELLS US WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN OUR “SUNDAY FOCUS.” >>> JUST DAYS AWAY — >> FROM THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE. >> VISIBILITY OUTLOOK FOR MONDAY — >> Reporter:
IN A DIVIDED NATION, THERE SEEMS TO BE ONE THING EVERYONE CAN AGREE ON. HOW EXCITED ARE YOU FOR THE BIG ECLIPSE? >> YEAH, IT WILL BE FUN. IT WILL BE FUN. >> I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR YEARS. >> YOU CAN LOOK UP, YOU CAN SEE IT OF
IT’S RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU. >> Reporter: TOMORROW CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS THE U.S. WILL DESCEND INTO DARKNESS FOR UP TO 4 1/2 MINUTES AT A TIME AS THE MOON PASSES BETWEEN THE SUN AND THE EARTH. THE PATH OF TOTALITY WILL BE MORE THAN 100 MILES WIDE
AND STRETCH ACROSS 15 STATES FROM TEXAS TO MAINE. MOST ECLIPSES HAPPEN OUT OF SIGHT OVER THE OCEAN, BUT SINCE THIS ONE IS PASSING RIGHT OVER THE HEART OF THE
PARTIAL ONE. HOW MEANINGFUL IS THIS? >> ASTRONOMERS ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE ECLIPSE BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A RARE EVENT. >> Reporter: MICHAEL IS AN ASTROLOGIST WHO STUDIES THE SUN AT THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTE. >> THERE ARE MYSTERIES ABOUT THE PART OF THE SUN CALLED THE CORONA. THIS IS
THE PART OF THE SUN MOST VISIBLE TO US DURING THE ECLIPSE THIS WISPY UPPER ATMOSPHERE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. >> Reporter: THE ECLIPSE IS SETTING OFF A TRAVEL FRENZY. >> PEOPLE COMING FROM JAPAN, FINLAND, NORWAY, SWITZERLAND — >> Reporter: ALL OVER. >> UK. >> Reporter: IN GRAPEVINE,
THERE ARE ECLIPSE-THEMED BURGERS AND DRINKS. SMALL TOWN BUSINESS OWNERS BRACE FOR THE INFLUX OF TOURISTS AND AN ECONOMIC BOOM. HOW ARE YOU PREPARING? >> WE’RE JUST STOCKING UP. EVERYTHING WE HAVE WE’VE DOUBLED OUR ORDERER. >> Reporter: HOTELS AND HOME RENTALS IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY
SOLD OUT DESPITE BIG PRICE HIKES. THE ORANGE DOTS SEEN HERE SHOWING 100% OCCUPANCY. PRICES FOR AIRFARE AND CAR RENTALS SOARING AS WELL. HOW BIG OF A BOON FOR BUSINESSES HERE? >> WE’LL HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO HAVE ALL THESE VISITORS HERE SHOPPING, EATING
AT THE AMAZING RESTAURANTS, HAVING LOTS OF FUN. >> Reporter: THE REAL FUN SET TO KICK OFF JUST AFTER 1:00 P.M. EASTERN ON MONDAY AS MILLIONS FIX THEIR EYES ON THE SKY WITH ONE IMPORTANT ACCESSORY. >> WE’VE GOT THESE SPECIAL ECLIPSE GLASSES. I’LL PUT MINE ON RIGHT NOW, THAT
PROTECT OUR EYES. >> Reporter: A GLIMPSE AT SOMETHING THAT LIKELY WON’T BE SEEN IN THE U.S. FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS, CONNECTING US ALL IF ONLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS IN TIME. >> THE ECLIPSE IS SOMETHING I THINK EVERYBODY CAN APPRECIATE ABOUT THE UNIVERSE AND TELLS US WE REALLY
BELONG TO SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER THAN US AS MILLIONS STARE UP AT THE SAME COSMIC DELIGHT. IT WILL PROVIDE THAT UNIFYING FORCE FOR US. >> AND PRISCILLA JOINS ME NOW LIVE. OOS PEOPLE MAKE THE FINAL PLANS TO SEE THE ECLIPSE, HOW IS THE WEATHER LOOKING TOMORROW IN THAT
PATH OF TOTALITY? >> Reporter: WILLIE, GOOD MORNING. THAT PATH OF TOTALITY BEGINS HERE IN TEXAS, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE LOOKING AT A LOT OF CLOUD COVER THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE FOR OPTIMAL VIEWING AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO STRETCH INTO ARKANSAS AND LOUISIANA. BUT A BIT OF
GOOD NEWS, THE STORMS THAT ARE EXPECTED WILL NOT ROLL IN HERE UNTIL AFTER THE ECLIPSE. NOW AS FOR THE EASTERN SEABOARD, THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE THERE, BUT THEY’RE ALSO DEALING WITH INCREASED CLOUD COVER OVER PARTS OF THE GREAT LAKES INCLUDING CLEVELAND AND BUFFALO. NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND
REMAINS THE CLEAREST PLACE TO WATCH THE ECLIPSE WITH FOLKS WATCHING FROM MAINE, VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE LIKELY TO GET AN EXCELLENT VIEW. WILLIE? >> IT’S VERY EXCITING. I HAVE TO RUN OUT AND GET MY LAST-MINUTE GLASSES. PRISCILLA THOMPSON IN TEXAS THIS MORNING, THANKS SO MUCH. NBC NEWS WILL
BRING YOU SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE OF THE BIG EVENT
