An astronomer is offering a tip for those planning to take in Monday's total solar eclipse. Doctor Rick Fienberg has experienced a dozen total solar eclipses around the globe, which means he knows a thing or two about how to observe them safely. He stressed that people have specialized glasses to see the eclipe on Monday.
The spectacular event will begin Monday at 10:15 a.m. Pacific time, just south of Portland, Oregon. The eclipse will sweep eastward along a 70-mile-wide path across Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska and the northeast corner of Kansas. It will then darken skies over Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee before passing over Georgia and the Carolinas on its way toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Rochelle Fire Chief Dave Sawlsville said that the eclipse should hit the area at around 1:20 Monday afternoon.
Sawlsville is currently in Carbondale where the eclipse is expected to be at 100%. He is working with the state medical team along with area EMS officials in southern Illinois.
Up to 300,000 people are expected to be near the city of Carbondale this weekend and on Monday.
