Solar eclipse 2017 in the Hamptons: What to expect

On Monday, August 21, a solar eclipse is going to sweep the continental United States—and everyone’s talking about it. Recently, our sister site at Vox released an interactive tool that allows you to input your zip code and it will show how much of the eclipse you’ll see.

A solar eclipse is a big deal—and this is the first time one is coming to the US since 1979. You won’t be able to catch one again until 2024.

The major US cities that will see the most obscuration include Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Nashville, among others. Seattle is going to see over 90 percent obscuration of the sun, while DC will see over 80 percent obscuration.

On Long Island, we won’t see as much—but this is still going to be very much worth the watch. We’re going to see a partial solar eclipse with around 70 percent obscuration, depending on where exactly you are in the Hamptons.

The eclipse will last for about two and a half hours, getting started at 1:26 p.m. You might want to take your lunch break a bit late to check it out, as it will peak at 2:47 p.m. By 4:02 p.m., the eclipse will be complete.

It’s never safe to stare directly into the sun, even during a solar eclipse, but if you have special-purpose solar filters (otherwise known as “viewing glasses”) then you’ll be fine. NASA has provided us with some handy safety tips for watching the eclipse.

If you’re going to travel outside of the Long Island limits to get a more full effect, check out this clip from NASA to see which cities will be impacted the greatest. But be warned—Oregon is expected to see a full solar eclipse, and the state is anticipating millions of visitors for the event.

• A solar eclipse is coming to America. Here’s what you’ll see where you live. [Vox]
• Solar eclipse 2017: What we’ll see in Seattle [Curbed Seattle]
• D.C.’s solar eclipse: What to expect and when to expect it [Curbed DC]
• A guide to August’s rare total solar eclipse [SeattleMet]
• Total Eclipse 101 [NASA]
• First Time Seeing a Total Solar Eclipse? Check Out This Video from NASA [Space.com]