Solar Eclipse In Reston: What It's Going To Be Like Here

RESTON, VA — The Great American Solar Eclipse will happen exactly one month from today, and although Reston isn't in the "path of totality," we're still going to get a pretty spectacular show on Aug. 21.

The path of totality refers to a 70-mile-wide band stretching from Oregon to South Carolina where the moon will completely cover the sun, leading to total darkness in the middle of the day. Sadly, that band will run well south of us, but we're still going to see most of the sun obscured by the moon.

The magnitude of the eclipse will register at 0.85 in Reston, which is not to be confused with obscuration, but it does appear that pretty close to 85 percent of the sun will be blocked by the moon.

The eclipse will begin Monday, Aug. 21 at 1:17 p.m. Slowly, the moon will move in front of the sun, and reach its maximum obscuration at 2:42 p.m. At 4:01 p.m., the moon will have completely moved out of the sun's path, meaning a solid three hours of drama here.

To watch an animation of the solar eclipse will look here in Reston, click here.

If you really wanted to stand in the path of totality as the moon eclipses the sun, don't worry, there will be another opportunity in 2024 when another eclipse rolls through the United States, this time from Mexico northeast up to the Great Lakes and through Canada.

Solar eclipses actually happen two to five times per year, but it's been four decades since a total solar eclipse rolled through the continental United States. Why? Partially it's just luck, partially it's because 35 percent of solar eclipses are partial, and partially it's because the United States covers a very small portion of the Earth. In fact, most solar eclipses happen at sea where only the fish see them.

If you're planning on witnessing this rare event, take special precautions. Never look directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, unless you have protective eyewear. The UV radiation from the sun can scorch your retinas and permanently damage your vision.