Fun facts about solar eclipse: Total solar eclipses cannot be seen from the North and South Poles Almost identical solar eclipses happen every 18 years and 11 months Depending on the geometry of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, there can be between 2 and 5 solar eclipses each year A total solar eclipse can happen once every 1-2 years. This makes them very rare events The width of the path of totality is usually about 160 km and can sweep across an area of Earth’s surface about 10,000 miles long If any planets are in the sky at the time of a total solar eclipse, they can be seen as points of light (5). The 21 August event was the first total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. in 38 years. The last one occurred February 26, 1979 A solar eclipse happens at New Moon. A New Moon occurs when the moon is between the Sun and Earth. The only lunar phase when that happens is New Moon It is safe to look during Totality. During the time the Moon’s disk covers the Sun, it’s safe to look at the eclipse .
