The country is preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For the first time in just shy of a century, the United States will be experiencing a coast-to-coast total solar eclipse. (Our more recent eclipses were only visible from Hawaii, in 1991, and the Pacific Northwest, in 1979.) Solar eclipses can only be viewed through special devices, or viewers run the risk of irreversible damage to their eyes and vision. But if you were unable to come across a pair of eclipse glasses or to craft your own viewing box, NASA and Facebook have you covered.

Starting at noon EDT today, NASA will be live-streaming the eclipse on Facebook. A representative from the social media company told Business Insider that the eclipse is "the most important astronomical event in the social media era."

"While this total eclipse will pass right over the U.S., it really is an event for everyone on Earth," added science guy and Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye in a statement this morning. "Experiencing an eclipse changes the way we feel about space and how we are connected. I hope this moment reminds us all that we share a common origin among the stars, and that we are all citizens of the same planet."

Experts expect this event to be one of the most shared experiences of all time. Tyler Nordgren, an astronomer at the University of Redlands told The Atlantic, "This will be the most photographed, most shared, most tweeted event in human history."

So whether you procrastinated getting your glasses or you're stuck in your basement office all day, you'll still get a chance to witness history in the making.


Share This Article