Eclipse Glasses Not Required

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE GREAT COURSES FAMILY

On Monday, August 21, the moon will travel between the Earth and the sun, giving the United States rare views of a partial or total eclipse for the first time in decades.

Solar Eclipse

The view of the total eclipse will be visible along a narrow path that starts in Oregon and moves through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina.

If you are just now trying to purchase eclipse glasses to safely view this event, well, good luck.

Given we’ve partnered with The Smithsonian on a number of courses over the years, and we are familiar with the high-quality experiences they provide, we were excited to share this news with you:  The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory has created a free Smithsonian Eclipse app, allowing users to watch a live NASA stream of the eclipse as it moves across the country. This interactive guide will also calculate the precise view you will see and provides a virtual view with an eclipse simulator. You can gain context for the event with solar research from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, including near-live views from space of the sun.

Learn more about the app here or search for Smithsonian Eclipse on the App Store and Google Play.