What's the big deal about a total solar eclipse in Oregon? OMSI educator explains (video)

A total solar eclipse hasn't happened in Oregon since 1979 so you might need a refresher on how the rare cosmic event will unfold this summer. That's where Jim Todd comes in. He's the director of space science education at The Oregon Museum of Science...

What's the big deal about a total solar eclipse in Oregon? OMSI educator explains (video)

A total solar eclipse hasn't happened in Oregon since 1979 so you might need a refresher on how the rare cosmic event will unfold this summer.

That's where Jim Todd comes in.

He's the director of space science education at The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and currently one of the state's go-to experts for explaining the total solar eclipse that'll cross Oregon on August 21, 2017, hitting land at 10:15 a.m.

He manages OMSI's Kendall Planetarium in Portland and also helps visitors understand space with props (see video above). 

Todd demonstrates with an inflatable globe how the moon moves to completely block out light of the sun with the darkest park of the shadow, called the umbra, creating a 62-mile wide path across the U.S. 

"That's the path of totality," said Todd. "That's what everybody's trying to strive for is to get to that path on that day."

Oregonians will get the first glimpse of total darkness on that late-summer day. 

"Oregon is really being advertised as the best place in terms of weather and chance for clear skies compared to the rest of the United States," Todd said.

"We are expecting one million visitors to come into the state."

The best viewing will be in Salem, Madras and Lime. 

It's a lot of excitement for around two minutes in total darkness but Todd says the quick moment will be long remembered.

"This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Todd said.

Another total solar eclipse won't cross Oregon until 2169, though a sliver of the Oregon coast will see a total eclipse in 2108.

Those living in areas of partial eclipse on Aug. 21, such as Portland, will notice a "pronounced dimming of sunshine but it will still be distinctly daylight," Todd said.

"The main phenomena that someone will notice is that shadows will become very crisp," Todd said. "People will notice fascinating pinhole projections of the crescent sun when standing near trees."

--Jessica Greif

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