Total Eclipse 2017 In Tennessee: Everything You Need To Know

NASHVILLE, TN — After 539 years, it's finally time for midday darkness in Middle Tennessee. Shortly before 1:30 p.m., the moon will pass in front of the sun, bringing up to two and a half minutes of totality, something that hasn't been seen in Middle Tennessee since 1478 and it'll be a long time until Nashville gets a total eclipse once again, although the April 8, 2024 eclipse that will be total from Texas to Maine will achieve near-totality.

Traffic is expected to be nightmarish Monday, as hundreds of thousands of people pour into Middle Tennessee with Nashville the largest city in the path of totality. There's lots to know ahead of time and it's best to be prepared.

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Times and duration

The entire Midstate will get at least a partial solar eclipse, with the path of totality bound by two northwest to southeast lines: a northern line from Bowling Green, Ky., to Farragut and the southern line from Dover through Murfreesboro down to Chattanooga.

The longest period of totality — around three minutes — runs on a parallel northwest to southeast line from Hopkinsville through White House to Sparta. Downtown Nashville should experience roughly two minutes of darkness around 1:28 p.m., with slightly shorter times in places southwest of downtown and longer ones northeast. La Vergne and Smyrna will also get two minutes or so about two minutes after Nashville.

Franklin is just outside the path of totality, but should experience its peak eclipse around the same time as Nashville.

Where to watch

There are dozens of watch parties across Middle Tennessee, including big events at Bicentennial Mall State Park and Adventure Science Center. The Nashville Zoo wants help observing what animals do when the sky goes dark. There's a special event at the Grand Ole Opry House, among other places. There are special events planned in La Vergne and Smyrna as well.

Metro Parks has a list of the best places to watch.

Weather

The National Weather Service says that things should be dang near perfect for watching the skies. There will be light cloud coverage, but mostly from wispy and translucent cirrus clouds.

Stay safe!

Most important, of course, is to not look directly at the sun in the pre- and post-totality phase. It is safe to look and observe the total phase of the eclipse without the special NASA-approved glasses that are becoming increasingly hard to find.

State and local officials are essentially treating the eclipse as an emergency for logistical purposes and TDOT and the THP have some special safety tips:

• Carpool or use public transit if you can
• Turn on your headlights before the period of totality begins
• Don't look at the sun while driving (or at any time, frankly)
• Don't wear the safety glasses behind the wheel
• Keep moving; stopping on any road with moving traffic is dangerous, particularly so on the interstate
• Don't stop on the shoulder of the interstate unless there's an emergency; you can be ticketed
• No selfies behind the wheel

Most importantly: plan ahead. It's bound to be a busy day on the road. Get to your eclipse watching spot well in advance of the event.

Fun things to watch for

The eclipse causes some cool special effects, including Baily's beads. Baily's beads occur because the moon has a very rugged surface and the craters and mountains block some of the sun's rays and allow others through. Eventually, one bright light remains, creating what's called the diamond ring effect. Narrow, undulating shadows may wave across the ground and up the sides of buildings.

As the eclipse nears totality, the shadow of the moon rushes from the west almost like an approaching thunderstorm, and the sky darkens to deep blue, then sometimes into a green pallor, before settling into a yellow similar to twilight before total darkness sets in. Once totality is achieved, the corona can be observed, perhaps even a solar flare. NASA says we are currently in a phase of moderate solar activity, which increases the chances of seeing a flare.

Image via Shutterstock