On the morning of Aug. 21, millions of Americans are expected to step outside to witness the solar eclipse, a natural phenomenon that hasn’t been witnessed in the continental U.S. in 38 years. To celebrate, the National Park Service is hosting three local viewing events, two in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and one near downtown Los Angeles.
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Downtown L.A. (L.A. State Historic Park): Bring out a blanket and enjoy one of L.A.’s newest parks! Come straight to the park or meet with rangers at 8:30 a.m. to hike over from the new Gateway to Nature center in El Pueblo. This event is held in collaboration with California State Parks and Western National Parks Association.
L.A. State Historic Park: 1245 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles CA, 90012 (map )
Gateway to Nature: 130 Paseo de La Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012 (map )
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Calabasas (King Gillette Ranch): Join a ranger at the Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center for a program about the total solar eclipse and more at 9:30 a.m. Afterward, view the celestial event together from the visitor center grounds.
26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA, 91302 (map )
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Thousand Oaks (Rancho Sierra Vista): Join rangers at 9:30 a.m. for childrens’ activities, Native American sky stories, and to witness the eclipse together. Meet at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center.
Cross street of Via Goleta and Lynn Road, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320 (map )
All three locations will have a limited supply of solar glasses and Junior Ranger eclipse books.
The actual total eclipse will only be seen from a thin, diagonal band across the country, starting in Oregon and ending in South Carolina, going over 21 national park units and seven national trails. The remainder of the country will experience a partial eclipse, which still will be a sight to see. In the Los Angeles area, about 62 percent of the sun will be covered at about 10:20 a.m., when the eclipse will be at its maximum. The partial eclipse, however, will begin at about 9:05 a.m. and end at 11:43 a.m.
Tags: eclipse eclipse 2017 natural phenomena
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
