Something amazing is happening in space and it comes in the form of darkness. It is the rare visitor, known as a complete solar eclipse. From coast to coast people have been securing hotel rooms and mapping out the best pathways for ultimate viewing pleasure. Children and adults alike do not want to miss out on this event, so keep reading to find out what every person needs to know about the eclipse and how to secure the proper eyewear in order to capitalize on this momentous occasion set for August 21st, 2017.The Route While the solar eclipse is literally traveling across the country, there are only designated areas that will get the full-scale view of seeing the moon completely overshadow the sun.“Starting on the West Coast in Oregon, the USA’s total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 will trace a 67-mile wide path east across the country, finally exiting the East Coast in South Carolina,” explained Doyle Rice in an article for USA Today.Rice outlined how the moon’s shadow will completely eclipse the sun in twelve states, most of which are in the Midwest region. However, people as far west as Oregon and down to the south in Georgia will also be able to see the darkness of the sun being blocked out by the Earth’s moon. People living in Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and The Carolinas all have great viewing options for this eclipse. It is set to occur during the daytime hours of approximately 10:15am (Pacific Standard Time) and end just a little after 2:45pm (Eastern Standard Time).If a person does not live near one of the states mentioned above, do not fear as partial eclipse viewing will still be seen by many across the country due to the grand size of the sun and the moon. Solar eclipse glasses for viewing are a must-have in order to protect a person’s vision.SafetyThe solar eclipse is a wonderful outdoor event for families to participate in together. However, it is important to make sure everyone is using the proper safety gear and protecting their eyes from sun damage. A person should never look directly at the sun, even during the moments leading up to and after an eclipse. For the August 21st solar eclipse, a staff writer at Space.com explained that “According to NASA and four other science and medical organizations, it’s OK to look at a total solar eclipse with the naked eye — but only when the face of the sun is totally obscured by the moon.”While grown-ups may be able to be trusted to view a solar eclipse at the right time by the naked eye, children should be instructed to never look directly at the sun or directly at the eclipse event until a grown-up is certain that the moon has plunged the world into darkness. It is beneficial to have a person on-hand that is knowledgeable when it comes to viewing eclipses, because he or she can instruct others as to when it is safe to look to the sky without protective eye wear. Solar eclipse glasses should be worn if at any time a spot or sliver of the sun is visible because it is never safe to look directly at any part of the sun.Parents of young children need to take care and be aware of proper eclipse viewing techniques, because there is just too large of a risk that little ones may injure their eyes and cause sight damage by looking at the wrong time during the eclipse or watching the sun rays for too long. Phillips Safety Products has different types of solar eclipse glasses for sale that block out 99% of UV light and 97% of IR Radiation. The company’s solar eclipse glasses were made specifically for eclipse viewing and have very dark lenses.Space.com also explained that eclipses should never be viewed through a telescope, and solar viewing sunglasses must be worn even when a person is looking at the eclipse through a camera lens or binoculars. The August 21st solar eclipse will be big and beautiful enough to see that a telescope would never be necessary. Using binoculars during the event would be up to the personal preference of the viewer, but simply using solar eclipse glasses should be enough for the majority of the population.MemoriesViewing the August 21st eclipse is a once in a lifetime event for some people. The eclipse will take a wide route and people in its direct path will get to see stars and even bright planets during the eclipse totality, which will create a complete blackout. The eclipse blackout is expected to last for two minutes and forty seconds stated SPACE.com. The time length of the partial eclipse viewings will vary depending on the weather and where a person lives within the United States. It is worth repeating that solar eclipse glass shades must be worn during partial eclipses at all times.Once the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse is over, there will be a long wait for the next one, especially for people living in the United States. According to the website, www.GreatAmericanEclipse.com, the next North American total solar eclipse will not happen until the year 2024. If a person is willing to travel to South America they can see a total solar eclipse in just less than two years because one is to occur on July 2, 2019.