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What you need to know about the upcoming solar eclipse

By Greg Redfern

WASHINGTON — Happy first day of summer! It officially started for the D.C. region Wednesday morning at 12:24 a.m. EDT. 

Coincidentally, Wednesday also marks 60 days to the solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017 that will cross the United States from the West Coast to the East Coast — an event that hasn’t happened in 99 years.

In preparation for the solar eclipse, which may be the most watched in history, NASA and other federal agencies participated in a joint news conference at the Newseum. Representatives from NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration provided valuable information on the eclipse, weather, logistics and safety.

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Follow my daily blog to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration. You can email me at skyguyinva@gmail.com.

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PHOTOS: Passing comet is visible at Shenandoah

By Greg Redfern
After the clouds finally cleared Wednesday morning and I made it up to an elevation of 3,595 feet at Shenandoah National Park's Thorofare Mountain Overlook, I could see and photograph Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3). And it was definitely worth the wait. During this time of year, I'm usually giving astronomy and space presentations at Big Meadow Lodge and Skyland at the national park, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to cancel. The park's annual Night Sky Festival is also canceled.
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