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Solar eclipse checklist: Everything you need to pack, bring with you on eclipse day

By The Atlanta-Journal Constitution

FILE - This March 9, 2016, file photo shows a total solar eclipse in Belitung, Indonesia. A solar eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, is set to star in several special broadcasts on TV and online. (AP Photo/File)

By The Atlanta-Journal Constitution

ATLANTA — Location, weather and time are the three most important factors for catching the solar eclipse in all its totality.

1. You want to be within 200 miles of the centerline path, where the moon completely blocks the sun, the earth goes dark and the sun’s corona shimmers in the blackened sky.

2. Check the weather forecast before heading over, because cloudy skies could ruin your eclipse views. It may be smart to come up with a contingency plan, too.

3. Know when to tune in. The total solar eclipse will begin at 8:46 a.m. PST (11:46 a.m. EDT)  in Salem, Oregon, and end near Charleston, South Carolina, lasting up to 2 minutes and 41.6 seconds.

In Georgia, the total eclipse will begin at approximately 2:35 p.m. EDT and last for 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

WSB-TV is your home for everything Total Solar Eclipse. We’ll have exclusive content and everything you need to know throughout the day!

Today, when the Total Solar Eclipse crosses through the United States, make sure you’re relying on Channel 2 Action News for complete LIVE coverage from across the country!

Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter and download the free WSB-TV news app to receive our latest content!

After you’ve made your travel plans, don’t let forgetfulness get the best of you on eclipse day.

Use this eclipse packing list to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:
  • Your eclipse safety equipment: Remember, the only time you can look at the eclipse without one of these devices is during totality, when the sun is completely obscured by the moon. Pack at least one of the following per person:
  • Certified eclipse glasses (and extras)
  • Make sure your glasses do not have any creases or damage. If they do, replace immediately with a spare pair.
  • Pinhole projector or pinhole camera with additional materials
  • Safe solar filters
  • Solar viewing cards
  • Other eclipse devices approved by the American Astronomical Society
  • Sunglasses
  • Standard sunglasses will not protect your eyes from possible damage during the eclipse itself, but you may want to bring a pair for general protection during the rest of the day.
  • Paper maps and driving directions
  • It's likely that you'll either cross an area or be within an area without cell service. Go old school and print out your driving directions and a map of your eclipse-watch site to supplement your car or phone navigation system.
  • Print out paper maps and driving directions for your contingency location in case your initial location doesn't pan out.
  • Comfortable clothing and hats
  • Folding chairs or a picnic blanket
  • Sunscreen
  • A full gas tank
  • Bug repellant
  • First aid kit
  • Food and drinks
  • Device that shows accurate time (phone or digital watch)
  • GoPro (optional)
  • Extra batteries for any additional equipment
  • If you're camping, also pack:
  • Tent
  • Sleeping bags
  • If you're photographing the eclipse, also pack:
  • Telescopes
  • Eyepieces
  • Mounts
  • Power sources
  • Binoculars
  • Cameras
  • Tripods
  • Lenses
  • Solar filters
  • Remote release

WSB-TV is your home for everything Total Solar Eclipse. We’ll have exclusive content and everything you need to know throughout the day!

Today, when the Total Solar Eclipse crosses through the United States, make sure you’re relying on Channel 2 Action News for complete LIVE coverage from across the country!

Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook, FOLLOW us on Twitter and download the free WSB-TV news app to receive our latest content!

Micah Baugh says visitors are in his hometown from Africa and Europe to the catch the eclipse, on the path of totality.

"People have said that this is the busiest this town has been since the 1996 Olympics, when we had our rafting in Duck Town," he said.

Authorities in South Carolina are expecting about 2 million visitors to the state because of Monday’s eclipse. Some visitors have been planning for a long time.

"At least a year. We booked our rooms last year," McArthur Billing of Maryland said.

Billing brought his wife and children to Charleston to see the eclipse.

Special Section: Total Solar Eclipse (Click image below)

Total Solar Eclipse

Burns asked the family who was most excited to see the sun go dark during afternoon

"I think it's me,” Billing said. “It's definitely me. I pushed for this one.”

Billing said he doesn’t have a lot of expectations.

“I just think it's going to go dark. Hopefully we get a little temp change,” Billing said.

Jane McCoy and her family came all the way from California for Monday’s eclipse. She said they're ready.

"We got a book for the kids to read to prepare them and we got the glasses and filter for our camera," McCoy told Burns.

Special glasses or a pinhole viewer are needed so you don’t damage your eyes.

"We are really excited to see it," McCoy said.

North Georgia is also serving as prime real estate for the eclipse. Thousands of visitors are heading to the mountains to get their chance to see the eclipse at its fullest.

Blue Ridge sits in the coveted path of totality.

“It is the busiest I’ve ever seen it,” said Micha Baugh.

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