How to Get the Best View of the August Eclipse in Southern Colorado

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August Eclipse

Have you heard all the buzz about the solar eclipse happening on Monday, August 21, 2017? If you haven’t, let me fill you in! This will be the first total solar eclipse seen in the continental U.S. in almost forty years. (So, depending on how old you are, you may have never experienced this in your lifetime!) And, your kids definitely haven’t experienced it.

A solar eclipse will occur across the continental United States, with a diagonal path of totality running Northwest-to-Southeast (click here to view an Eclipse map). We can expect about 90% in Southern Colorado, and I want to help you experience it to the fullest!

At around 11:50 AM (Mountain Daylight Time), the Moon will be passing in front of the Sun and blocking most sunlight from reaching the Earth. The sky will become much darker as if it were twilight. 

Here are some tips to get the best view of the eclipse with your family:

Teach your kids about this once in a lifetime event.

I have two boys, ages 7 and 5, and they love any project related to science or nature. We recently got this Eclipse Kit from Space Racers, and the minute it arrived, they unpacked it! Honestly, I wanted to learn about what happens during the eclipse too! This kit has everything you need to teach your kids the science of a solar eclipse, as well as 5 pairs of viewing glasses to safely view the eclipse. Here is what comes in the Eclipse Kit:

  • Safety-certified eclipse viewing glasses (5)
  • An 11” x 17” eclipse map
  • A 12-page booklet with viewing tips
  • Safety guidelines and activities
  • A limited-edition, embroidered Space Racers mission patch

SPECIAL OFFER **Our friends at Space Racers have extended a 10% discount through August 14, 2017, on the Eclipse Kit. Get yours by going HERE and entering the discount code Mom3**

Watch Space Racers explain a Total Eclipse.

Have your kids seen Space Racers? This preschool show is not only entertaining, but it’s STEM-focused themes make it perfect for education too. Kids love to know what to expect before a big event. Watching the episode, “Total Eclipse,” which airs Sunday, August 20 and Monday, August 21 will help your kids become even more excited for the eclipse. Space Racers® airs on Sprout (check local listings here), NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s 24-hour preschool network, and streams on Netflix. For more information visit: http://spaceracers.org.

Have an Eclipse Viewing Party!

Gather up your mama friends and their kiddos, pack a picnic lunch, gear up with your Eclipse Kit including the viewing glasses and head out to a local park. I would suggest going around 11 am. Let the kids play and run off some energy. Pull out lunch to grab everyone’s attention, and settle in on a blanket to experience the eclipse. The Eclipse Kit also comes with a limited-edition, embroidered Space Racers mission patch. This patch would be so fun to sew on a blanket or a backpack to remember this experience!

If you miss this eclipse, the next total solar eclipse to go through the continental United States will be on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will move from the Southwest to the Northeast U.S. for that one, and in Colorado, we will not be nearly as close to the path of totality. This could truly be a once in a lifetime event with your family!

We are thankful to Space Racers for sponsoring this post, but as always, the thoughts and opinions in this post are our own. We partner with brands we love and trust.
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Tonya
Tonya grew up in Iowa and attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she majored in Health Promotion (the degree you choose when you know are meant to make an impact but you don’t know exactly how) After graduating in 2003, her adventurous spirit lead her to pack up her little car and move to Colorado Springs. Her heart was easily won by the beautiful landscape, the amazing weather, colorful Aspen trees, and the fabulous people in this city. In 2008, she married her love and best friend, Ryan. They added two amazing boys to the family…Landon (2009) and Kellan (2011). After a rewarding career as a Director for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and a sales representative for Pfizer, her heart desired more time with her boys. In 2011, she became a work from home mom, focusing on her very busy boys full time and her health and wellness coaching business part time! Her passion as a mom includes building legos, trips to the zoo, family hikes, fishing, and camping. Her passion as a health coach is helping people see their potential, reach goals, and lead a healthy lifestyle. In her spare time (what is that again??), she loves working out, running, and reading. Her favorite things to do with her handsome hubby include riding bikes downtown Colorado Springs for date nights, hiking the incline, trying new (exotic) foods, spending time with great (adult) friends, and trying craft beers (inspired of course by her husband!).