File:On eclipse watch, at NSF and elsewhere (37228223251).jpg

Look up! On Aug. 21, 2017, across the country, people’s eyes were looking toward the skies to see the Great American Solar Eclipse. It was the first time in 99 years that a path of totality, about 70 miles wide, could be viewed in the U.S. from coast to coast, from Oregon to South Carolina. Many people traveled to parts of the country that were in the path of the total solar eclipse. Others not in the path of totality were still thrilled to see the partial solar eclipse. At NSF’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, interested agency staff and associates gathered to witness the rare event. The gathering served to mark another event as well – the unofficial farewell to the agency’s Arlington building; between August and September, NSF is relocating to Alexandria, Virginia. But back to Aug. 21 -- the eclipse reached almost 82 percent around 2:42 p.m., local time. Find out more about the solar eclipse in NSF's Solar Science special report.