Nordgren, who saw the total eclipse in Europe in 1999, said nothing compares to the multisensory experience a solar eclipse offers. The rare event is also bringing a torrent of visitors to cities located in the eclipse path. Though solar eclipses are extraordinary and rare, scientists have been able to predict them since ancient times. Then for centuries, solar eclipses were regarded with terror. He was a child when the last US total eclipse occurred in 1979, but missed it because he was hiding in his Portland home with the curtains drawn, afraid his eyes would be burned from watching the event.

Source: The Guardian August 15, 2017 10:00 UTC