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Here comes the sun, as the Beatles once sang.
A total solar eclipse will grace the skies over Mexico, the United States and Canada on Monday as the moon obscures the face of the sun and temporarily changes from day to night.
Millions of people will be out to witness the unfolding of the heavenly phenomenon. As the eclipse creates syzygy, or the alignment of three bodies in space, it will unite viewers in moments of wonder.
Totality, when the light of the sun is dimmed for a short time, plays on the emotions. You know it's coming, but the sudden change is still so unexpected - and it's something I personally hope to experience for the first time when I report from my own place on the trail.
So grab your eclipse glasses, indulge in eclipse-themed treats, and put on a fantastically themed playlist ("Total Eclipse of the Heart," anyone?). It will soon be time to indulge in a little cosmic awe and whimsy.
Defying gravity
High-altitude aircraft will fly within the path of Monday's solar eclipse to unravel some of the biggest unsolved secrets about the sun.
Three sounding rockets will lift off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia before, during and after the solar eclipse to measure the sun's impact on Earth's upper atmosphere, known as the ionosphere.
Meanwhile, NASA is equipping its WB-57 aircraft with scientific instruments as they fly 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) above the Earth's surface to get a clear view of the Sun's outer atmosphere. The so-called corona is millions of degrees hotter than the surface of the sun, but scientists don't know why.
The faint corona will be visible during the eclipse when the sun's light is blocked, allowing researchers to get a detailed look at the mysterious glowing structures.
Curiosities
Packing for your eclipse trip or trying to decide what to wear on Monday? A nifty optical phenomenon that occurs during the celestial event can make you lean more toward red and green.
More than two centuries ago, physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně noticed how different red flowers appear on sunny days versus at night. The Purkinje effect explains why some colors look different depending on the lighting.
For example, in low light, bright reds appear dark or almost black, while blues and greens become more vibrant. And the rapid contrast of a solar eclipse makes this effect clearly visible.
Send us your stories and photos of the eclipse!Are you viewing the solar eclipse from the path of totality? Have you traveled far and gathered with family and friends to witness the event? Or is your hometown located in the path of what is for many a unique spectacle? Everyone has their own eclipse story to tell, and we want to hear it from you! Send images* and a few details about your eclipse experience to [email protected], and they could end up in CNN's ongoing Eclipse Across America coverage. Share your full name and pronouns for credit and caption information.
Power of nature
As the solar eclipse approaches, many people are trying to make or change their plans - and the weather plays a big role by throwing out some unexpected curveballs.
Advance planning is essential, but many have made travel reservations and booked flights for areas within the path of totality, based on historical data on spring weather patterns.
Now Mother Nature is freaking out a bit, and areas that usually see cloud cover and bad weather are clear, and the opposite is true for other parts of the country.
However, not all clouds will remain on the big day. Shallow cumulus clouds largely disappear even when only a fraction of sunlight is blocked, and new research has revealed why they only reform after the eclipse is over.
The miracle
Eclipse mania may seem widespread, but these celestial events can be a more spiritual and reflective experience for some, depending on religion or culture.
Hindus consider a solar eclipse to be a bad omen, while many Muslims view the phenomenon as a time for prayer and spiritual contemplation.
Meanwhile, some Christians have interpreted the temporary darkening of heaven as a sign that the "end times" are approaching.
And Navajos regard eclipses with solemnity, marking them as a time to show reverence and respect for the sun and the earth.
Explorations
When Columbia made its first flight in 1981, it launched NASA's Space Shuttle program and ushered in a new era of exploration.
But nearly 22 years later, the aging shuttle's 28th flight ended in disaster when it broke up over East Texas, killing all seven crew members.
The tragedy marked the beginning of the end for the shuttle program. How could such a revolutionary idea go so wrong?
Discover new details that explain what ultimately led to disaster in a four-part CNN Original Series, "Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight," premiering Sunday at 9 PM ET/PT.
Discoveries
Before you focus on the solar eclipse, check out these fun reading tips:
- Scientists have discovered a host of new species, including a strolling Barbie pink sea pig, during a deep-sea expedition 5,000 meters below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
- The endangered Indochinese leopard and the flat-headed cat are two of the wild cats that roam the tropical jungles of Malaysia. A new photo series offers a rare glimpse at several of the notoriously elusive species.
- An Asian elephant bathed in sunlight, thrashing polar bears and blue-footed boobies are just some of the images on display in an art photography sale inspired by the legacy of primatologist Jane Goodall, who turned 90 on Wednesday.
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