Millions of Americans are planning to spend a little time in the dark during the day today.
Skywatchers in a dozen states will be treated to a total eclipse of the sun. The spectacular event will begin this morning at 10:15 local time, just south of Portland, Oregon.
The eclipse will sweep eastward along a 70-mile-wide path across Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska and the northeast corner of Kansas.
It will then darken skies over Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee before passing over Georgia and the Carolinas on its way toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Rochelle Fire Chief Dave Sawlsville says the eclipse will hit the area this afternoon at around 1:20. He stressed that people should wear specialzed glasses for the eclipse
Chief Sawlsville is in Carbondale today where the blackout of the sun is expected to be 100 percent. He is helping EMS officials in the area.
Things in Carbondale are going about as well as you can expect when you pack 100 thousand people into a town of about 30 thousand. Carbondale is the central hub for the crowds who want to witness the eclipse in southern Illinois.
City leaders yesterday said more and more people were arriving by the hour, the crowd will peaks this morning. The Illinois State Police say traffic is moving across southern Illinois, but Troopers say the roads are expected to become more crowded as the eclipse draws closer.
