Ready for the solar eclipse? Your Lake Tahoe viewing guide

Across the United States people are forking out big bucks for lodging in the "path of totality," the 70-mile wide stretch of land across the country where the total eclipse will be seen on August 21, 2017. People who descend upon this path for the big event are "are in for an unforgettable experience" according to Space.Com.

Hotels and camping spots in this path are going for hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars for the day of the big show.

A solar eclipse happens about five times a year, but a total eclipse occurs about once every 18 months. Depending on where you are in the world will determine what eclipses you can see. In 2018 there will only be partial eclipses, and those in Australia, the North Pole, Antarctica, South America and Northern Europe and Asia will be able to see those.

Those of us not in the August 21 "path of totality" will still experience some portion of the sun "disappearing" behind the moon, and even if not a total eclipse it will take some planning to experience it safely.

Lake Tahoe will experience an 80 percent eclipse beginning at 9:04 a.m. on August 21. The maximum will be at 10:19 a.m. and it will all be over at 11:42 a.m. (To see your town's timetable, visit https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa)

Watching the eclipse with unprotected eyes can result in serious or permanent eye damage, including blindness. The only time it is safe to look at the eclipse with a naked eye is for those in the "path of totality" during the two minute total eclipse. Solar viewing glasses or old-fashioned box and cardboard viewers are required to prevent possible eye issues.

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) says some of the glasses being sold are not safe and fraudulent, and have published a list of certified viewing glasses: https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters. Fleischmann Planetarium on the University of Nevada campus will not have a special show about the eclipse but they are selling safe glasses for $2 a pair.

Homemade pinhole projectors can also be used to view the eclipse (Accuweather projector) as well as cardboard or box viewers.