Hey, there was a total solar eclipse that happened on Aug. 21, 2017. You might’ve heard about it. It’ll be the United States’ first coast-to-coast total eclipse in almost 100 years.
At least a couple of eclipses are visible somewhere on Earth every year. That somewhere might be the middle of an ocean, but these aren’t as rare as they seem. It’s just rare that they can be seen where you live.
SB Nation was curious what sports stuff was going on during the last times these things happened.
I. The last total eclipse visible from anywhere in the United States (though this one was only Hawaii): Thursday, July 11, 1991.
Hawaii had a great view. So did parts of Mexico, but that was it for North America. The Angels’ home loss to the Yankees was the closest major American sporting event, and one eventual Hall of Famer worked that for all it was worth.
Dave Winfield offered a novel explanation for the Angels' getting only one hit off Scott Sanderson Thursday in a 2-0 loss to the New York Yankees at Anaheim Stadium.
"I think we must have looked at the eclipse today and messed our eyes up," Winfield said.
Nice excuse, but it can't be used again in this lifetime. Winfield and his Angel teammates could come up with few other reasons why Sanderson (10-3) mastered them so easily, or why they have been shut out three times in their last four games and held to three hits in their last two games.
II. The last total eclipse visible from the contiguous United States: Monday, Feb. 26, 1979.
People flocked to the Pacific Northwest, the only part of the country with a view. Via NASA:
The last total solar eclipse viewed from contiguous United States was on Feb. 26, 1979 whose path passed through the northwestern U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec.
Forrest Thompson, who pitched in the majors in the ‘40s, died that day at 60. Read more at SB Nation.
Monday’s total solar eclipse was one of the biggest astronomical events of the year, but people that missed it will have the chance to see another in less than a decade. Miss 2017’s total solar eclipse? Start planning for the next one in 2024. Find out more at Accuweather.com.