Science Channel To Go Live For Great American Eclipse This August

For the first time in 99 years a total solar eclipse will span the continental United States, the path of totality stretching from Oregon to South Carolina. The Great American Eclipse will likely be one of the most viewed events in history and Science Channel will be on the ground to capture the excitement with live coverage as it happens on Monday, August 21. In primetime, the network will premiere a one-hour special, THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE (wt), with same-day footage of the eclipse, on the 21st at 9 PM ET/PT. The announcement was made today, the Summer Solstice, by Marc Etkind, General Manager of Science Channel.

Eclipse totality starts on the Oregon coast at about 1:20 PM ET and ends around 2:50 PM ET on the South Carolina coast, with the highlight of the eclipse at each location being about two minutes of total darkness-called "totality." Science Channel will be in Madras, Oregon, partnering with the Lowell Observatory on the Lowell Solar Eclipse Experience (lowellsolareclipse.com), as astronomers and educators narrate the eclipse as it happens. Madras is considered by experts to be one of the nation's premier viewing spots, because of its location in the high desert of Central Oregon, typical weather patterns, and unobstructed views.

The network is planning to provide live footage from other prime viewing destinations across America including locations in Tennessee, Idaho, Nebraska, and South Carolina. Science Channel also plans to offer glimpses of the eclipse TAKEN from the International Space Station.

"The Great American Eclipse is truly once-in-a-lifetime," said Etkind. "With live coverage and a post-eclipse special, along with updates throughout the day on our digital and social platforms, Science Channel promises to be the destination for this mind-blowing experience."

Scientists have been waiting a lifetime for an opportunity like this as the Great American Eclipse is a unique opportunity to study the Earth, the sun, and their interaction. Total solar eclipses are the only opportunity to study the sun's corona in clear detail in visible light. Researchers believe that the inner regions of the corona are the missing link in understanding the sources of space weather, so total solar eclipses are truly invaluable in understanding the sun-Earth connection.

Science Channel today launched an eclipse micro-site on ScienceChannel.com complete with blog posts, photo galleries and an original eclipse companion guide video series. On August 21, the network will Facebook Live the eclipse from Madras, capturing crowd reactions of the remarkable spectacle, and will offer live eclipse updates throughout the day.

THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE (wt) will be produced by Pioneer Productions, part of the Tinopolis Group. Executive Producers for Pioneer are Thomas Viner, Stephen Marsh and Helen Williamson. Kyle McCabe will serve as Executive Producer for Science Channel.

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