And while we can confirm that Bonnie Tyler will be singing her enduring hit “Total Eclipse of the Heart” during the eclipse (on an eclipse-themed cruise ship), we are also sorry to say that we don’t have any eclipse glasses to offer you.

We do, however, have some helpful tips and tools to help you get the best out of this remarkable event!

For those of you who would like a visual on the event, this is what happens during a solar eclipse: the moon comes between the Sun and Earth, very temporarily blocking our view of the Sun (and freaking out a lot of birds).

For those of you looking for eclipse glasses, NASA and the American Astronomical Society have issued a list of reputable vendors and brands, should people be interested in purchasing them. Lowe’s retailers are listed as having inexpensive pairs, but we highly recommend that you call your local Lowe’s before heading over.  There are glasses available online, but please make sure you are purchasing ones that have been endorsed by NASA and the AAS.  Your eyes are very important to us.

We in Massachusetts are not in the path of totality (by any means), but that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to enjoy the eclipse–and it doesn’t mean that it’s safe to look at the eclipse directly.  Seriously.

Check out these safety tips from NASA before making any eclipse plans.

NASA has also prepared an in-depth guide to the eclipse, complete with this really funky map that allows you to see the Path of Totality (the places where the sun will be fully obscured), as well as when the eclipse will be visible in your area.  Here is what we can expect (NOTE: The times listed are UT, or Universal Time.  Subtract 4 hours to get the time in Massachusetts, or use this handy converter):

Again, please be safe during the solar eclipse, and care for your remarkable eyes.  But that being said (again and again), we also hope you can enjoy this remarkable event!