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00000179-cdc6-d978-adfd-cfc6d7fa0000Countdown to August 21We're sure you know by now that a total solar eclipse will make its way from Oregon to South Carolina on Monday, August 21, but are you prepared? Eleven states are in the path of total darkness. KMUW has information on the proper ways to watch a solar eclipse, historical context, and ways to mark this much-anticipated celestial event. And on August 21, you can follow the astronomical phenomenon's journey across America along with KMUW, Kansas News Service, and NPR journalists and others experiencing the eclipse.In the meantime, peruse our stories below, including Deborah Shaar's feature on How To Watch A Solar Eclipse Safely, Beth Golay's Marginalia interview with David Baron, author of American Eclipse, and here are some great resources from our friends at SciFri!

Marginalia: David Baron

Baron photo by Dana Meyer

David Baron’s new book, American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World, is about the history and the players involved in the total solar eclipse of 1878.

Total solar eclipses are not rare. They take place at some point on Earth about every 18 months. The problem is that sometimes those locations are remote and difficult to reach. The eclipse of 1878 stretched from Montana down to Texas. Set in the wild frontier, this particular eclipse was remarkable because of the lengths taken by our young nation to prove our scientific worth.

And with the much-anticipated total solar eclipse reaching coast-to-coast on August 21, Baron’s look back on our nation’s scientific trajectory is especially timely. I recently met with David Baron at the KCUR Studios in Kansas City.

Here’s our conversation:

And if you listened to the commentary on air, this is what you heard:

44002_080417.mp4
David Baron | Marginalia, the commentary

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American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World by David Baron was published by Liveright.

This interview was recorded in Kansas City at KCUR Studios. Marginalia was produced at KMUW Wichita. Special thanks to KCUR Engineer: Stephen Steigman.

Editor: Lu Anne Stephens
Engineer: Jon Cyphers
Producer: Beth Golay

Beth Golay is KMUW's Director of Marketing and Digital Content. She is the host of the KMUW podcast Marginalia and co-host with Suzanne Perez of the Books & Whatnot podcast. You can find her on Wichita Transit in conversation with other riders for En Route, a monthly segment on KMUW's weekly news program The Range.