According to NASA, 109 Earths (represented here by 109 pennies) placed next to each other would equal the diameter of the sun. Fortunately, the sun is about 150 million kilometers from Earth, which enables its even tinier neighbor -- the moon -- to b...

This graphic shows the eclipse path that will occur Aug. 21 as the moon moves in front of the sun, completely blocking out the light. Though eclipses happen often, this is the first total eclipse that can be seen in North America in the last 100 year...

Fort Sill, Okla., July 27, 2017 -- There's a buzz across the country about the solar eclipse coming Aug. 21, and even though Oklahoma is not in the path of totality (where the moon completely blocks the sun) we will experience about 82 percent coverage.

To watch this event safely, many resources are online and at the Lawton Public Library that tell you how to do that.

If you are traveling to an area within the 70-mile wide path of totality, you're probably too late to make motel and camping reservations. However, nothing's going to stop you from pulling into a field or a parking lot and watching the moon blot out its much bigger celestial neighbor.

To give perspective on the difference in size of the earth, moon, and sun, NASA states the moon has a diameter of about 3,500 kilometers or a little less than a quarter of the Earth's approximate 13,000 kilometer equatorial diameter. At about 9,000 kilometers short of 1.4 million kilometers in diameter, the sun dwarfs the two. Placing 109 pennies, each representing an Earth, in a line gives an idea of the sun's diameter.

Fortunately this behemoth is just shy of 150 million kilometers from earth. This greatly exceeds the 384,000 kilometer-gap between Earth and our little lunar neighbor, which is about 85 daily commutes you'd take from that lovely home in New York to your Hollywood stunt double career in Los Angeles.

The only time it is safe to look at the sun without solar lenses to protect your eyes is during the actual moment of totality, which we won't see here. However, that lasts only two minutes and 40 or so seconds. So, to see the moon inching its way across the face of the sun, solar lenses are a must to protect your eyes from permanent retina burns. Digital camera sensors can also be ruined if they are not protected.

You can use #14 welder's glass, or go online (Amazon and B&H Photo come to mind) to buy disposable eyeglasses and camera filters with the proper protection. Order now-- the eclipse is less than a month away! Don't think you can combine several pairs of sunglasses to get the same level of protection. It won't work.

Several online resources also provide information, scientific explanations, activities for the kids, and safety precautions to help families experience this once-in-a-lifetime event. Even if you stay close to home, you can still watch the moon "take a bite" out of the sun using these tips.

The Lawton Public Library is giving away free pairs of these solar glasses to library card-holders beginning Aug. 7, while supplies last. It will also hold an eclipse viewing at the library Aug. 21 at 11:30 a.m. This is nine minutes before the moon begins to cover the sun. The maximum coverage will be at 1:08 p.m. and the eclipse ends at 2:37 p.m.

Also of not for those celestial minded, the library recently received the traveling exhibit from NASA, which depicts American space exploration. For more information, contact Rose Wilson at Lawton Public Library at 580-581-3450.