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A total solar eclipse will slice a path across much of the United States on Hannah Harper ArchivesAugust 21. Perhaps you've heard of it?

The big-time space event will be visible in some form or fashion across most of the U.S., and it's sure to impress for anyone within the 70-mile-wide strip of totality across the country (assuming the skies are relatively clear).

SEE ALSO: You can help NASA out during this summer's solar eclipse

But since we're less than a month away from the eclipse at this point, it's past time to start your eclipse education and instead we've got to get ready for the big day.

So like, what is a total solar eclipse?

At its most basic, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, obscuring part or all of the star from the planet.

During a partial eclipse, the sun basically looks like a bite has been taken out of it, but at the time of totality -- when the moon passes fully in front of the sun -- during a total eclipse, the star is fully obscured.

Via Giphy

An annular eclipse, on the other hand, occurs when the moon blots out most of the sun, but doesn't quite pass perfectly over the star, creating an effect known as a "ring of fire."

Unlike total lunar eclipses, solar eclipses can only be seen over a relatively small swath of the Earth as the moon casts its shadow on the planet.

NASA estimates that people have been documenting eclipses for at least 5,000 years.

What if I'm not in the line of totality?

Well, that would suck, but also, you still might be able to take part in the festivities.

While the path of totality is pretty narrow for the August eclipse, you can still catch a partial phase from anywhere in North America and parts of Africa, Europe, and South America, according to NASA.

(Check out this handy tool to see just how much of the eclipse you'll be able to see.)

Where exactly can I see this thing?

The path of totality for the August 21 eclipse begins in Lincoln Beach, Oregon. From there, the deep shadow of the moon will pass over parts of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina before ending at 4:09 p.m. ET, NASA said.

If you want to experience a full 2 minutes and 40 seconds of totality, the longest time in the U.S., then head to near Carbondale, Illinois.

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Many hotels are sold out along the line of totality, but the great part about an eclipse is the fact that you don't really need to be anywhere special to actually get a view of the event. Just make sure you're somewhere with a cloudless view of the sky in totality to check out the eclipse.

Also, if that fails, you can always catch the eclipse live online.

What if it's cloudy?

If it's cloudy and you're in the path of totality, that sucks, and there isn't much you can do about it.

That said, there are a few places along totality that are expected to have the best weather. Eclipse2017.org put together a great guide for any weather nerds hoping to game the system and squeeze every second of totality out of this eclipse. In short, the areas in the path of totality that are most likely to have clear skies on August 21 are in the West, particularly in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana.

How rare is this really?

It's pretty rare! A total solar eclipse hasn't been visible from the contiguous U.S. since 1979, and total solar eclipses usually only grace the skies above a given location every 100 years or so, according to NASA estimates.

This eclipse is different, however. Another total solar eclipse will be visible from Carbondale, Illinois on April 8, 2024.

Solar eclipses in general happen pretty often, however. On average, solar eclipses of one kind or another happen about two to four times per year.

Can I stare at the sun during the eclipse?

No.

But, come on, can't I look at it?

Okay, yeah, the real answer is a little more complicated.

It's not a good idea to look at the sun with your naked eye, but the total solar eclipse actually will present you with a pretty fun opportunity to look to the sun without fear.

During the partial phases of the eclipse you definitely need eclipse glassesor other protective gear to look at the eclipse, but at the moment of totality, you can actually look directly at the sun without any protective eyewear. Note that the moment of totality lasts for a mere minute or two in most locations.

Indonesian residents wearing eclipse glasses look up at the sun during a solar eclipse in 2016. Credit: Mast Irham/Epa/REX/Shutterstock

Therefore, it's incredibly important to have protective gear for this eclipse. You should make sure you get a certified pair of protective glasses, and learn how to make your own viewer for the eclipse with NASA's nifty guide.

Do I need a telescope?

Nope! You don't need a telescope to see the eclipse, but if you do decide to use a set of binoculars or telescope, be sure to get a proper filter.

And obviously make sure to protect your eyes if you're planning to watch the eclipse in any way.

What about the science?

Scientists can actually collect a pretty amazing amount of data during the August total solar eclipse.

With NASA's support, students in 50 places around the U.S. are planning to launch high-altitude balloons to gather video and photos of the eclipse from high above the Earth's surface.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will also keep an eye on the moon's shadow as it traverses the face of the Earth, an observation the spacecraft has made before to produce some incredible images of eclipses from space in the past.

Other NASA missions in space will also gather data during the eclipse.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory and the Hinode spacecraft will be able to see the eclipse from space, observing the moon as it passes in front of the sun. Other NASA missions like SOHO and STEREO will keep an eye on the sun's atmosphere during the eclipse, but won't actually see it.

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