A map of the solar eclipse path through Tennessee. Michael Schwab/The Tennessean
GATLINBURG — The total solar eclipse is expected to last only 1 minute, 25 seconds over Clingmans Dome, but that isn’t preventing the National Park Service from making a day of it.
A sell-out crowd of 1,300 visitors, who paid $30 each, plus a few hundred more presenters, performers, media and event personnel will start arriving at sunrise Monday. A three-hour program hosted by Emily Calandrelli of Fox television’s “Xploration Outer Space” will begin at noon.
University of Tennessee's Paul Lewis demonstrates the damage you can do to your eyes if you watch an eclipse through optical instruments like a telescope, even with solar filter glasses.
"Let's hope it's like this tomorrow," said Molly Schroer, Great Smoky Mountains National Park spokeswoman, as she stared into the bright blue sky Sunday during preparations for Monday's big event.
Dr. Douglas Morton, a NASA scientist, was also on hand Sunday. He said if the eclipse itself isn't an unusual enough occurrence, the sky at Clingmans Dome should have some unusual sideshows.
"We should see a 360 degree sunset," he said.
More:Complete coverage of Aug. 21 solar eclipse
In addition, a line of darkness should move across from one horizon to the other in a matter of minutes.
Morton will be among the speakers at the Clingmans Dome event.
The list also includes NASA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, eclipse scholar Helen Mason of Cambridge University, Brian Mitchell of Marshall Space Flight Center, Cherokee Nation storytellers Kathi and Leroy Littlejohn and John Grant Jr., and astronomy storyteller Tom Lee.
The dance group Dance Exchange and the Jazz Americana musical group Flea Bitten Dawgs are among the performers.
“We have been working with NASA on this for months,” Schroer said.
"They will be streaming live from here. We are one of a few sites across the country from where they will be streaming live and the only national park.”
No vehicle traffic Monday
Clingmans Dome is closed to vehicle traffic Monday, and the parking lot has been converted into a special events site that includes a Jumbotron screen that will allow those present to tune in to the NASA TV broadcast.
The show will go on rain or shine, although all involved obviously prefer shine.
The National Weather Service in Morristown is calling for mostly sunny skies throughout the day with temperatures as high as 91 degrees.
Totality is expected to hit at 2:36 p.m.
Events are also taking place at Cades Cove and Oconaluftee in GSMNP, but the big one is at Clingmans Dome.
Schroer suggests getting there early because traffic will be unpredictable. She also advises those attending to visit the park website, http://ift.tt/2uiNYsM.
She said the park service will be heavily involved on social media Monday and advised going to the website for more information.
The park service also warned about possible heavy traffic.
“A large number of people will be making Great Smoky Mountains National Park their destination for eclipse viewing on Monday,” said Steve Kloster, the park’s chief ranger. “We want to make sure everyone who comes here is as prepared as possible and understands that we expect traffic to be heavy and many park areas to be crowded.”
Schroer said she has been busy with eclipse planning for at least a year. The last few days have been especially hectic.
“Everybody has a task to do to make sure all of our visitors have a great time watching the eclipse,” she said.
Clingmans Dome Road will be closed to public access through Monday evening.
A map of the solar eclipse path through Tennessee. Michael Schwab/The Tennessean
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