Getty This picture shows the moon passing in front of the sun during a total solar eclipse in Surabaya, East Java on March 9, 2016.
Missouri is one of the states that’s directly in the line of Monday’s solar eclipse.
The rare astronomical event is expected to crawl through the northwestern part of the state all the way to the southeastern during the afternoon, and there’s many locations and options for watching it happen.
After moving on from the West coast, the totality of the eclipse is expected to cover a distance of just over 300 miles in the state, and St. Joseph on the Missouri River is supposed to be one of the best places to check it out, according to the Great American Eclipse. That area will enjoy 2 minutes, 38 seconds of the eclipse in its totality beginning at 1:06 p.m.
In central Missouri, cities such as Marshall, Boonville and Columbia are expected to see the eclipse in its totality for 2 minutes, 30 seconds around 1:10 p.m. Central time Jefferson City will get to see the rare event for 2 minutes, 27 seconds starting at around 1:13 p.m.
Watch below for a map of the eclipse as it moves over Missouri.
The eclipse will be at its peak at 1:17 p.m. Central time in St. Louis, and those watching can expect a total view of the eclipse.
Watch the eclipse as it moves though St. Louis in the video below.
Luckily for Missourians, the weather forecast is calling for pretty good viewing weather with it being partly cloudy in Kansas City, per Accuweather.
With a limited viewing area across the nation, many have decided to flock to cities within the eclipse’s path to ensure the best view possible. One of those cities is St. Joseph, which is experiencing a dramatic increase in traffic. Hotels in the area are booked and tour buses have made their way into town, KCTV 5 News reported.
For live traffic updates, click here. If you’re one of the people traveling to the St. Joseph area to get a glimpse of the eclipse, alternate routes have been posted by the Missouri Department of Transportation.
If you want to make your eclipse viewing a social event, many Missouri state parks are going all in on the eclipse, with many having planned watching parties. To see a list of the state parks offering a unique experience, click here.
