r/IAmA

Hey Reddit! We’re UCLA planetary astronomer Jean-Luc Margot and USA TODAY weather reporter Doyle Rice. Like millions of Americans, we’ve been preparing for the total solar eclipse that will cross North America on Monday, April 8, and we’re here to chat with you about this rare celestial event.

Here’s a little bit more about us:

Hello, I am () with UCLA. I teach planetary astronomy and I have hosted total solar eclipse trips in Oregon (2017) and Chile (2019). I am headed to Texas for Monday's eclipse. My research interests include the dynamics and geophysics of planetary bodies, radio and radar astronomy, and SETI. []

And I’m () from USA TODAY. For the past 20 years, when weather, climate or science makes the news, I’ve written about it for USA TODAY. From blizzards and tornadoes to hurricanes and floods, the USA's wild weather keeps me busy. Weather will play a huge role in how much people enjoy the eclipse. []

Wondering what kind of glasses are safe to use to view a solar eclipse? Curious about what even happens during the eclipse? Will you even be able to see it? Something else? Ask us anything!

Edit: That's all the time we have today, thank you for joining us! If you're curious how the eclipse may look in your city, . For the latest weather updates, .

I am a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Economics and of History, and Professor Emerita of English and of Communication, at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I am currently a Senior Fellow at Cato Institute.

Proof:

Looking forward to your questions, Reddit.
UPDATE: I'm going to wrap up at 8:30pm Pacific, but thank you for your questions. It's been interesting.

Update on 4/1 (and no, this is not an April Fool's joke): I enjoyed this exchange and will do another one in a few months.