DETROIT – The Carrick family plans to watch the solar eclipse Monday afternoon at the Michigan Science Center.
"How many times in my lifetime am I going to get to see that?" Neil Carrick said.
For the first time in a century, the Great American Eclipse will be visible from coast to coast. Metro Detroit will experience 80 percent coverage.
"I love astronomy, and it's what I teach and love, and to have everyone excited, it's exciting," astronomer Paulette Epstein, with the Michigan Science Center, said.
The Michigan Science Center will have a half dozen telescopes on hand, and will broadcast the NASA livestream of the eclipse on a big screen.
Astronomers said anticipation has been building to a fever pitch.
"Phones have been ringing off the hook, looking for the glasses. This is a really big deal," Epstein said.
When it comes to safety, don't look directly at the sun without protection. You could burn your retina, and regular sunglasses aren't enough. Specially designed eclipse glasses will block the sun's harmful rays.
The Carricks said they're taking precautions, but that this is a childhood memory they didn't want their kids to miss out on.
"It'll be a long time before they see it again," Megan Carrick said. "They'll tell their grandkids."