Philadelphia

Want to See the Solar Eclipse from the 35,000-Feet? Take This Flight from Philly

If you want an (almost) out of this world glimpse of the solar spectacle, you have to head into the sky

Watching next week's Great American Eclipse from Terra firma is so pedestrian.

If you want an (almost) out of this world glimpse of the solar spectacle, you have to head into the sky.

And lucky for you, there an easy way to do it from Philadelphia.

American Airlines has a flight to Atlanta, Georgia that will be traveling directly through the path of totality — when the moon fully blocks out the sun — right around the same time the eclipse.

The total solar eclipse, when the moon passes in front of the sun covering its disk, will move from the northwest to southeast on Aug. 21 from Oregon to South Carolina.

AA flight 2079 is scheduled to depart Philadelphia International Airport at 12:59 p.m. on Aug. 21. The flight plan takes it on a southwesterly route through The Carolinas and into the main path of the eclipse. It's scheduled to arrive at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport at 3:07 p.m., a few minutes after the eclipse's peak.

The jet, an Embraer ERJ-190, is a smaller commuter plane with 99 seats. As of Sunday morning, there were still five seats left on the flight: three in economy ($154 one-way) and two in first class ($284 one-way.)

If you're wondering what the eclipse will look like from a plane, check out this story from Space.com.

There's obviously no guarantee that you'll see a partial or total eclipse on the flight as there are a ton of factors at play like air speed and departure timing.

Those who prefer to stay on the ground in Philadelphia will still get to see about 75 percent of the eclipse. Remember should only look at the eclipse using special glasses or risk eye damage.

If you can't see the total eclipse this time around, mark your calendars for May 1, 2079. A total solar eclipse will begin in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and travel on a northern arc through New England.

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