Where and how to watch the solar eclipse in Sonoma County

Making plans for the eclipse? Here's what you need to know.|

The Robert Ferguson Observatory will hold solar eclipse viewing events with solar telescopes and eclipse glasses from 8 a.m. to noon Monday at Courthouse Square and at the observatory in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, 2605 Adobe Canyon Road. The event is free; parking is $8. For information, go to rfo.org.

Russian River Vineyards will host a Solar Eclipse Watch Party at their restaurant and tasting lounge at 5700 Gravenstein Hwy. N. in Forestville. The event starts at 9:45 a.m., and they will have wine by the glass, mimosas and coffee for purchase. No reservations necessary. Visit their Facebook page for more details: facebook.com/RussianRiverVineyards

The Children's Museum of Sonoma County will host a Solar Eclipse party from 9 to 11 a.m. The museum will provide eclipse glasses for visitors, and explore shadows, make pinhole viewers and live stream NASA's eclipse feed in the Art Studio. More information at cmosc.org.

Know of any other eclipse parties? Let us know in the comments, and we'll add them to our list.

* Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says a “total eclipse of the sun belongs on everyone's bucket list.”

* Monday's total solar eclipse will be the first one visible from the contiguous United States since 1979, and the first time since 1918 a total eclipse has traveled from coast to coast.

* The cosmic event will last 90 minutes as the lunar shadow sweeps from Oregon to South Carolina at more than 1,500 mph.

* Next up is a total eclipse that will darken skies over Mexico, Texas and up through the Midwest and Northeastern U.S. in 2024.

To learn how dark it will get in your ZIP code, go here.

Prefer to stay indoors or can't get away from work? Come back to PressDemocrat.com for a live feed of the history-making event.

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