The Nonscientific Reasons Everyone Is Geeking Out Over The Eclipse

<p>Hotels are booked, solar eclipse glasses are selling out and the U.S. Department of Transportation has warned drivers of additional traffic on Aug. 21. To say there&#39;s a lot of excitement over the total solar eclipse is an understatement.</p><p>The Transportation Department says about 200 million people live within a day&#39;s drive to a prime total solar eclipse viewing spot.</p><p>But why is this such a big deal, and why are people going out of their way to see it? Those are just some of the questions we asked Phil Plait, aka the &quot;Bad Astronomer.&quot;</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/solar-eclipses-interrupt-weather-patterns-solar-power/">How An Eclipse Messes With Our Weather And The Power Grid</a></b></p><p><i>Get a deeper understanding of the stories that matter with Newsy&#39;s &quot;The Why&quot; &mdash; weekdays 7-9 p.m. ET.</i></p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/1940s-us-anti-fascist-film-goes-viral/">What A 1940s Government Film Said About Fascism Is Relevant In 2017</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/white-nationalist-rally-organizer-chased-by-angry-crowd/">Co-organizer Of White Nationalist Rally Chased Away By Angry Crowd</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/stories/lexington-kentucky-mayor-wants-to-move-confederate-statues/">One Mayor In Kentucky Is Pushing To Move Confederate Monuments</a></li></ul>