Astrophysicists, astronomers and enthusiasts of “Star Wars” have known there will be a total eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21, 2017, for many years. And they have known exactly where it will pass, and have made plans well in advance to get themselves into perfect viewing positions for the big day.

But for those of us who only think about the sun and the moon when it’s cloudy, we have been scrambling the last couple months or weeks, to get a hotel in the path of totality or a ticket to one of the many viewing parties.

Too late now. You snooze, you lose.

Your best bet for accommodations are in Asheville, Weaverville or Mars Hill, or even further outside the path of totality, which will sweep across the southwestern portion or WNC.

But if you can’t make it, is it a chance lost for life? Not so fast.

“Partial solar eclipses are not rare. Even total solar eclipses take place on average two times every three years,” said Brian Dennison, professor of physics at UNC Asheville. “We just get to see them often because they tend to occur in really remote places that are hard to get to.”

The last total solar eclipse was March 9, 2016, in the South Pacific, seen from Indonesia, Sumatra and Borneo. The last total solar eclipse in the United States was Feb. 26, 1979, in the Northwest, seen from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Canada.

The next one in the U.S. is not that far off. It will be less than seven years from now, on April 8, 2024, when it will start in Texas and take a northeasterly flyover the heartland, into Ohio, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

The next worldwide eclipse will be July 2, 2019, over Chile and Argentina. Remember to bring your solar eclipse viewing glasses, and start making your South America travel plans now.

See more solar eclipse news at http://avlne.ws/2vJn6iw.