On August 21, 2017, the Moon will pass between the Sun and the Earth, casting its shadow across the continental United States.
This will be the first total solar eclipse to pass over the ‘lower 48’ in 38 years. The last one was February 26, 1979 and crossed over only 5 states. 
This time, 14 states will see a total solar eclipse and everyone in the contiguous United States will see at least a partial solar eclipse. 
“The result is a loss of visual function, which may be either temporary or permanent depending on the severity of the damage…injuries occur without any feeling of pain (the retina has no pain receptors), and the visual effects do not become apparent for at least several hours after the damage is done (Pitts 1993).” 
Quick and easy projection:
Solar eclipses can only happen when the moon is in its New Moon phase: when the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and Earth leaves the side of the Moon facing Earth in complete darkness. But eclipses don’t happen every New Moon, as the Moon’s orbit is tilted causing its shadow to miss the Earth about five out of six times. 
“The Moon's shadow can be divided into areas called the umbra and the penumbra. Within the penumbra, the Sun is only partially blocked, and observers experience a partial eclipse. The much smaller umbra lies at the very center of the shadow cone, and anyone there sees the Moon entirely cover the Sun in a total solar eclipse.” 
Mobile, AL will be within the shadow’s penumbra - 81% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon. 
The Eclipse will begin at 12:01 p.m. and end at 3 p.m., lasting about 3 hrs. Maximum eclipse is at 1:33 p.m.