Posted on 07/13/2017 9:13:29 AM PDT by SandRat
On August 21, for the first time in 99 years, a total solar eclipse will cut through the entire continental United States. It’s going to be awesome. If you’re in the bull’s eye center of the moon’s shadow known as the totality — the sky will go dark for a few minutes in the middle of the day, stars will appear, birds will become confused and start chirping their nighttime songs. And it’s all because of a cosmic coincidence: From the Earth, both the moon and sun appear to be roughly the same size.
Most of the country will see a partial eclipse, which is also cool. But for the complete show, you need to be in the 60-mile wide path of the totality. Luckily NASA has mapped the path of the totality to an absurd detail.
As NASA data visualizer Ernie Wright explains in the video below, normally people draw the path of an eclipse by assuming that the moon’s shape is perfectly round. But “we know that the moon isn't smooth,” he says. “Around the edge of the moon we have these sort of jagged peaks and valleys.” The resulting shadow’s shape is not a perfectly smooth oval. “It’s more like a polygon,” he says.
(Excerpt) Read more at vox.com ...
Hope it’s clear in Greenville SC that day.
Bump bttt for lights out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJgXaqW3md8
Pretty awesome video. The totality path swings close to home.
Astronomy is my thing, so I’ve had the 21st off for months. I live 60 miles from the line of totality! We even have family coming in from way out of town for it. If it’s going to be cloudy, we’ll just chase clear skies. I’m not missing this!
The actual line runs directly through my backyard.
the best places to see the rare phenomenon this August
I’ve seen several in my lifetime and they are always in the same place: In the sky, wherever the sun happens to be at the time.
I’m in Central KY. I have to take an hour drive down to bowling green.
We bought viewing glasses at Lowes yesterday. Last one I saw was in Scotland.
same here!
Going to be total right here in my front yard. Won’t have to leave the property.
That being said, I’ll probably be taking a nap.
Ditto
Will be going to a small town in Southeast Nebraska where wife was born, just off center line of totality. Have solar glasses and solar film for binoculars and telescope, need to get everything set up. Coming from Texas will stop at Indian Casino on way up and back.
SO COOL!
We have friends in Nashville, and Jackson (MO). We live near Memphis, so it’s kind of a toss-up, but we’re going to MO.
If I’ve scaled my map right, Memphis will get about 93%. That’s a good show all by itself, but why settle for that, when you can set up for 100% in your own (or a friend’s) yard?!!
Plan your viewing carefully and clouds and rain will result. Take the “If It’s visible I’ll watch” tack and you have a better chance of seeing it, and less disappointment if you can’t. < /pessimism >
Going with family to NE from IL. Going to be fantastic!
Just north of Charleston, SC here...my squaw Mrs Geronimo will not be teaching school that day...all the schools will be closed to allow the kids to watch...
Have the students white a paper to turn in as an asignment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
