Posted on 02/14/2024 12:06:44 PM PST by US Navy Vet
I am in the totality zone near Cleveland, so I can’t avoid it.
Interesting that local media is now warning people to stock up on groceries and fill gas tanks in advance of the eclipse.
What do they expect to happen? What do they know?
Wife’s sister lives in Erie, PA.
I have a Questar telescope with a full 3 1/2” solar filter.
Tinfoil hat, reflective blanket, fire axe, bayonet, Mosin Nagant rifle, because this is how the zombie outbreak starts.
I plan to shampoo my cat....
This will be my third. First two had perfect skies. We’ll be headed toward an undisclosed location in northern Maine but the prospects are not good for clear skies in early April. Will have two telescopes on tracking mounts plus glasses, etc. Regardless, we’ll have a good time.
The best link to eclipse:
Interactive google map.
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html
Times in the UUT (London standard time), in US noonish in Texas, after noonish in Midwest and North.
I will be staying in Dallas, but will drive toward Hillsboro or West. You should too. the center line is the best!
Do not settle for partial eclipse. The sun disk is about million times brighter than the corona, so the corona is visible only during totality (Unbelievable, spooky).
Also, the cooling during eclipse causes the clouds to disperse (sometimes). So even when cloudy, go for it. It may clear up just for the eclipse!
I have seen two so far and it happen both times!
Do not use any eye protection during totality!
Eclipsed Sun is about as bright as full Moon, so one does not need any eye protection during the totality! The so called eclipse glasses are for the partial eclipse phases ONLY!
The total eclipse is available close to where I live but I will be viewing (I HOPE) from Texas because of a longer eclipse and less likely cloud cover.
I’m in the middle of building something like one of these: much better/safer than a telescope IMO.
https://today.cofc.edu/2017/06/13/solar-eclipse-viewer-diy/
Not necessary. The eclipse causes rapid cooling, which then causes clouds to disperse.
Quite often, the clouds go away during deep eclipse and totality and rapidly come back as the eclipse finishes.
I have seen two total eclipses so far and it happened both times.
What do they know?
_____________
Nothing disastrous will happened. It is a great nature phenomenon, they should encourage people to watch.
But they are idiots and disasters sell!
Outside Watertown, NY. 70% chance it’ll be cloudy. Not a sought after April destination. But I’ve seen some nice spring days in the north country, too. Besides, its a reason to see friends.
Places in the path of totality get overrun by those chasing the total eclipse. Better to not be caught unaware when your town is wall-to-wall traffic jams from the lookie-loos.
We might do Burlington,VT...and then spend the night in nearby Montreal.
Yes, have eclipse t-shirts and special glasses.
Will be with family at our river place which is in the center line of the path of totality.
The only problem is the traffic jam before and especially after the event!
When you drive to observing place, go early and plan on long hours to get back home.
If you flying back home, make sure you will have enough time to make the flight!
From web the last time we had totality:
“Across the country, Interstate highways near the path of totality experienced traffic congestion shortly after the eclipse, with longer-than-normal travel times on Interstate highways. For example, travel from Casper, Wyoming, to Denver, Colorado— normally a 4-hour trip—took 10 hours or more.”
My friend was observing in Casper and taking that route to Denver airport and yes, he was stuck there for 10 hours!
Yes. Gave out eclipse safety glasses as Christmas presents.
_________________________
As a matter of fact, the eclipsed Sun is not at all brighter than usual. (Actually less bright). So the eye damage is not a particular problem of eclipse.
The problem is that during eclipse people look at Sun a lot more than usually!
Be sure to not just look, but listen. Reading about how the birds and insects become quiet during the eclipse.
I live within 50 miles of the track through Ohio, so yes. Been a bucket list item all my life. At 79 I’m finally going to check it off.
Yeah, it will probably be cloudy and rainy here in April, too. If that happens, we plan to be prepared to just drive to where it isn’t cloudy.
There is an enormous difference between being in the area of totality and being able to see the filaments and stars - with the interaction of the wildlife - and being outside it.
Even NASAs cameras do a poor job of capturing what you can see with the naked eye.
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.