Posted on 08/21/2017 9:12:49 AM PDT by Kaslin
Americans with telescopes, cameras and protective glasses staked out viewing spots along a narrow corridor from Oregon to South Carolina to watch the moon blot out the midday sun for a magical couple of minutes Monday in what promised to be the most observed and photographed eclipse in history.
Sky-watchers everywhere — and millions were expected to peer into the sun — set out lawn chairs and blankets and awaited the first total solar eclipse to sweep coast-to-coast across the U.S. in practically a century. Astronomers were giddy with excitement.
Jim Todd, a director at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, warmed up the crowd at an amphitheater in Salem, Oregon.
“The world is watching us, folks, because we are going to get the first, best show and the weather is gorgeous,” Todd said. “The weather forecast is crystal clear throughout the state.”
David Avison showed up in Salem before dawn with his wife and relatives, after traveling by car and overnight train from their suburban Portland home. They couldn’t get reservations at a nearby resort, despite making plans six years ago.
“I’m telling people if you want to see the one in 2024, you’d better make your reservations now,” Avison said.
With 200 million people within a day’s drive of Monday’s path of totality, towns and parks braced for monumental crowds. Clear skies beckoned along most of the route, to the relief of those who feared cloud cover would spoil this once-in-a-lifetime moment.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
If the Mayans had kept going for just 5 more years ..
My location will be 99.6% eclipse. Could be interesting!
At 100%, it will be very dark out. The birds stopped chirping, the frogs came out. I did look at it right then - the diamond ring effect is spectacular. Of course they thought Columbus was a god - or Cortez.
ECLIPSE, as in the moon moving in front of the Sun, or partially in front of the Sun, depending on your particular location on Earth and eclipsing, or partially eclipsing, it. ie, blocking out the Sun totally or partially, depending on one's location on Earth, thus their viewing angle.
Columbus’ eclipse was a lunar eclipse.
I’m in Eugene , Or. The totality is about 99.6% here. I have to go to work at 11 AM otherwise I Would have gone to Corvallis or Salem.
Never mind!
Where are you? Here in LA you can see a nibble taken out of the sun (at 9:05). Supposed to be (our) totality (70%) at 10:15 or so. It’s fun to watch.
And you won't be looking at the sun today IF you watch ONLY during the period of totality with naked eye. The only light you will see is the glow of the suns corona from behind the moon. It will be less bright than a full moon.
I’m in Cola sort of working from home. Not much happening with me. Most of the troublemakers took vacation.
I figured I might update the ole CV.
If the traffic is light, I thought about running to the local Chinese place for a to go order around 1.
“Impressive in a rather moronic way.”
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I would say it was moronic,in an impressive way.
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My location will be 99.6% eclipse. Could be interesting!
would a simple welding helmut work?
My two dachshunds are lying here on the porch sound asleep. As long as I whisper eclipse I’m betting it goes by unbeknownst to them.
There are some clouds moving into Indiana from Illinois right now.
Some TV dude aid that during an eclipse the dangerous rays (or whatever) are 10,000 times stronger, or more dangerous, than normal. Sounds like an exaggeration to me but what do I know?
All cats are asleep on the bed (used catnip spray to lure them there). Closed the shutters and the doors.
Sounds interesting. Report back when you get a chance and let us know how it was.
Also, this AM the morning news here assured everyone all roads would remain open during totality.
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