Total Eclipse of the Sun across the USA August 21, 2017! Where will you be?

[dioxide45]

You can also use a pinhole viewer to see the eclipse. Did this many years ago during the annular eclipse that was viewable from the Toronto area. Poke a small hole in a piece of paper and allow the sunlight to pass through the pinhole on to a solid object. You will see the shadow move across the sun.

I doubt that we will go out of our way to see it. It looks like another total eclipse will pass closer to where we are in April 2024.

 

[wackymother]

In Charleston! Rented a week at Lodge Alley back in August 2016.

 

[Timeshare Von]

I will be overnighting the night prior in SW Iowa, which will allow me flexibility to go up to 8-10 hours in either direction along the totality path. Ideally, I'd like to be able to view in Kansas or Missouri, but based on weather I will go where I must . . . I've taken the week off on vacation and will enjoy whatever is around in the area where I end up. If it's a total bust due to clouds, I'll make due.

ADDITION (5/12) . . . looks like with the midday activity, I'll only have around 4-5 hours to get to a great viewing spot, based on weather.

 

[Passepartout]

If it's a total bust due to clouds, I'll make due.

It'll be on TV anyway, and Whoop-dee-doo, you'll get to experience a couple of minutes of darkness in the middle of a summer day!

 

[Sea Six]

You should only look directly at the eclipse with unprotected eyes during the period of totality -- when any of the sun's rim is directly viewable it can damage your eyes.

This total eclipse will last around 2-1/2 minutes along the centerline of the totality path but gets shorter and shorter the further you are from the centerline.

"Totality" only lasts a few seconds

 

[paxsarah]

"Totality" only lasts a few seconds

Close to the center line, somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 seconds.

 

[Makai Guy]

"Totality" only lasts a few seconds

This is the second time you've posted this. As I pointed out the first time, this is true if you are barely into the totality band. Nearer the center of the band totality lasts over two minutes. See this link, zoom in and click on any area of interest to get specifics for that location.

 

[loosefeet]

We will be in Sublimity Oregon. We just decided to go (3 1/2 months ahead of time)--ALL the campsites in the Oregon State parks are booked, and hotel rooms are going for a premium (one site $250/night for Motel 6). Just as difficult as timeshare planning!

 

[Timeshare Von]

It'll be on TV anyway, and Whoop-dee-doo, you'll get to experience a couple of minutes of darkness in the middle of a summer day!

CORRECTION . . . time tables are in UT. The correct times for CDT are 11:40a (start) . . . 1:06pm (total) . . . and 2:35p (end) . . . for Kansas City, MO.

I appreciate the comment by paxsarah that had me recheck my info source.

 

[paxsarah]

10:30am on the west coast to 2:30pm on the east coast seems like the middle of the day to me. Show up in the evening and you'll have missed it!

 

[Timeshare Von]

10:30am on the west coast to 2:30pm on the east coast seems like the middle of the day to me. Show up in the evening and you'll have missed it!

Thanks for the correction! My timetable was in UT . . . not CDT. I appreciate your help.

 

[easyrider]

It'll be on TV anyway, and Whoop-dee-doo, you'll get to experience a couple of minutes of darkness in the middle of a summer day!

The dark day reminds me of the Mt St Hellens eruption. It was night time dark at 3pm .

The odd thing about this eclipse is there is another almost identical but perpendicular eclipse happening in 2024 which is about 7 years. These two eclipses form a cross over Carbondale Illinois. Kind of interesting, but not proven, is that some groups have speculated a historical religious significance to this 7 years as tribulation.

What we should see if we make it to the totality areas is a starry sky with a glowing coronal ring around the moon and the look of sunrise in all directions. Worth the drive for us unless something better comes along.

Bill

 

[isisdave]

London, I'm afraid, this time.

Did it in 1979, though. Flew from San Diego to Portland, landing in a crashing rainstorm. Drove to The Dalles, OR in the rain. Went to bed; motels didn't triple their rates for this one. Woke up early -- mostly cloudy but the rain had stopped. Drove to Goldendale. The sun sailed into a clear patch just before totality. It was amazing. The air got perceptibly cooler. The sky got darker, but not night-like. The cows headed for the barn! Wish I could do it again.

 

[paxsarah]

I listened to an interesting podcast a few weeks ago that helped explain to me all the hype. https://gimletmedia.com/episode/rapture-chasers/

 

[easyrider]

I listened to an interesting podcast a few weeks ago that helped explain to me all the hype. https://gimletmedia.com/episode/rapture-chasers/

Historically, there have been many happenings associated with solar eclipses. Some of the interesting thoughts for me anyway were the ones where societies thought a dragon or serpent was eating the sun. Another would be Louis the Pious, King Charlemagne's son who freaked out to death because he thought God was punishing during an eclipse.

If you liked that podcast you might like the Fatima story which actually concludes tomorrow in Fatima. May 13, 2017 marks the 100 year ago appearance dealio and the beginning or end of something. I bet it would be hard to get a room in Fatima right now.

Bill

 

[Rjbeach2003]

Isisdave, I lived in Salem Oregon in 1979 and everyone at work went outside to experience. I remember the darkening, the birds stopped sing, no cows close.

We'll experience again this year. I've read 25 million live in path of full eclipse and 12 million more will come. Highways will be packed.

 

[urban5]

Have booked flights from east coast to Lincoln Nebraska to be with daughters family. Where they live it is projected to have about 1 min 20 seconds of totality. Went through one in the Carolina's I believe in April of 1970. Was a very interesting experience, temperature dropped, birds quit chirping, street lights came on and a real hush came over the area. Then just like that it was back to normal.

 

[CO skier]

... The cows headed for the barn!

When this eclipse ends, 12 million people will be headed for the barn. Me? I will be headed for the bar!

 

[ilene13]

Amsterdam

 

[Sandy VDH]

I have experience the total eclipse once in Toronto in the early 1990s. It was strange, it was dark enough that all the night lights came on in the middle of the eclipse.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/canada/toronto?iso=19940510

 

[dioxide45]

I have experience the total eclipse once in Toronto in the early 1990s. It was strange, it was dark enough that all the night lights came on in the middle of the eclipse.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/canada/toronto?iso=19940510

That was actually an annular eclipse and not really a total eclipse. It was otherwise known as the ring of fire. This is because the moon is further away from the earth during the eclipse meaning that the moon does not totally block the ring of the sun. I remember viewing this also. I don't recall it getting overly dark, but I was out in the country so there were no lights that would have turned on with the darkness.

 

[paxsarah]

I have experience the total eclipse once in Toronto in the early 1990s. It was strange, it was dark enough that all the night lights came on in the middle of the eclipse.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/canada/toronto?iso=19940510

I remember watching this one in Michigan and it was very cool. I was lucky enough to be with a crowd that happened to have access to some welding visors.

 

[MuranoJo]

We'll be trailer camping with friends in the totality zone in Idaho. This was planned over a year and a half ago.

I have a family reunion coming up and now wish I had thought ahead (like 2 years) to having it during this event--bet attendance would be even better.

 

[PStreet1]

We'll be in Jefferson City, Missouri, 2 min. 30 seconds of totality. We could get 9 seconds more by relocating to Columbia. Now, we just have to hope for good weather. It occurs a little after 1:00 pm there, so we should have no obstruction from things on the ground, but clouds, of course, are another matter.

 

[PStreet1]

Timeshare Von, I'd be concerned about slow traffic if traveling any distance. I think people will be lining the highways and traffic to get to a viewing spot will be heavy. I know that in St. Joe, Missouri, you can get a ticket for the airport parking lot, and in Jefferson City, Missouri, there are parks that will be set aside for viewing. Columbia has the campus area to use plus parks.