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Total Solar Eclipse

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

This thread is for discussing the Solar Eclipse, coming up on August 21, 2017, that will be crossing the U.S. in a band from Oregon to South Carolina. Moreover, it's for those of you who are viewing it from in the direct path of the Total Solar Eclipse to share your unique experience with those of us who live outside of that band. I will only be seeing a 90% partial eclipse from here in Virginia. I would love to have the opportunity to travel where the totality occurs, but that won't be possible. Please share with us here.

Some people are traveling long distances to be in the path of the totality. Are you traveling to view it? Have you made big plans for the big day? Organized a viewing party? Do tell.

I hope everyone has their proper eye protection. Viewing glasses with ISO 12312-2 certification or welders glasses shade 12 or higher are required. Be safe.

Get ready. It's going to be EPIC!

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

James Freyr

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posted 2 years ago

I just so happen to live northwest of Nashville and the totality shadow will pass over my home. While I'll be near the edge of the totality shadow, it won't last the full approximately two and a half minutes of the center of the shadow. I'm excited about it, I'm hoping the weather will cooperate. I have a 10 inch dobsonian telescope with a solar filter for looking at the sun and I'm hoping that I can either put a cell phone camera up to the eye piece and snap a photo, or remove the solar filter and place it in front of my wife's camera and get a photo. I never did buy the special camera which fits on the telescope. If I get photo's I will certainly share them in this thread.

My wife and I are staying home on monday, and my brother is planning to come join us. Local city officials are anticipating the population of nashville to triple, with the worst population density being north of the city, and I don't want to be stuck on the roads.

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Awesome James! How lucky you are. I hope to see some great pics!

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

Dan Grubbs

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Location: northwest Missouri, USA

posted 2 years ago

Like James, I also live near the LoT just north of Kansas City, Missouri. Several of my out-of-state friends are coming to stay the weekend with me on our homestead. I took Monday off from my day job and should have a weekend of Frisbee, bonfires, music and grilling. Can't wait.

We have been advised from officials to expect as many as half a million people visiting the two counties in our area along the LoT. That will cause serious issues for rural communities that cannot handle this kind of attendance. The infrastructure was not designed for this. Traffic, human waste, private property, water, food ... these considerations could really stress the situation. I hope the estimates are exaggerated and everyone is civil with each other.

One of my friends joining us has special camera equipment so I hope to be able to post images next week.

Be safe out there.

Zone 5/6
Annual rainfall: 40 inches / 1016 mm
Kansas City area discussion going on here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1707573296152799/

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Hi Dan. Sounds like you and your friends are gearing up for a fun packed time. I hope the weather is perfect for you.

You are right about how crazy this could turn out to be. I hope everyone is civil and respectful. I'm sure all Permies will be, as our ethics are to care for the Earth and the people.

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

Dale Hodgins

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Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

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posted 2 years ago

There are eclipse glasses for sale online, that do not meet standards for this sort of equipment. Some of them come from China. I don't know enough about these glasses to recommend a brand. Just know that some of the equipment sold, does not protect your eyes. There's been a few warnings on the radio and internet concerning this. I'm sure it's searchable.

Tom Worley

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Location: Ozark Border

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posted 2 years ago

I'll be watching totality from a sandbar on the lower Missouri River- current weather forecast is scattered showers and thunderstorms, but if I get some decent photos I'll make sure to post them here!

Deb Rebel

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posted 2 years ago

I'm planning on driving, health and vehicle permitting to the path of totality centerline. I went through a total eclipse on the centerline at near total longest duration point, in highschool in my hometown in 1979. Such an awesome thing even if I did freeze all ten of my fingertips. My spouse has never witnessed a totality. We witnessed an 85% annular where we lived in the mid 1990's and I swore to get him to a totality. I will be dragging my 4 1/2 in Celestron reflector with all the 1979 equipment and filters, and a 12 1/2 Meade dobsonian with a canon Mark 5 digital. We'll see what happens. I booked right on the centerline.

This is a truly life altering event to see in person. As the sky turns the funny brassy color and goes greenish black, and you see the southern hemisphere constellations (okay, 1979 I wanted to seen the Magellenic Clouds and the Southern Cross and I got Formalhaut) and the diffraction bands are skittering across the ground and you are nearing the diamond ring phase, and you look west. And the shadow whipping at you at 60-80 miles wide and 1200 miles an hour.. has mass. You look up along it and realize it is 235,000 miles long and actually as physically as it gets, hooked to the Moon and bearing down on you at better than Mach one...

He's going. I'm going. We are also planning on hitting the one passing through Texas on north in 2024...

Temperature drops, and things are quiet...

May you have CLEAR skies to view. If not, check the NASA feed. The place I booked for the night was $78 with tax, it's now over $200 if they have a room.

Edit for a major typo

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Dale, You are correct. There have been issues with the sale of substandard glasses and filters. It is advised to purchase only glasses and filters compliant with current safety standards, but persons with ill intent could easily fool us with dubious wares. It would be easy enough to print the correct safety numbers on a pair of glasses, I'm sure. Please check your eye protection before the eclipse. You should not be able to see any light source other than the sun, not even the sun's reflected light, through the filters. You should be able to see only the sun itself. If you can see other light sources, they are not strong enough to protect you for direct viewing. Better safe than sorry. Take all precautions. Good looking out there Dale.

Tom, I hope those gray skies are going to clear up, or at least hold off long enough. Have a fabulous weekend. I'd love to see some pictures.

Deb, You rock! That sounds like a dream. I wish I were there. I'm so envious! I hope you have a spectacular weekend. I want every detail. Be safe.

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

r ranson

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posted 2 years ago

90% coverage here. I think I might make this.

Only... I don't eat much that comes in a box. Might have to buy some and feed it to the chickens.

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Deb Rebel

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posted 2 years ago

For the Annular partial, we took a piece of 4" white PVC pipe that was to be future plumbing, 10' long, put an elbow on the end and a piece of cardboard in there. The other end we taped aluminum foil and made a large PINHOLE and it showed us a quarter sized image as the sun got covered over by the moon reflection. This was totally safe viewing and on a good size and scale.

If all else fails this is a safe way to view.

For the 1979 eclipse I bought 'replacement' #5 welding filters and stacked three together. In case the near impossible happened and one failed, the eyes would still be protected. The odds of two failing were astronomical and you still had a filter to protect your eyes (all assumed you'd duck/flinch if stuff went). I mounted this off center in a cardboard plug for the 4 1/2" Celestron I had. The filter protected hole was 2" in diameter and returned a great filtered image. Just that things could heat up so after a few minutes of viewing it was turn the barrel away and open the end for 4-5 minutes to let things cool.

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Guys I'm cutting it close. The glasses I ordered are supposed to be delivered by 8pm today. Fingers are crossed! If USPS fails me, I'm grabbing the Cornflakes. No joke. Thanks for the video R.

Hey Deb, having been there in '79, do you recall any crowd/traffic/infrastructure issues from that time?

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

s. lowe

pollinator

Posts: 503

posted 2 years ago

My family and I will be driving north up the coast highway, leaving northern cali around 7 pm on sunday night. About 7 hours (in normal traffic) to the centerline of totality. We will see how bad the traffic and what not is. We also have nowhere to stay so will hope that an illegal camping ticket for sleeping in our parked car will either be waved or be cheaper than a hotel that we can't get anyway. I can't wait and I'm excited to see how our 18month old son reacts to it.

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Stephen, I imagine there will be many people sleeping in parked cars. Just guessing. Probably more than they have parking tickets for or officers to issue them.

I hope all goes well in your travels and you have a great view.

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

Larry Bock

Posts: 197

posted 2 years ago

Every Local small store has " eclipse glasses" for sale here and I am not near the epicenter. The run about $3 here but do come with " certification". I think that where I am will only see third of what some folks will see Still it scheduled into my world. I'll be there with the Pemies folk, looking up...... Then, most likely? Umm back to work.

Deb Rebel

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posted 2 years ago

A lot of stuff being sold is substandard. Sigh.

Make yourself the pinhole observer... you can be so simple as a pinhole in a piece of cardboard taped to a hole in the bottom of a large box. Another piece of white cardboard to project onto and you're set, just set the box sort of on the ground and aim it at the event, lift a flap and hold the white flat surface in the box shade to view.

An oatmeal box, will give you a very small image but it works too.

Or as we did for the one partial annular, if you happen to have a piece of 10' 4" diameter PVC pipe, we taped aluminum foil to one end, made the pinhole, set the open end on the ground and stuck a piece of white paper at the other end for it to aim onto (not onto the bottom but on the ground). It gave us about a quarter sized image, and after the eclipse we used the pipe for the construction project intended.

Welding helmet, as long as it's not an autodarkening. Those usually are around a #15 and those will be comfortable for the eyes to filter to look directly. We are going to buy a piece of pipe in the nearby town, and make a long tube pinhole as well as the welding helmets (we have two regular) and I have retrofitted my light bucket (12 1/2" Meade dobsonian) with a step down end block and filters. I still have my old Celestron 4 1/2" and the original stuff I made for the 1979 I went through, so we're set.

Only at full totality and trust me, you'll know when the sun's corona flares out, that is the only time it is safe to look with the bare eye. Keep glancing to the west to make sure you see the edge of the shadow coming so you are not looking up when it breaks, without full eye protection.

If you are using digital make sure you put the same amount of filtering on it as you would your eyes, and make sure it touches the lens surface, else you will get ZIP and possibly fry out the unit.

Dale Hodgins

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Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

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posted 2 years ago

Cat Stevens liked to be at the epicenter of various happenings. He took his Learjet to Nova Scotia, to view a total eclipse of the Sun. He was later accused of vanity, by his former girlfriend, Carly Simon.☺
........
I'd be very wary of those $3 glasses.

Alex Riddles

Posts: 80

Location: Columbia Missouri

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posted 2 years ago

Deb:

You mentioned southern constellations. I have been curious about what constellations would be visible during the eclipse. Any info on that and where to look?

And just to be a little silly, if a baby was born during the eclipse what sign would they be?

Deb Rebel

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posted 2 years ago

Sun will be in Leo. Definitely.

https://www.space.com/37742-spot-stars-planets-eclipse-mobile-apps.html

Because of time of year, we will get to see some of the sky we normally see.

Deb Rebel

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posted 2 years ago

IMPORTANT UPDATE about the 'eclipse glasses' being sold.

IF when you look through them at the world about you, you can see ANYTHING through them, they are not going to protect you. DO NOT USE.

Also:
Polarized sunglasses will NOT protect you
'Exposed film negative' will not protect you (this is from back when I went through the '79 eclipse)
The glasses tinted for working lampwork beads and stuff WILL NOT WORK.
A few layers of diffraction grating WILL NOT WORK.
Looking through a CD or DVD will not work.
Laser safety glasses will NOT work.
Mirrored sunglasses WILL NOT WORK.
One way window film WILL NOT WORK.
Gold coated IR mirror will NOT work.

Rated welding filters/welding helmets WILL if they are at least #13 (the higher the number the more they protect), I suggest #15. You can use lesser rated filters in unison as long as they all add up to at least 13. I have bought #5 and stack them three together so, if from the heat or some flaw one goes you still have SOME protection to be able to look away. The odds of popping two are astronomically low and will give you time yet to turn away or close your eyes.

Do not use autodarkening welding helmets, they may not react quickly enough, and they may overload.

Your safest bet is to build a pinhole viewer and use that until totality arrives. And make sure to keep a look to the west to determine when the shadow is about to end, so you don't get 'arced' by the totality ending. It will be extra bright trust me, and it is the same as getting arced during welding without eye protection. It can permanently damage your eyes. (I have a few retinal burns from arcs and in a vision map they have all been charted).

The best one for if you are in a group, is still to do the pvc pipe one (4", I happened to have one and later used it on project) and several can see the roughly quarter sized solar image that 10' of that pipe will show you.

Be SAFE, you eyes and vision are not worth chancing.

Deb Rebel

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posted 2 years ago

Karen Donnachaidh wrote:Guys I'm cutting it close. The glasses I ordered are supposed to be delivered by 8pm today. Fingers are crossed! If USPS fails me, I'm grabbing the Cornflakes. No joke. Thanks for the video R.

Hey Deb, having been there in '79, do you recall any crowd/traffic/infrastructure issues from that time?

No, we were in the middle of 3' of snow on 26 February with a high of 15f. Sky was clear as clear, and I went south of town where there were two streetlights. Others did come into town, about 30 and they chose a church parking lot and had about 15 lights come on when it went dark. I met one of those there in '85 and we compared notes and he'd wished they'd joined me near the rail tracks.

It was the first real major land viewable eclipse event after Skylab had the special scope with a blackout disk that allowed them to do a lot of observation that had only been done before from the ground, so the true pros weren't there. Lots of serious amateurs were. I happened to LIVE there so I went through it. I'm sure if it was going through there on Monday it'd be a much different thing.

Oh, I also froze all ten fingertips and during totality I was fighting with a frozen 35mm camera and having to watch my hands as I couldn't feel them anymore. I'd had to take off the silk gloves to hopefully deal with things.

Trevor Walker

Posts: 52

Location: Southern Ohio, in the Hocking Hills

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posted 2 years ago

I hope everyone has their proper eye protection. Viewing glasses with ISO 12312-2 certification or welders glasses shade 12 or higher are required. Be safe.

Get ready. It's going to be EPIC!

Here is a link to an NPR story on the eclipse:
How To Watch the Solar Eclipse

Here is the American Astronomical Society list of safe eclipse-glasses manufacturers, to which the NPR story links:
AAS, solar filters
"The following ... have been verified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for such products"

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Trevor Walker

Posts: 52

Location: Southern Ohio, in the Hocking Hills

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posted 2 years ago

I'm going to be working, but taking a break to pop my head outside and say "ooo" and aaaah".
Really looking forward to seeing what yall post, who are in the direct path.
I'm going to be in central Ohio, so a bit North. But watching peoples reactions is more fun for me than seeing the actual thing.

Cheers!

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Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Thanks for the detailed information Deb. I am glad you added that here. I have read about people using some bizarre things thinking their eyes will be protected. You should not gamble with something as valuable as your eyesight.

Great links there Trevor. Thank you for listing those. I hope you can pop outside for awhile and join in the ooo/aaahs.

The way you have described your experience of 1979, Deb, is awesome. I'm glad you survived with all digits intact. It really has played like a movie in my mind. I'm glad the weather will be warmer and I hope your equipment captures the shear visual reverence and splendor of the moment.

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

Deb Rebel

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posted 2 years ago

I caught bronchitis. Instead of being nearly to Grand Island, I am at home. I have to pay for my motel room anyways. I am massively bummed.

I hope everyone else that can, will enjoy this one. I'm also glad I can't spread germs via the modem.

Be safe in viewing this one. It's totally the lifetime experience. I'm envious. Share pictures please.

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

I am SO sorry. That breaks my heart. Hope you recover quickly.

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

Devaka Cooray

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posted 2 years ago

Uh oh! That sounds terrible. Hope you recover soon Deb! Purr...

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James Freyr

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posted 2 years ago

Here's a picture of the sun today (08/21/17) at around 10:30am CST before the eclipse starts. The sun has nice sunspots today. Taken with an iPhone put up to a 25mm eyepiece on a 10 inch dobsonian telescope. More images to come!

IMG_3793.JPG

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Looks great James. Cool picture.

We've got a few scattered clouds here and a 10% chance of showers this afternoon. Hoping they'll hold off until after 3:00 at least.

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

James Freyr

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posted 2 years ago

It begins!

IMG_3795.jpg

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

Dale Hodgins

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posted 2 years ago

I don't want to alarm anybody.

I'm north of the eclipse line, and last night I looked out the window and saw this guy flying by. There were three other horsemen with him, as well as some other ominous looking creatures. I could hear Johnny Cash singing.

They were headed due south. I don't suppose they plan to do something during the eclipse. They say that eclipses are sometimes a bad omen.

Gustave_Dor-_-_Death_on_the_Pale_Horse_(1865).jpg

James Freyr

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posted 2 years ago

Unfortunately I think some light leaked in around the camera lens and eyepiece on this one.

IMG_3799.JPG

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

Judith Browning

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posted 2 years ago

taken about ten minutes ago...

IMG_2434.JPG

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Judith Browning

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posted 2 years ago

just now...

IMG_2442.JPG

"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
"Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder."-Rumi

Karen Donnachaidh

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posted 2 years ago

Clouds continue to thicken. 90% cloud cover? 😞

With forty shades of green, it's hard to be blue.
Garg 'nuair dhùisgear! Virtutis Gloria Merces

Judith Browning

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Location: Ozarks zone 7 alluvial,black,deep clay/loam with few rocks, wonderful creek bottom!

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posted 2 years ago

well, this is it for us...not total but still pretty cool. Really lovely light out now...I tried to take garden pics throughout but not sure how that worked.

I didn't have a set distance for the camera, just peaking over my guy's shoulder as he set up to draw every few minutes....

IMG_2483.JPG

"We're all just walking each other home." -Ram Dass
"Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder."-Rumi

James Freyr

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posted 2 years ago

This just in....

IMG_3830.JPG

"Study books and observe nature; if they do not agree, throw away the books." ~ William A. Albrecht

wayne fajkus

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posted 2 years ago

I got 2 shadow pics of the eclipse on my phone. Lower left

20170821_131942-480x640.jpg

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Dale Hodgins

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Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada

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posted 2 years ago

Victoria British Columbia is too far north, for the eclipse. That didn't stop me from pointing my cell phone at the sun a few minutes ago, and snapping a couple pictures.

Here's what happened.

I just figured out how people get pictures of UFOs. I tried taking a picture of the sun with my Samsung Galaxy. Notice in the first photo, there is a structure directly above the tree. This doesn't exist and wasn't there. Seems to have been made within my camera.

The second photo shows a blow-up of the phenomenon.

And the third photo, shows something different again.
.........
I'd like to get on one of those ghosts watching shows or one of those UFO shows. Two attempts and two alien beings found. I had no idea science was so easy.

Edit - Deb informed me that this can wreck my camera. It did go into auto shutdown, when I first tried it. Foolishly, I fired it back up and tried again. But I got those two aliens.

20170821_112651.jpg