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FE Power Forums => Non-FE Discussion Forum => Topic started by: cjshaker on July 23, 2017, 04:04:40 PM

Title: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on July 23, 2017, 04:04:40 PM
I've always been a bit of an astronomy buff since the time my Dad bought me a telescope when I was 8 (it might have been 9 for those remembering the '69 Challenger post ;D)

Surely some of you guys already live in the path, but my wife and I are traveling to western Kentucky, or Southern Illinois/Central Tennessee depending on weather, to observe it. I've got my welding goggles and filters for the binoculars to view it, just hoping the weather will be clear that day. Is anyone else planning on viewing the August 21, event?
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: AlanCasida on July 23, 2017, 05:13:38 PM
I am about 3 hrs away from the path when it goes across northern Kansas. Right now I am planning to take that day off and witness it.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: The Magic Ratchet on July 23, 2017, 05:38:37 PM
Our daughter lives in the prime viewing area in SC. We'll be going there. Thinking about taking the E-450 motorhome just because of the crowding authorities are anticipating all through and near the viewing area throughout the Southeast.

Lou
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: Barry_R on July 23, 2017, 05:59:13 PM
My oldest daughter is something of an astronomy freak at this time - so I should go to see it with her.  No idea where to go yet - figured that I would wait for weather before doing anything stupid like a lane ticket - probably just get in the truck and drive.  Sky should be visible anywhere along the path...
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on July 23, 2017, 06:26:51 PM
Just an FYI, anywhere along the Path Of Totality will be near impossible to get a hotel room. They will be booked solid weeks/months in advance. We are going backpacking/hiking, to watch it without loads of people around. Ohio will experience anywhere from 75%-90% coverage, but that is nothing compared to the POT.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: blykins on July 23, 2017, 07:12:59 PM
I plan on it and I think I may be far enough south to make it halfway worthwhile.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: AlanCasida on July 23, 2017, 07:47:03 PM
Northeast Kansas is fairly sparsely populated when you get away from the KC Metro area so I am hoping to watch it in peace. For anyone watching this phenomenon I suggest putting the smart phone down and just enjoy the moment.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on July 24, 2017, 07:27:44 AM
Alan, I had considered going as far west as Missouri, and that may happen if the weather doesn't cooperate.

For anyone watching this phenomenon I suggest putting the smart phone down and just enjoy the moment.

Ditto this! The filters I have are only for watching the sun leading up to the eclipse, after that we'll be "wireless"....or hands free :)
There will be another one in 2024 where the central POT passes within a few miles of my house. I can sit on the porch and watch that one!
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: Falcon67 on July 24, 2017, 09:09:00 AM
Waiting for 2023 or 2024.  2024 goes right through Dallas, so about 2 hrs drive east.  2023 Annular goes right across Midland.  Another couple hours west.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: FERoadster on July 24, 2017, 10:18:35 AM
We are in Brookings Oregon and will get 90% at our house, but the AM fog from the Ocean might make it difficult. Then there are wild fires about 20 miles away that make for hazy skies in the AM. On shore breezes clear things off in the afternoon. But the eclipse is at 10:15am here. I'll be watchng from home.
Pippin from the FEForum site has a vacation house in Port Orford about 50 miles north of us and he is going to drive to the POT.

Richard
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: shady on July 24, 2017, 10:40:28 AM
I am going to watch it with one eye, That way I still have the other one for 2024.  Win win.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: Hemi Joel on July 24, 2017, 02:24:30 PM
The wife and I are planning to go see it in Nebraska :)
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on July 25, 2017, 01:40:12 AM
Glad to see I won't be the only one. The midwest states should have a pretty good chance of a viewing. I hope we all have clear skies for the event!
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: TJ on July 25, 2017, 12:12:11 PM
I was lucky enough to see an annular eclipse on a sunny day in 1994.  Very cool to see with a filter.  Would have been very spooky if you didn't know it was coming...seemed like the sun's batteries were going dead.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: Hemi Joel on July 25, 2017, 09:03:54 PM
... I hope we all have clear skies for the event!

We are going in the camper. So we can be very flexible as to our location. That way,  I can watch the weather radar, and avoid areas with a chance of clouds and rain.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on July 26, 2017, 08:27:06 AM
We are going in the camper. So we can be very flexible as to our location. That way,  I can watch the weather radar, and avoid areas with a chance of clouds and rain.

That's one of the reasons we're backpacking. We don't have a trailer...or a reasonable vehicle to pull one, but that would be the best way, for sure. I have several spots picked out in case we have to move to clearer skies, but since we're so mobile, we can move to just about anywhere and not have to worry about finding a hotel.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: 57 lima bean on July 26, 2017, 12:26:17 PM
Celestial tune for those that will seek the awesomeness ........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bil3-qR9s3U
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on July 26, 2017, 08:41:08 PM
Celestial tune for those that will seek the awesomeness ........ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bil3-qR9s3U

A lesson in "How To Kill A Thread" ;D
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: 57 lima bean on July 27, 2017, 07:57:57 PM
My apologizes Doug.This living in Minneapolis must be getting to me.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on July 28, 2017, 05:45:11 AM
My apologizes Doug.This living in Minneapolis must be getting to me.

Apology not accepted...because I thought it was funny..lol
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: chris401 on August 18, 2017, 08:46:58 AM
Were going to use a pair or two of shades under my welding helmet.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: My427stang on August 18, 2017, 10:30:41 AM
Would like to, but the team that works for me wants to see it, and someone has to answer the Generals if they need something :)
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on August 18, 2017, 03:14:45 PM
Were going to use a pair or two of shades under my welding helmet.

Test it first. If it's an auto-darken helmet, they don't always work so well. I tried mine and it didn't work too well. Even with the sensitivity set to max, the sun wasn't bright enough to activate it. It would for just a second, then it would de-activate. Not a good thing when you're looking at the sun. If it's not an auto, then you're good.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: chris401 on August 18, 2017, 04:03:07 PM
It is not an auto dimming lens, just a plain 10. Looking at the sun through it with shades leaves a spot on my eyes for a minute. With two or three pairs of shades it should work. I wondered about the auto dimming, I will pass that on to my neighbor. When I was a kid we had a full eclipse but rhos time we are only seeing a partial eclipse in central Texas.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: FERoadster on August 20, 2017, 01:56:20 PM
Doesn't look to good for us to see the 90% here. A quick moving forest fire has the smoke plume so thick we can't even see the sun. The fire is moving closer so the smoke will be worse tomorrow.If you want search on Chetco Bar fire.

Richard
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: AlanCasida on August 20, 2017, 02:53:34 PM
They're talking like it's going to be mostly cloudy Monday around here. I am in the 98% coverage area. I was going up to the northern part of the state to see the total eclipse but I am not sure it's worth the 7 hour round trip for less than 2 minutes of viewing time for the total eclipse.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: turbohunter on August 21, 2017, 12:27:33 PM
Ok that was pretty cool.
Put the live feed on the tube, turned the sound off and the local station played Dark Side of the Moon to coincide with totality during the last song Eclipse.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: KMcCullah on August 21, 2017, 03:08:32 PM
Yep..kinda cool.  I pulled up a traffic cam north of Denver this morning. I-25 North was bumper to bumper at 6AM. Everyone was headed to Wyoming. Crazy shit! Just not my thing. Reminded me of Y2K when everybody stocked up on Ramen and moved "off grid".  But Doug was right...my auto darkening lens didn't work very well. Got myself some cheap sunglasses with a gold plated 10 shade lens, that worked good. Got about 85% eclipsed in western CO. 
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: thatdarncat on August 21, 2017, 03:54:03 PM
Clouds & light rain rolled in to Minneapolis right at the start of the eclipse. It was only going to be partial here anyway, but with the clouds there was nothing to see here. I watched a bunch of the coverage on tv. I feel for the people that traveled across the world just to have a cloudy day, but many seemed to be having fun anyway.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: chris401 on August 21, 2017, 04:19:01 PM
Cooled down some for an hour or so. It was as if the sun was on a dimmer. With three pair of shades behind my shade 10 welding helmet we got a good view.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: 427Fastback on August 21, 2017, 10:44:42 PM
Very clear sky's up here in the lower mainland of BC..#10 and up (12) worked well here..Auto tint helmets not so well...A lot of the province is on fire so the clear skies were nice..
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: 57 lima bean on August 22, 2017, 04:20:30 AM
Clear sky"s today.Should be a lot better view.Looking forward to it.
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: thatdarncat on August 22, 2017, 06:43:53 AM
Clear sky"s today.Should be a lot better view.Looking forward to it.

 :o
Title: Re: Anyone planning on viewing the Solar Eclipse?
Post by: cjshaker on August 22, 2017, 09:41:43 PM
I guess we got lucky. Just got back from western Kentucky, about 20 miles from the greatest duration, and we had beautiful skies. There were some light fluffy outer clouds, but overhead was very clear. Got to see the entire event on a deserted rocky lake shore that was only accessible by hiking in. There was only one other person there and he kayaked in! It was pretty freakin incredible! Except for the mid 90 temps and high humidity, which was a KILLER backpacking in, it couldn't have turned out any better! The total eclipse period was impressive to say the least. You just can't describe it, but having a 360* red sky sunset is pretty amazing.