Anyone going to see the 2017 total solar eclipse?

[mike656]

Just curious if anyone else is as excited about this as I am? Just booked my hotel in Columbia SC and will be counting down the days until August 21st hehe.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_21,_2017
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2017_GoogleMapFull.html

 

[tynopik]

if you're going to travel, might as well go all out and go to southern illinois

http://www.americaneclipse2017.org/observing-the-eclipse/weather-prospects/

Throughout Tennessee, North and South Carolina the weather prospects diminish by comparison to the West with percentages reaching above 70% chance of cloud cover (on average). Without stating the obvious, the Smokey Mountains are a no go for observing the eclipse! Don’t write these state’s off though, weather on eclipse day may not reflect the average conditions at all and these states may be your golden ticket to witnessing the Corona, only time will tell.

 

[tynopik]

The Best Place to View the Total Solar Eclipse This Summer, According to Science

 

[SKORPI0]

Longest duration of 2 min 41 seconds near Carbondale, IL.

This is the 1st coast-to-coast Total Solar Eclipse across the U.S. in 99 years.
http://www.ksal.com/total-solar-eclipse-1st-in-99-years/


https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEdecade/SEdecade2011.html

 

[walrus]

It's passing about 25 miles north of my house, but it's going to be such a cluster f*ck I'm not planning on going.

 

[preCRT]

You're so vain....

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Yep, family is gathering at the in-laws in Hilton Head island, gonna be fantastic watching it there!

 

[soulcougher73]

Ill go on my deck and watch it.

 

[JTsyo]

Remember to not look directly at the sun without protection.

 

[Exterous]

Remember to not look directly at the sun without protection.

You can't tell me what to do or not do!

 

[Red Squirrel]

The last time we had a total eclipse here we were stuck in a classroom with blinds closed. Didn't get to see a thing, not even with any kind of equipment, they did not want to let us. Wish it would happen here again so I could prepare better now that I'm an adult and not a kid stuck in school. Then again with my luck I'd be working that day, so I'd miss it anyway.

Also looking at that map, I would have figured the line would be bigger given the size of the moon and distance to earth vs distance to sun. Anyone know the science behind why it's only going to cover such a small zone?

 

[dullard]

Anyone know the science behind why it's only going to cover such a small zone?

It depends on your definition. The TOTAL eclipse is a small zone but a PARTIAL eclipse is going to cover virtually all of North America. Even most of Canada will have at least a 40% eclipse.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2017-august-21

My house is in the 100% eclipse path. But my work is only 98% eclipsed. I'm not taking a vacation day to see this. I saw an eclipse when I was young. It really wasn't much to brag about. If I remember correctly, we just poked a pinhole into a cup and looked through that. A better idea, but similar would be to make a pinhole projector. Take a cardboard box, bigger than your head, with a pinhole in it, put your head in the box with your eyes facing AWAY from the sun, and look at the sun on the back of the box.

 

[soulcougher73]

It depends on your definition. The TOTAL eclipse is a small zone but a PARTIAL eclipse is going to cover virtually all of North America. Even most of Canada will have at least a 40% eclipse.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2017-august-21

My house is in the 100% eclipse path. But my work is only 98% eclipsed. I'm not taking a vacation day to see this. I saw an eclipse when I was young. It really wasn't much to brag about. If I remember correctly, we just poked a pinhole into a cup and looked through that. A better idea, but similar would be to make a pinhole projector. Take a cardboard box, bigger than your head, with a pinhole in it, put your head in the box with your eyes facing AWAY from the sun, and look at the sun on the back of the box.

Woot. KC is on 100% zone. Although it looks a tad north of KC and i live a tad SW of KC. Sure it will be fine.

 

[adairusmc]

I live right in the middle of the path here in Oregon, and we have some undeveloped land that we are letting visitors rent spots to camp on. Was able to get $750 each for the tent spots and $2000 for the spots we have set aside for RV's for the weekend.

My wife and I will be on the Oregon coast that weekend attending a wedding, also right in the middle of the path and will go and see it on the beach.

 

[zinfamous]

Remember to not look directly at the sun without protection.

sorry, but I have freedom where I live.

 

[lxskllr]

I can simulate an eclipse any time I want. I go outside and close my eyes. I like to do it when I'm driving. Safety first. I turn on my headlights before starting the eclipse.

 

[bbhaag]

If the weather permits I'll check it out. I'm about 3 hours north of Carbondale so I won't get the full effect but close enough. I got a couple acres out side of town with no trees or buildings to block the view so that's were we will be.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

I'm going to a huge music festival with a bunch of smelly hippies way out in the wilderness but right in the path of totality.

 

[Ns1]

I live right in the middle of the path here in Oregon, and we have some undeveloped land that we are letting visitors rent spots to camp on. Was able to get $750 each for the tent spots and $2000 for the spots we have set aside for RV's for the weekend.

My wife and I will be on the Oregon coast that weekend attending a wedding, also right in the middle of the path and will go and see it on the beach.

Good for you but WTF?

 

[adairusmc]

Good for you but WTF?

What do you mean? All of the hotels and camping spots around here have been full for months. Might as well take advantage of the situation.

A friend of my grandparents has 1500 acres in central Oregon around madras and he did the same thing with that land, setting it up for camp spots for that weekend, and pre sold all the spots already, netting him about $1.2 million.

If we have to endure all of these people for the eclipse, might as well make some money off of them. I just wish I had more land.

 

[Ns1]

I just had no idea people were spending that kind of money to see this.

 

[XavierMace]

Was able to get $750 each for the tent spots and $2000 for the spots we have set aside for RV's for the weekend.

Holy crap, seriously?

 

[SKORPI0]

If the weather permits I'll check it out. I'm about 3 hours north of Carbondale so I won't get the full effect but close enough. I got a couple acres out side of town with no trees or buildings to block the view so that's were we will be.

http://www.carbondaleeclipse.com/

I'm about 317 miles ( 4 3/4 hours) NNE of Carbondale, IL. Too bad it's a Monday, gotta be at work.

 

[JTsyo]

The last time we had a total eclipse here we were stuck in a classroom with blinds closed. Didn't get to see a thing, not even with any kind of equipment, they did not want to let us. Wish it would happen here again so I could prepare better now that I'm an adult and not a kid stuck in school. Then again with my luck I'd be working that day, so I'd miss it anyway.

Also looking at that map, I would have figured the line would be bigger given the size of the moon and distance to earth vs distance to sun. Anyone know the science behind why it's only going to cover such a small zone?

Picture is worth a 1000 words.

 

[adairusmc]

Holy crap, seriously?

Yep, people are scrambling for spots to stay since everything has been booked for months now. We just advertised with Facebook classifieds and Craigslist. People are paying cash up front, and no one has cancelled. I should be able to find a taker for the last RV spot before eclipse time gets here. Some people are renting out their homes for $5-6k as well, but I am not comfortable doing that with my house. This property is about 30 miles from where I live and is perfectly placed in the path of the eclipse, but there is nothing there for anyone to trash or steal.

We are expecting so many people here in northeast Oregon that our county emergency services are advising us to do all of our grocery shopping a month out, as they expect the local stores and restaurants to be overwhelmed.