573 replies to this topic

[APshooter]

It's tricky to know here to go, hotel wise.  The eclipse goes right over my observatory, but April is typically cloudy at my location.  I'll have to remain mobile in case I need to travel quickly to a destination.

[Look at the sky 101]

I wonder how many people will be on the move for the eclipse. Probably thousands.

[APshooter]

If its anything like the last one, yes. I still remember shots of the roads in Wyoming choked with cars trying to get into totality's path.

[Look at the sky 101]

https://www.space.co...affic-jams.html

 

I assume that the same thing will happen and maybe worse, because there are even more cars on the road.

[Hax]

Luckily for me my house is right in the path of full totality!

Currently I’m only a visual novice with my LS50, but I’m hoping to get some AP gear throughout this and next year (and god willing an upgraded scope) so I can snap some sweet photos of this event! Last year I caught the partial eclipse pretty good, but I was mostly kind of clouded out for the most part… that said if there is even a remote chance of clouds I hope I can prepare and drive somewhere in the path that is cloud free.

[Look at the sky 101]

Luckily for me my house is right in the path of full totality!

Currently I’m only a visual novice with my LS50, but I’m hoping to get some AP gear throughout this and next year (and god willing an upgraded scope) so I can snap some sweet photos of this event! Last year I caught the partial eclipse pretty good, but I was mostly kind of clouded out for the most part… that said if there is even a remote chance of clouds I hope I can prepare and drive somewhere in the path that is cloud free.

Did you look at the forecast map above?

[B 26354]

To save a bit of searching through these (at this point) 57 posts, here's the link posted by the OP in post #22:

 

https://www.accuweat...ted-states/2186

 

...and here's its included projected-weather map:

 

 

 

Edit:

 

For me, it would be a 1,400-mile drive, each way, to the Dallas TX area... for a 50% chance of seeing totality. Not worth the expenditure, in my estimation. I'll wait and take my chances on the one in 2045, which happens a week after my 101st birthday!  

Edited by B 26354, 12 March 2022 - 11:13 AM.

[kfiscus]

When I posted this, it was 757 days until the eclipse.

 

My wife and I plan on being on a cruise ship again, at or near Mazatlan.  Mobile, convenient, no traffic.  This all comes at a price, obviously. 

 

We saw our first total off of Mazatlan 7-11-91.  The ship saved us because Mazatlan was clouded out.  We got to see the whole eclipse from a huge hole in the clouds that the captain found for us.  Imagine all of the beauty of a total eclipse while being surrounded by t-storms lit internally by golden lightning.

 

We saw our second total from another cruise ship on 2-26-98, having planned to see the eclipse from Aruba.  Again, the mobility of the ship and a good captain saved us from clouds that day.  We saw the whole eclipse.  Those on Aruba missed some of the show and had REAL anxiety as clouds came and went.

 

We saw our third total from land in southeast Nebraska on 8-21-17 and missed most of the beginning partial eclipse due to thunderstorms.  We got to see all of the good stuff but it was CLOSE.  We then got to fight bumper-to-bumper traffic from Omaha to Minneapolis.  We promised ourselves that we would never try to drive home after an eclipse again.  The traffic was obscene and I think 2024 will be worse if the weather cooperates at all.  88% of adult Americans watched the 2017 eclipse in person or online.  I think 2024 will be insane.  (The US has a 20-year wait after 2024 until the next total in 2044.)

Edited by kfiscus, 13 March 2022 - 04:41 PM.

[BOSS3128]

This topic, plus a lousy weekend weather-wise inspired me a bit.

 

Had some Thousand Oaks filter material left over, and decided to make some spare filters up for 2024.

 

Had one for my spotting scope that I modified for the 72EDII, then made 2 more for the 72.

 

Then made up 2 for the Orion ED80. 

 

Have a bit more finishing work to do on them.

 

Got some nice views of the activity in region 2965 yesterday.

Attached Thumbnails

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[Look at the sky 101]

When I posted this, it was 757 days until the eclipse.

 

My wife and I plan on being on a cruise ship again, at or near Mazatlan.  Mobile, convenient, no traffic.  This all comes at a price, obviously. 

 

We saw our first total off of Mazatlan 7-11-91.  The ship saved us because Mazatlan was clouded out.  We got to see the whole eclipse from a huge hole in the clouds that the captain found for us.  Imagine all of the beauty of a total eclipse while being surrounded by t-storms lit internally by golden lightning.

 

We saw our second total from another cruise ship on 2-26-98, having planned to see the eclipse from Aruba.  Again, the mobility of the ship and a good captain saved us from clouds that day.  We saw the whole eclipse.  Those on Aruba missed some of the show and had REAL anxiety as clouds came and went.

 

We saw our third total from land in southeast Nebraska on 8-21-17 and missed most of the beginning partial eclipse due to thunderstorms.  We got to see all of the good stuff but it was CLOSE.  We then got to fight bumper-to-bumper traffic from Omaha to Minneapolis.  We promised ourselves that we would never try to drive home after an eclipse again.  The traffic was obscene and I think 2024 will be worse if the weather cooperates at all.  88% of adult Americans watched the 2017 eclipse in person or online.  I think 2024 will be insane.  (The US has a 20-year wait after 2024 until the next total in 2044.)

I'm still thinking about doing a cruise from Los Cobos, as you say, if the weather doesn't cooperate, we can always move fast enough to avoid the clouds.

I have already booked in Mazatlan. 

This is still a very good option.

I will continue to think about it.

[Look at the sky 101]

This topic, plus a lousy weekend weather-wise inspired me a bit.

 

Had some Thousand Oaks filter material left over, and decided to make some spare filters up for 2024.

 

Had one for my spotting scope that I modified for the 72EDII, then made 2 more for the 72.

 

Then made up 2 for the Orion ED80. 

 

Have a bit more finishing work to do on them.

 

Got some nice views of the activity in region 2965 yesterday.

It was a productive weekend, nicely done. 

[BOSS3128]

Thanks,

 

Will take them all with me on the 8th, sell the ones I do not need to the unprepared for $100 a piece.

 

Just kidding, I will take them all, and give any to those that have a scope that they will fit if they are without one. (Will keep one backup for the scope I bring).  In 2017 I had a spare 50mm filter.  The guy next to me was setting up his 35mm DSLR.  He said how he tried to get a filter at the last minute but surprise, all sold out.  Said he would just get shots of totality.  Gave him my spare, and had a friend for the rest of the event!

[George9]

We saw our second total from another cruise ship on 2-26-98, having planned to see the eclipse from Aruba.  Again, the mobility of the ship and a good captain saved us from clouds that day.  We saw the whole eclipse.  Those on Aruba missed some of the show and had REAL anxiety as clouds came and went.

Just for the record, Aruba had a pristine sky for the eclipse. Zero haze or clouds anywhere in the sky at the time of totality. But yes, the partial phase an hour before it drizzled, which was odd given 98% probability of clear sky. The astronomers down below our hill were unphased because they had realtime weather maps and knew it was fine. We didn't know that at the time and did get worried, but in the telescope I could see ships far out at sea that were in the sunshine, and with the wind coming in, it looked like it would clear. It did indeed add to the drama.

 

We had picked out an old settlement on a hill that had been cleared of houses, leaving just foundations. It was empty until 15 minutes before totality when numerous residents flocked up the hill to see it. We had never seen an eclipse and neither had they, so it was pretty stunning when totality fell. It was great sharing the view with everyone.

 

I mentioned this in a previous thread, but having only seen eclipses in old-fashioned photos, I was unprepared for the streamers of the corona. On the way into Aruba, a beach shop had a painted towel for sale that showed an eclipse, and I thought, well that's a very fanciful image of an eclipse. As soon as I saw the corona, I realized that that towel was the only accurate image I had ever seen.

 

George

[George9]

For Wyoming 2017, we drove and carried enough food, water, and gas for a week in case we got stuck or decided to hike around for a while. But instead we headed back to Boulder soon after totality and managed to get back pretty quickly on a back road, maybe 1.5x the usual time. Then went hiking in the Rockies with our supplies.

 

We ended up on top of a small hill in the middle of nowhere, with what felt like a 50 mile view in every direction. I expected the eclipse shadow to kind of head toward me on the ground, but instead it kind of came up over us overhead (hard to explain). We had a 12" scope with us but had decided not to squander the 2 minutes trying to center and focus the Sun, and to just enjoy it with naked eye plus binoculars and a 92mm refractor.

 

But for 2024, I would like to bring a large scope to the eclipse, and that favors driving to the Texas side over the Pacific. I would like to see the prominences at high power.

 

George

[BRCoz]

We are planning to go see this one.  Still not sure of the location yet.  

For 2017 we were in Idaho.  We had the glasses and I had 25x100 bins with filters on a Uni-mount to view.  I'll be taking the same for this one.

 

Side Note:  Anyone going to the 2023  annular eclipse?  I have never seen one.  Is it worth the trip?

[kfiscus]

We are planning to go see this one.  Still not sure of the location yet.  

For 2017 we were in Idaho.  We had the glasses and I had 25x100 bins with filters on a Uni-mount to view.  I'll be taking the same for this one.

 

Side Note:  Anyone going to the 2023  annular eclipse?  I have never seen one.  Is it worth the trip?

I've seen one annular eclipse and here is how I quantify its "coolness factor".  My wife and I drove 8 hours each way to see the 1994 annular eclipse at the centerline in Jefferson City, Missouri.  As we began our long drive home after the eclipse, I asked my wife to be ready to give me a number of how many hours each way that she'd be willing to sit in a car to see another annular.  I asked her to not tell me her answer while I thought of my own answer.  On the count of three, we each gave our answer.  We both said "10 hours." 

 

Edit:  This is AFTER we had already seen one total eclipse.  They are completely different visual experiences.  The best part of the annular lasted 11 minutes.

 

I'd recommend googling images of annular eclipse shadows.  They are quite unique, especially if you travel to the centerline.

Edited by kfiscus, 17 March 2022 - 07:24 PM.

[BRCoz]

I've seen one annular eclipse and here is how I quantify its "coolness factor".  My wife and I drove 8 hours each way to see the 1994 annular eclipse at the centerline in Jefferson City, Missouri.  As we began our long drive home after the eclipse, I asked my wife to be ready to give me a number of how many hours each way that she'd be willing to sit in a car to see another annular.  I asked her to not tell me her answer while I thought of my own answer.  On the count of three, we each gave our answer.  We both said "10 hours." 

 

Edit:  This is AFTER we had already seen one total eclipse.  They are completely different visual experiences.  The best part of the annular lasted 11 minutes.

 

I'd recommend googling images of annular eclipse shadows.  They are quite unique, especially if you travel to the centerline.

Thanks for the info.  I will be in Utah for it and will be there the day before.  

[George9]

For 1994, given the choice of driving to truly see the annular eclipse or seeing a near-annular form my home, I stayed home. Not out of laziness, but just there is something about seeing it from your own home and unlike a total, the two views are very similar.

 

Hmmm. It just dawned on me that an amateur coronagraph might show a great view of the corona during an annular or any near-total eclipse. Normally, you are just barely seeing the corona (see other recent threads). But if you have 99% of the Sun covered, add a coronagraph and the sky background is 100x dimmer. Suddenly you can see more of the corona. I'll try it 2023.

 

George

[SteveInNZ]

I'd recommend googling images of annular eclipse shadows.  They are quite unique, especially if you travel to the centerline.

Is there something in particular about the annular shadows (as compared to partial) that catches your eye ? I Googled but only got the usual colander partial pictures, etc.

 

We've been to 6 totals and have already booked for Mazatlan in 2024. However, despite being just over the ditch from us (in New Zealand), we're going to pass on the 2023 total in Australia in favor of going to the annular in the US later in the year.

 

Steve.

[Look at the sky 101]

Is there something in particular about the annular shadows (as compared to partial) that catches your eye ? I Googled but only got the usual colander partial pictures, etc.

 

We've been to 6 totals and have already booked for Mazatlan in 2024. However, despite being just over the ditch from us (in New Zealand), we're going to pass on the 2023 total in Australia in favor of going to the annular in the US later in the year.

 

Steve.

Hi,

I will be in Mazatlan too, where do you plan to stay?

[kfiscus]

Is there something in particular about the annular shadows (as compared to partial) that catches your eye ? I Googled but only got the usual colander partial pictures, etc.

 

We've been to 6 totals and have already booked for Mazatlan in 2024. However, despite being just over the ditch from us (in New Zealand), we're going to pass on the 2023 total in Australia in favor of going to the annular in the US later in the year.

 

Steve.

If you are on or near the centerline of an annular, you get THOUSANDS of beautiful rings of sunlight under the trees.  I'll try to get a frame grab of my video that I shot to show you.

[Look at the sky 101]

If you are on or near the centerline of an annular, you get THOUSANDS of beautiful rings of sunlight under the trees.  I'll try to get a frame grab of my video that I shot to show you.

I would love to see this, don't forget to put it here.

Thanks. 

[kfiscus]

I would love to see this, don't forget to put it here.

Thanks. 

https://www.youtube....h?v=InAZAZ4aWJI

 

This is a low quality video clip.  Apologies on the spot of glare.  I videoed this 1-minute clip from my classroom projection system.  Note the birds singing at lunch time like it was morning again.  (The rings of light are best starting at 46 seconds.)

Edited by kfiscus, 18 March 2022 - 08:39 PM.

[Look at the sky 101]

https://www.youtube....h?v=InAZAZ4aWJI

 

This is a low quality video clip.  Apologies on the spot of glare.  I videoed this 1-minute clip from my classroom projection system.  Note the birds singing at lunch time like it was morning again.  (The rings of light are best starting at 46 seconds.)

Wow , very cool . Thanks. 

[philmor56]

According to Time and Date, I'm 99.1% coverage from my backyard in Bolton, just NW of Toronto.

I'll sacrifice the .9% for the comfort and not having to put up with the traffic! (Watch out Hamilton et al, there's a few million people in the GTA heading your way! ).

My fingers are crossed for the weather, notoriously cloudy and dank... like today 

I hope everyone gets a chance to see this.

Clear Skies