39 replies to this topic

[Diana N]

I am surprised  that a thread under the Solar Eclipse section hasn't already been started for this event, as it's only a bit more than 7 months off.  so, here's a post to get things started.  Who is planning to view this, and where are you planning to go?

 

I have made plans to view the eclipse in Albuquerque, NM.  I only found out after I booked my accommodations that the eclipse coincides with the Balloon Festival, which I have wanted to see for a long time, so it's going to be a rare vacation two-fer!

[Alan D. Whitman]

Well, for decades this October's annular has been on my list, and I always assumed that I would go. But the closest parts of the path for me are southern Oregon and northern Nevada. Part of the joy of eclipse-chasing is seeing new places, and I have toured those areas thoroughly. I enjoyed the two annulars that I did see ('94 near Oklahoma City when I was tornado-chasing for a US federal government research project) and '12 in central Nevada. The one in '12 we were three guys sharing the cost of gas and sharing one motel room. So if I go this time, it will cost more than three times as much for my wife and I with nobody to share expenses. It's a long two-day drive to southern Oregon or three days to the better climatology of Nevada, so looking at probably a six-day trip.

 

So I'm looking at a grand anyways, if I go, which is twice what it will cost me for my over 70 season's pass at our excellent local ski area this September, for example. I'm still undecided if it is worth it for what is really just a special case of a partial solar eclipse.

 

I have always said that it is worthwhile to travel anywhere in the accessible world for a total solar eclipse, and anywhere in North America for an annular eclipse. But now that it's decision time, I'm unsure. I think that I'll book a refundable motel today though, and decide in the fall.

 

I do plan to see the three long total eclipses in 2024, 2027, and 2028 (if I live that long), and perhaps the shorter two in 2026 and 2030. Those trips will all be vastly more expensive than this relatively nearby annular, but a grand for an annular is not inconsequential to me.

 

Undecided....

[Diana N]

If you really want to treat yourself, treat the eclipse as a good excuse to vacation in New Mexico.  There is a lot to see and do there!  And viewing the eclipse from Chaco Canyon would be a lifetime memory.

 

When I travel to see an eclipse, I always try to find a spot where there are interesting things to see and do apart from the eclipse itself, so clouds can't ruin the entire trip.

 

Booking a refundable motel room is certainly a smart move.  If you decide against going, you can always cancel the reservation.

[No1umfan]

If you really want to treat yourself, treat the eclipse as a good excuse to vacation in New Mexico.  There is a lot to see and do there!  And viewing the eclipse from Chaco Canyon would be a lifetime memory.

 

When I travel to see an eclipse, I always try to find a spot where there are interesting things to see and do apart from the eclipse itself, so clouds can't ruin the entire trip.

 

Booking a refundable motel room is certainly a smart move.  If you decide against going, you can always cancel the reservation.

Never been to New Mexico. But you’ve got me interested.  Where would you stay within a reasonable drive to Chaco canon?

[Alan D. Whitman]

If you really want to treat yourself, treat the eclipse as a good excuse to vacation in New Mexico.  There is a lot to see and do there!  And viewing the eclipse from Chaco Canyon would be a lifetime memory.

 

When I travel to see an eclipse, I always try to find a spot where there are interesting things to see and do apart from the eclipse itself, so clouds can't ruin the entire trip.

 

Booking a refundable motel room is certainly a smart move.  If you decide against going, you can always cancel the reservation.

Hi Diana,

 

Chaco Canyon would be an excellent suggestion, except that I ran the volunteer astronomy program there in the autumn of 2002 and the spring of 2003 when I was still a young'un in my mid-50s. One of the problems with getting old (and a long retirement like I have had) is that there are fewer and fewer new places to see. Southern Utah, for example, is a place of great beauty, which is why we have travelled there so much already. The only USA part of the path of annularity that I have not seen is the Texas Gulf Coast, which we will spend a couple days at before the 2024 total eclipse.

 

But thanks for the suggestion.

[Diana N]

Never been to New Mexico. But you’ve got me interested.  Where would you stay within a reasonable drive to Chaco canon?

https://www.nps.gov/...rvisit/lodging.

 

Given the traffic congestion the eclipse might cause, I'd recommend camping at Chaco Canyon for at least two nights:(the night before the eclipse, and the night of eclipse day):  https://www.nps.gov/...sit/camping.htm

 

The downside of Chaco Canyon is that the entrance road is horrible, and very long.  But the ruins are both fascinating and impressive, and it would seem to be a fitting place to observe the eclipse as we know that the builders paid close attention to the sky and many of the buildings have significant astronomical alignments.

[No1umfan]

Thanks. What’s the weather like that time of year?

[MEE]

Thanks. What’s the weather like that time of year?

Meteorologist and eclipse chaser Jay Anderson’s site says your chances are pretty good if you go there:

https://eclipsophile.com/ase2023/

[MEE]

The only USA part of the path of annularity that I have not seen is the Texas Gulf Coast, which we will spend a couple days at before the 2024 total eclipse.

But thanks for the suggestion.

Maybe John Beattie will charter a jet out of Anchorage to see the sunrise annular over the N Pacific 😉

Maybe a quick flight to Portland then drive south to see fall colors peaking and Baily’s Beads from the N edge?

[Alan D. Whitman]

https://www.nps.gov/...rvisit/lodging.

 

Given the traffic congestion the eclipse might cause, I'd recommend camping at Chaco Canyon for at least two nights:(the night before the eclipse, and the night of eclipse day):  https://www.nps.gov/...sit/camping.htm

 

The downside of Chaco Canyon is that the entrance road is horrible, and very long.  But the ruins are both fascinating and impressive, and it would seem to be a fitting place to observe the eclipse as we know that the builders paid close attention to the sky and many of the buildings have significant astronomical alignments.

Diana must be an optimist by nature to only call the road in "horrible". Chances are that you have never driven on a long road that bad. And it crosses a river, on the river bottom -- the river is usually dry. But sometimes the river is running, and people try to drive across and get washed downstream. This is all from 20 years ago, so possibly it's better. I was told that the state kept offering to build a better road, but that Chaco Culture National Historical Park liked the road that way since it kept the numbers of tourists down. Their attitude seemed to be that Chaco should be for archaeologists and that the tourists could go to Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. But there is a campground and a Visitor Center at Chaco, and we did get probably 25 people a night coming to our astronomy programs. And there is a 25-inch scope in a dome in as dark a sky as I have seen anywhere in the world.

 

But, as Diana says, where else in North America are you going to see ruins that are up to five stories high that were built back around 1100 AD?

[YoYoYoMikey]

I've already scheduled the meeting room at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton, MD.  I'm going to put on a viewing of the partial here in Maryland.  Now to just learn how to do it. 

[reubanks]

Diana,

 

I also plan on visiting the Albuquerque area for the eclipse. This will additionally allow a visit to Meteor Crater on one leg of the trip.

 

I have been through Albuquerque a few times, but didn't have much of a chance for sightseeing. This will absolutely be different this time.

 

An interesting coincidence (to me at least) was that last year I drove to Bryce Canyon for vacation and upon arrival, found out that there just happened to be a Balloon Festival in the town where I was staying. I made for a quite an enjoyable stay on many levels.

[Diana N]

Diana,

 

I also plan on visiting the Albuquerque area for the eclipse. This will additionally allow a visit to Meteor Crater on one leg of the trip.

 

I have been through Albuquerque a few times, but didn't have much of a chance for sightseeing. This will absolutely be different this time.

 

An interesting coincidence (to me at least) was that last year I drove to Bryce Canyon for vacation and upon arrival, found out that there just happened to be a Balloon Festival in the town where I was staying. I made for a quite an enjoyable stay on many levels.

In case you didn't know it, the Albuquerque Balloon Festival overlaps with the eclipse!  The Balloon Festival runs through October 15, and the eclipse is on October 14.  So you could go to Albuquerque a bit early and enjoy the Balloon Festival AND the eclipse.  But book your room now, as due to the Balloon Festival the hotels are going to book up quickly!  (Ditto with a rental car if you will need one.)

 

I have yet to make it to Meteor Crater (or Sunset Crater or Wupaki), but alas, I don't have time to do them on this trip.  But I have been to visit Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, and can recommend it, as well as the Grand Canyon (of course!).  And there's tons of things to see in New Mexico; for the space-themed ones I can recommend White Sands National Park, the Museum of Space History in Alamagordo, the Very Large Array, and (for a bit of silly fun)  the International UFO Museum in Roswell.  Have fun planning!  So many things to see, so little time...

[Robin]

I'm in. Just booked flights, rental car, and campsite for the nights around the eclipse in the southeastern Utah region of the annularity path.

If anyone plans a deep-sky star party or a gathering of cloudynights members, let me know. :-)

After having observed two total (1999, 2017) and 7 more partial solar eclipses, this will be my first annular eclipse.

 

Clear skies (especially on October 14)

Robin

[MDT]

I have a room booked in Mesa Verde. I am taking modest equipment for a picture or 2. It's a 9 hour drive for me. But it's a very pretty drive. 

[kdenny2]

Bryce Canyon-area is kinda my thinking to view this one.

[mwedel]

I was thinking Monument Valley/Mexican Hat area, but all the hotels around there are booked up. I found lodging in Gallup, NM, for the night before the eclipse, figure I can drive north or east to get closer to the centerline, depending on how traffic and clouds are behaving. Looking forward to it -- the 2012 annular was my first solar eclipse of any kind, and it will be nice to see another one.

[APshooter]

I spoke with my sister in College Station and an deciding I'm might go there with my portable solar quest and lunt Lst50. I realize it's not on the centerline but my sister is up in years and doesn't like to travel. I'd be going more for the social aspects than eclipse perfection. The map shows a pretty significant eclipse even from her location.

Edited by APshooter, 09 April 2023 - 02:30 PM.

[NickLandis2023]

I was talking to a friend at University of New Mexico and they are planning a viewing party open to the public. No details yet, but I'll be keeping an eye on this site for when more info is out.

 

I'm hoping the Campus is further enough from the Balloon Fiesta to not be crazy, but hotels are still pretty expensive on that side of the city.

[bunyon]

The whole city sells out for the festival. It’s a huge national event.

[kfiscus]

I spoke with my sister in College Station and an deciding I'm might go there with my portable solar quest and lunt Lst50. I realize it's not on the centerline but my sister is up in years and doesn't like to travel. I'd be going more for the social aspects than eclipse perfection. The map shows a pretty significant eclipse even from her location.

Since it's an annular, being on the centerline is of less importance, IMO.

[B 26354]

Yes and no. I've only seen one annular... but it was totally cool to see the black disc of the Moon dead-center on the sun. Drove about 275 miles in January 1992, to watch it from the slopes of Palomar Mountain, after touring the observatory earlier in the day. It reached annularity just minutes before the sun -- fortuitously peeking through intermittent clouds at exactly the right moment -- sank beneath the Pacific Ocean horizon. I've seen more partial solar eclipses than I can remember. That annular one was wonderful.

Edited by B 26354, 13 April 2023 - 01:21 AM.

[Diana N]

I was talking to a friend at University of New Mexico and they are planning a viewing party open to the public. No details yet, but I'll be keeping an eye on this site for when more info is out.

 

I'm hoping the Campus is further enough from the Balloon Fiesta to not be crazy, but hotels are still pretty expensive on that side of the city.

TASS will also be setting up observing stations in various locations in Albuquerque (including the Balloon Fiesta grounds).  So also keep an eye on the TASS website:  https://taas.org/

 

(And if you are planning to be in Albuquerque and willing to help out with public outreach during the eclipse, let the University of New Mexico and TASS know!  I know TASS will appreciate the help, and I bet the University might as well.)

[Southstorm]

We reserved an AirBnb just outside of Silver Lake, Oregon for the Annular Eclipse.

[bunyon]

It's strange. In principle, an annular shouldn't be any different than a partial. And yet, it is.

 

Yes and no. I've only seen one annular... but it was totally cool to see the black disc of the Moon dead-center on the sun. Drove about 275 miles in January 1992, to watch it from the slopes of Palomar Mountain, after touring the observatory earlier in the day. It reached annularity just minutes before the sun -- fortuitously peeking through intermittent clouds at exactly the right moment -- sank beneath the Pacific Ocean horizon. I've seen more partial solar eclipses than I can remember. That annular one was wonderful.