Eclipse

[RobertJ.]

Last one to see it is a rotten egg! Sorry, SC!

We're about 100 miles from the middle of the path, and where it first hits Oregon. We're not going anywhere! I've heard reports of what traffic might be like, and we're hunkering down right here.

 

[Inusuit]

I spoke to a Wyoming State Trooper last week. His department is planning for a worst case scenario: Bumper to bumper traffic on I-25 north from the Wyoming state line to Casper. Emergency service personnel are expecting shortages of food, gasoline. Even cell service may be overwhelmed. Response to the inevitable car wrecks and medical emergencies may be impossible due to gridlock. We plan to close and lock the gate to our driveway, mix up some gin and tonics, and watch from the front deck.

What amazes me is the naivety of people who think they just will be able to drive north to watch. They have no concept of the potential for traffic jams and shortages.

 

[johngalt]

I suppose I'll just stay put. Would have been interesting to see, but don't want to put up with the crowds and gridlock.

 

[Targets Guy]

I'm going to sleep in.

 

[cmore]

1. I treated my office with special sunglasses==they were about $1.25 each--I think a bulk package of 20 ran about $20.

2.We are in the 90% corridor.

3. I checked on Google Earth one time and saw my GSP in the backyard.

I saw a piece on Fox Business news that you need to be very wary of
inadequate viewing lenses. They named 4 good brands. I think it was nasa that was named as the authority. Maybe you should check there for your brand.
I seem to remember as a kid we made a viewer out of a Quaker Oats carton. A pinhole in the lid, cut out the side and view eclipse on the bottom of the carton, IIRC. probably somewhere on the interwebs.

 

[rwsmith]

I wouldn't do that....

Got an eclipse question. I know you are not supposed to look,at it without special glasses, but would it be dangerous to aim my digital camera at it and see it through the screen on the camera? I would like to take some pictures of it, but don't want to cause damage to my eyes.

I believe that direct sunlight can damage digital cameras. If you can put a dark filter on your camera, it may be able to take short exposures.

One time I held a nest of about five red, green, polarizing and any other filters I could find over the lens (35mm cam) and the partial eclipse came out pretty good.

You can make a pinhole device that will project the image onto a blank piece of paper and observe it indirectly.

 

[steelslaver]

Out come my stack of big welding lenses. Kids want to see it. I saw one back in ancient times(late 70s I believe). Thing that struck me wasn't the lack of light. It was the lack of noise. Everything quit making any noise.

 

[soFlaNative]

I first heard of this around the beginning of 2016. Saw the path go across 441/23 at the GA/NC lime and had visions of the view from Black Rock Mtn. or contact the folks in my parents old place and ask to overnight on the porch. The ballfield behind the vol. fire dept. would have been nice.
Just as well I didn't follow through. A week off would have worked but a lot of life happened in the past few days that's not going to resolve itself anytime soon. Those of you who have made plans I wish you all clear skies.

 

[steveno]

there sure is going to be a LOT of upset people if it is cloudy on August 21. they may need the extra cops for riot control

 

[JSR III]

I just saw the long range forecast and it says heavy rain that day followed by plague and pestilence.

 

[turnerriver]

The local sheriff near our place in the NC mountains is suggesting that everyone " eclipse in place " and stay off the roads. I'll take his advice and watch in my front yard. I'll miss the party in downtown Highlands...
Regards,
turnerriver

 

[Bugkiller99]

August 21st also happens to be the day that I will make the sun disappear unless my demands for 1 trillion dollars are met. I will only do it temporarily to let you know I am serious-but the next time it will be permanent. SO start sending in the money.

Caj, I know you are a charlatan. If you were the real deal, you would have asked for bit coins.

 

[zzclancy]

Excellent app for the phone "Eclipse 2017.org". Google play store.

 

[oneounceload]

We are supposed to be in the totality zone in Charleston here. I've already got three pieces of number 14 welding glass with appropriate coatings, So I'm ready.

Got family in Summerville so we'll be staying there for a short visit and watching the event

 

[2ffat]

I believe that direct sunlight can damage digital cameras. If you can put a dark filter on your camera, it may be able to take short exposures.

One time I held a nest of about five red, green, polarizing and any other filters I could find over the lens (35mm cam) and the partial eclipse came out pretty good.

You can make a pinhole device that will project the image onto a blank piece of paper and observe it indirectly.

Yes, an unfiltered camera can be damaged and damage your eyes, too. I ordered a filter for my Nikon at the end of June. It just came this past Saturday. These are called Neutral Density lenses. The only ones that are really safe for watching the eclipse.

There are several easy and safe indirect methods to viewing an eclipse such and the pinhole "camera."

 

[rwsmith]

Not so, not so......

Rabun Co. Georgia is the closest point to me and about everyone else on the East Coast.

The band of totality cuts the state of SC in two from western SC through Columbia in the middle of the state all the way to Charleston on the coast before it goes out to see. I've got some friends from Ga coming up cause I'm 'in the zone'. We will probably drive a bit to get toward the middle.

My wife has to work but she can stop her mail route long enough to see it.

 

[soFlaNative]

Anything in the gray zone is the path of totality.
The center line passes directly thru Rabun Gap, GA.

 

[Tom K]

Yes, an unfiltered camera can be damaged and damage your eyes, too. I ordered a filter for my Nikon at the end of June. It just came this past Saturday. These are called Neutral Density lenses. The only ones that are really safe for watching the eclipse.

There are several easy and safe indirect methods to viewing an eclipse such and the pinhole "camera."

NO. Regular photographic neutral density filters are not suitable for shooting an eclipse with an SLR, if you are going to be looking through the camera's viewfinder. They still allow harmful IR and UV to pass through. Use a ND filter only if you are using "live view" and your camera's LCD screen. Better yet use a filter specifically made for solar viewing. Or make your own with Baader astrosolar film, better in my opinion than the Thousand Oaks black mylar film. [ame]https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_89_0?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abaader+solar+film%2Cp_89%3ABaader+Planetarium&keywords=baader+solar+film&ie=UTF8&qid=1501652910&rnid=2528832011[/ame]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explor...nfIqjUxqtAr6oHGE_PioEF6h7l0W7vbTKcaAsfy8P8HAQ

 

[Leslie Sapp]

The center line passes directly thru Rabun Gap, GA.

Betcha can't get a reservation for lunch at the Dillard house that day!

 

[soFlaNative]

Betcha can't get a reservation for lunch at the Dillard house that day!

Clayton? or not? Close enough.
The pinhole viewer post allowed me to recall the last partial eclipse when I walked under a tree and every speckle of sunlight on the ground had that "missing the bite of the cookie" appearance.