The Solar Eclipse

[carmad]

Here in Salem, all sorts of preparedness is being planned, I work at the Hospital, going to emergency only coverage, all elective surgery postponed. Predicting gas stations will be empty, bare shelves at grocery stores, cell phone and interweb disruption, and traffic gridlock because of the influx of 200,000+ extra bodies.
It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

[Laneco]

Count me in! I'm going full-geek and heading out toward Madras. I'll camp overnight, see the eclipse in the path of totality an then head home.

angela

[SpyderMike]

I just flew into Salem to visit family. 140 private aircraft are expected at KSLE and that maxes out their space. I am on a waiting list...

[pwd72s]

My house is smack dab in the middle of the totality shadow. Other than making sure our gas tanks are full & our dietary supplies are in, Cindy & I plan on ignoring the hubbub. Spend good money on geeky glasses for two minutes of use? Hardly! I'll just turn on the lights when it gets dark. Maybe I'll be lucky & sleep through it?

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

You did not see a total eclipse, you saw an annular eclipse, which is just like any partial eclipse, but a bit darker.

The difference between a 99% partial eclipse and a true full total eclipse is like the difference between a 1976 912E and a 918.

I would not lift a finger to be able to own the 912E, I would trade family members into slavery and forgo 3 fingers to be able to sit in the 918 for 30 seconds.

I cannot fathom why someone would not be in the path of totality for this eclipse, especially if it's basically going to be in your town. The only reason to not go to this eclipse is if you happen to live in the path of the 2024 eclipse, *then* I might forgo it.

Really, totality is not just "I can see it in pictures". It is a complete event, do you really think that people spends thousands of dollars every few years to sit on frozen tundras or hike through rain forests to watch as many of these as possible in a lifetime, if they could instead "see it in pictures"???

Thank you for this post! I was second guessing my trek from Abq to Nebraska to experience the event... No doubt I'm going now. It may be a geek Woodstock event trying to get there but I'm going to try.

[Heel n Toe]

It's coming right over our house. I'll be out in the front yard watching, even though there are numerous events and much cooler viewing spots all over the city.

I'll probably just be sitting in a lawn chair and will have our dog attached to one of the legs because I'm interested in his reaction.

For those of you thinking about driving hundreds of miles to see it, just imagine doing that, and then getting socked in by clouds. And then having to drive back home afterwards.

My limit if I wasn't in a prime viewing spot would probably be 100 miles or so, but I wouldn't do it unless the weather was certain.

I'm trying to find out if there's anything you can put over the large end of a pair of binoculars and look at it safely. Anyone know?

[jyl]

Family decision. We're going to NorCal to see the kids. Eff the eclipse. Maybe we'll see something in the Bay Area.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

It's coming right over our house. I'll be out in the front yard watching, even though there are numerous events and much cooler viewing spots all over the city.

I'll probably just be sitting in a lawn chair and will have our dog attached to one of the legs because I'm interested in his reaction.

For those of you thinking about driving hundreds of miles to see it, just imagine doing that, and then getting socked in by clouds. And then having to drive back home afterwards.

My limit if I wasn't in a prime viewing spot would probably be 100 miles or so, but I wouldn't do it unless the weather was certain.

I'm trying to find out if there's anything you can put over the large end of a pair of binoculars and look at it safely. Anyone know?

Were driving at a minimum 600 miles to SC up to 1200 if we decide to go to Nebraska. My wife and I like to travel so we will make a few day trip out of this. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, if not we will some of the country we hadn't prior.

There are special viewing glasses you can purchase. There are special polarized lenses you can purchase for a camera. something similar may be available or adaptable for Binoculars. I have heard some people will use a welders mask to view so maybe that can be rigged as well.

I used to love watching On the Road with Charles Kuralt Sunday morning.

[Don Ro]

"I used to love watching On the Road with Charles Kuralt Sunday morning."
~~~~~~~~
Me too.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by carmad

Here in Salem, all sorts of preparedness is being planned, I work at the Hospital, going to emergency only coverage, all elective surgery postponed. Predicting gas stations will be empty, bare shelves at grocery stores, cell phone and interweb disruption, and traffic gridlock because of the influx of 200,000+ extra bodies.
It will be interesting to see how it pans out.

My brother and I are taking our Lear Jet to visit our aunt in Portland for the eclipse and going an hour south to see it. Would you recommend Salem itself or somewhere nearby?

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

I'm trying to find out if there's anything you can put over the large end of a pair of binoculars and look at it safely. Anyone know?

Step 1: buy a solar filter sheet, only buy from these guys:
https://www.google.com/search?q=thousand+oaks+solar+filter+sheets
You can get them on Amazon. Get the 8x8 sheet at least.
Step 2: Carefully cut sheet into squares that fit over the binoculars.
Step 3: Tape squares over binocular ends, making sure that no actual sunlight can get through.

Go an image search for "diy solar filter binoculars" to see dozens of ways to mount it safely.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

My house is smack dab in the middle of the totality shadow. Other than making sure our gas tanks are full & our dietary supplies are in, Cindy & I plan on ignoring the hubbub. Spend good money on geeky glasses for two minutes of use? Hardly! I'll just turn on the lights when it gets dark. Maybe I'll be lucky & sleep through it?

Don't let the light of the eclipsed sun touch your skin, you will forever be cursed and will be sterile and your crops will wither and your neighbors will swear at you, and the mail carrier will kick your dog!!!

BEWARE!!!

[IROC]

The path of totality is going to pass about 30-40 miles from my house. They've closed the schools and we're taking the kids. What an adventure.

[Eric Hahl]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

My brother and I are taking our Lear Jet to visit our aunt in Portland for the eclipse and going an hour south to see it. Would you recommend Salem itself or somewhere nearby?

Salem will be fine as long as there is no marine layer of clouds all the way to the Cascade mountain range. I'm going east, way east.

[Steve Carlton]

Will it be known the day before how far east I'd need to take the Lear to get clear skies?

[Eric Hahl]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Will it be known the day before how far east I'd need to take the Lear to get clear skies?

Oh yeah, I'm sure it will be all over the news. You should however, land at PDX, pick me, the wife, and telescope gear up so we can all head to Eastern Oregon.

[Steve Carlton]

You'll need an apricot scarf...

[Eric Hahl]

LOL, I can rock that!

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

You'll need an apricot scarf...

Hahaha!!!

[JTO]

There will be 40,000 members of the "rainbow family" squatting in eastern Oregon , or so I'm told by the countys out there. I was going to camp near Prairie City where I elk hunt. After learning about the influx of people hitting the forests, I'll watch from Medford.
Troy