The Solar Eclipse

[flatbutt]

Can't advise on marital stuff, been divorced twice. But I am traveling to watch the eclipse thru my 90mm Mak-Cass. I'm particularly keen to see what happens around the edges of the disk, hoping to catch a streamer or some such.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Can't advise on marital stuff, been divorced twice. But I am traveling to watch the eclipse thru my 90mm Mak-Cass. I'm particularly keen to see what happens around the edges of the disk, hoping to catch a streamer or some such.

Questar or Meade?

[ckelly78z]

Here in NW Ohio, we will see about 80% coverage....no plans currently to travel the 6-8 hours South to get into the 100% viewing area. The supposed large crowds would be a strong deterrent for me.

[Cajundaddy]

Some folks get excited about heavyweight boxing. Some folks get excited about the Superbowl. I get excited about crazy astro events like this. We will be driving 650 miles to western Idaho and will spend several days in the area, watch the eclipse and drive home. The last total eclipse I saw was Munich Germany in 1999. Solar glasses, multiple cameras, binos, and telescope in tow.

If you have never seen totality, this will give you a clue as to whether you want to be under the shadow or not. Some folks would rather watch it on TV and I am ok with that. Different strokes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfNmKUtRD_s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9GdfL_ToU

[Rickysa]

Driving a bit south to SC to check it out! Anybody recommend any particular spot??

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Rickysa

Driving a bit south to SC to check it out! Anybody recommend any particular spot??

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/south-carolina/

Columbia. It's not dead center, but there's a science museum there doing a big festival for this, which will (possibly) give you access to things like publicly set up telescopes and, well, bathrooms and such

If you get closer to the edges of the band, the totality is much shorter. It goes down to 30-40 seconds near the edges, which seems silly when the center is just 30 miles away, and give you 2m40s of totality...

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Here in NW Ohio, we will see about 80% coverage....no plans currently to travel the 6-8 hours South to get into the 100% viewing area. The supposed large crowds would be a strong deterrent for me.

You'll be forced to watch the next one in 2024, it's right over your house. Ha! Science will get the better of you one way or the other!

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

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.

Welding helmet ok?

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by dad911

Welding helmet ok?

I personally would not look at the sun through a welding helmet, nor any of the $1 a piece generic Chinese "solar glasses" that are being sold out there. I would only trust solar film from one of a few specific sources (Baader, Thousand Oaks, Rainbow Optical). The solar film/glasses/etc from them are only 2 or 3 dollars more each, it won't bankrupt anyone.

"common knowledge" states that a #14 or darker welders helmet is acceptable.

I don't trust my eyes to "common knowledge". My personal opinion.

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by dad911

Welding helmet ok?

#14 shade welders glass is approved by essentially everyone to view the sun. A typical arc welding helmet often has #10 shade which is not enough protection so verify #14 shade to be sure. Also all "Eclipse glasses" marked with CE or ISO showing that they have been tested and approved. Baader and Thousand Oaks provide solar filters for both visual and photographic use, so make sure you choose one with #14 shade protection or higher.

More than you ever wanted to know about solar eclipse filters:
Eclipse Filters
https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

[dad911]

Hate to admit, that's how I test my auto-dark helmet..... with the sun.

[silver912e]

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"???

Definitely agree about totality. Wife and I will be on Isle of Palms, rain or shine.

No need to hate on the 912E. We old farts love our "E"'s

[IROC]

So, the wife and were talking last night about taking the kids a little bit south of where we live to get in the path of totality, and so we pulled up the NASA map of the path to figure out where to go. Come to find out, my house is in the path. We should get about 1 minute, 30 seconds or so of total eclipse in my front yard.

Come on over!

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Questar or Meade?

Meade

[Rickysa]

Looked at Columbia (thank you for the recommendation), but boy do they have a ton planned...too many peeps for my crowd.

Instead, found a crossroads in BFE South Carolina that we will set up camp (probably in meth central, but that's what deterrent is for)

Spot on the totality line...now to outfit the camera/telescope!

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

You'll be forced to watch the next one in 2024, it's right over your house. Ha! Science will get the better of you one way or the other!

Hopefully by then, I will be retired, and have a viewing party in my own back yard.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

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.

Thanks for the tip, Mike. I was gonna order it directly from Thousand Oaks, but their least expensive shipping was $10. I had a few other things on a list I've been making to order from Amazon, so I placed an order last night and got free regular shipping and they're supposed to be here in about a week.

I'll have enough to do the binocs and make a viewing sheet mounted in matteboard or similar.

[Won]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/south-carolina/

Columbia. It's not dead center, but there's a science museum there doing a big festival for this, which will (possibly) give you access to things like publicly set up telescopes and, well, bathrooms and such

If you get closer to the edges of the band, the totality is much shorter. It goes down to 30-40 seconds near the edges, which seems silly when the center is just 30 miles away, and give you 2m40s of totality...

Thanks a lot for the website Mike. My wife does GIS so we're both super excited by the maps.

By chance we will be visiting home (Vancouver, BC) during the eclipse. Unfortunately we won't have time to drive to a totality zone.

[dennis in se pa]

Am I the only one who could care less? I guess being old and wrinkled has blunted my enthusiasm for some things. There was a serious, if not total eclipse when I was young, and I did not get what all the fuss was about back then. I wonder what havoc it will cause.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

Am I the only one who could care less? I guess being old and wrinkled has blunted my enthusiasm for some things. There was a serious, if not total eclipse when I was young, and I did not get what all the fuss was about back then. I wonder what havoc it will cause.

Well speaking for myself I hope to catch Baileys Beads. I am lucky in that this kind of thing still makes me say "wow!".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baily's_beads