The Solar Eclipse

[red-beard]

According to out local news, there are going to be LOTS of disappointed people. Apparently, about 2/3rds of the path is expected to have 100% cloud cover.

[red-beard]

[pwd72s]

Last night's Portland TV news said it's 50-50 it'll be cloudy at the coast, but only 5% of clouds obscuring the view in the Willamette Valley or Eastern Oregon.

Evidently, traffic may be a problem. Rental cars out of airports and rooms along the path already all booked. Campgrounds all booked as well.

Hell, I was worried about a clogged I-5 when going to play pool yesterday, since Salem, where my favorite pool hall is located, is a central point along the path. A pleasant surprise...just the opposite. The run home was one of the most pleasant I-5 drives I've had lately...very light traffic, almost like driving the I-5 of 30 years ago.

Now staying home until all the hype is over.

[widebody911]

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by widebody911

There IS a total eclipse every month....humans have screwed the pooch with our perspective of days, months and years however, and our earth based calender is just a bit off

[dad911]

Might look cool from an airplane?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by dad911

Might look cool from an airplane?

I saw on the news this morning that NASA has a couple of "birds" with all kinds of fancy high tech gear in their noses....that are gonna be tracking it at high altitude. That's gonna be some awesome stuff...I can't wait to see it!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by dad911

Might look cool from an airplane?

It's my understanding that there are flights chartered for just this purpose, flights that I believe are flying across the country on a path to follow the eclipse.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by masraum

It's my understanding that there are flights chartered for just this purpose, flights that I believe are flying across the country on a path to follow the eclipse.

Will the passengers be issued apricot scarves?

My home is ground zero...it's doubtful I'll bother to go outside. Hopefully the hubbub and hassles will end shortly after it happens. I have an MD appointment the day after.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I have an MD appointment the day after.

Just a check up?

Going to Charlotte tomorrow from Akron. Dad is beating my ass about wanting to go to Greenville, SC for the total eclipse when 96% is available in Gastonia, NC.

Upside is I can hit Bojangles, regardless.

[notmytarga]

My sister lives in Bend and is using the eclipse opportunity to start doing AirBnB. In May of 2012 we caught the tail end of a total eclipse in Redding CA. This one will be rounder and slower - but best further north.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

My home is ground zero...it's doubtful I'll bother to go outside.

Well, that's because you're such a happy, go lucky kind of guy, all rainbows and unicorns and always inviting children to play on your lawn.

You know, I have heard that the full eclipse looks just like a really fancy pool cue.

[SCadaddle]

https://www.facebook.com/SouthernLiving/videos/1403410689754899/

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by masraum

Well, that's because you're such a happy, go lucky kind of guy, all rainbows and unicorns and always inviting children to play on your lawn.

You know, I have heard that the full eclipse looks just like a really fancy pool cue.

Never bothered to buy the goofy glasses. So yeah, why bother to go outside?

Pool cues? I don't want a mugger bait cue. I prefer an old titlist style similar to the one used by Paul Newman in "The Hustler". Ornateness has little to do with how a cue feels..the hit and feedback it delivers is more important.

[wdfifteen]

I overheard an interesting comment about the eclipse at the liquor store. Two people in line in front of me talking.

"Are you staying up to watch the eclipse?"

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Never bothered to buy the goofy glasses. So yeah, why bother to go outside?

Because for the 2 mins that the moon completely obscures the sun, you don't need glasses or anything special. You can look at the sun with no protection when it's in "totality".

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by masraum

Because for the 2 mins that the moon completely obscures the sun, you don't need glasses or anything special. You can look at the sun with no protection when it's in "totality".

And if you mess up, you can burn a hole in your retina. Not going to take the risk.
After all, that might make it difficult to find the aim spot on an object ball.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Never bothered to buy the goofy glasses. So yeah, why bother to go outside?
.....

Have welding helmet?

Or a cell phone, reverse camera(selfie mode), turn away, and look at it via your phone, over your shoulder.

[abisel]

I set-up my spotting scope and used it as a projector projecting the image onto a piece of white paper and took a picture with my DSLR. It ain't perfect and needs some tweaking to get a more circular image. You can see some sun spots in the picture.

[masraum]