Anyone planning to see the total solar eclipse? (August 21)

[fan_since79]

They're expecting a million visitors to Oregon. The weather historically for that date has seen many cloudy days, but the last seven years or so it has been sunny. The eclipse will cross the entire United States. Very rare event.

Salem, Oregon is right in the path of totality, which begins at 10:17 am and last for two minutes.

http://www.oregonlive.com/eclipse/2017/06/will_it_be_cloudy_on_eclipse_d.html

http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/communities/states/OR/Salem_1357.htm

[NJHalo]

My kids are excited about it, and I told them I would take them somewhere locally that is good to view it. We are supposed to be at 75% here in NJ.  I better get those glasses though!

[gotbeer]

23 minutes ago, NJHalo said:

My kids are excited about it, and I told them I would take them somewhere locally that is good to view it. We are supposed to be at 75% here in NJ.  I better get those glasses though!

The glasses are really cheap.  But make sure you get legit ones. 

http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/05/news/solar-eclipse-glasses/index.html

https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters

[Tank]

I can't imagine traveling somewhere to watch something that's about a million times better to watch on tv.

 

 

plus it's a school day and I won't be able to get out of work...

[AngelsLakersFan]

3 hours ago, Tank said:

I can't imagine traveling somewhere to watch something that's about a million times better to watch on tv.

 

 

plus it's a school day and I won't be able to get out of work...

People make the same argument for sporting events.

[OregonLAA]

The whole thing is crazy. It is going to be absolutely packed up there. Heard groups from other counties bought out a ranch for the week for like half a million. One of my buddies wanted me to drive up there. Eff no

[fan_since79]

If they get a cloudy morning in Oregon, there's going to be riots.

You can plan and plan and plan, and nature couldn't care less.

[OregonLAA]

Yep. It's smokey up here too and there was lightning last night so it could get worse

[red321]

23 hours ago, Tank said:

I can't imagine traveling somewhere to watch something that's about a million times better to watch on tv.

 

 

plus it's a school day and I won't be able to get out of work...

I'm not sure you can say a natural event would be better on tv...it's like a morning sunrise...sure, watching it in HD is nice, but there is absolutely no comparison to sitting on the ledge of a mountain as the dark sky turns violet and slowly watching the sky light up. You can watch that all you want on Discovery HD Sunrise Earth...and it doesn't hold a candle to being there.

I expect, outside of the 40,000 people jostling for position, the eclipse would be similar

[NJHalo]

12 hours ago, OregonLAA said:

The whole thing is crazy. It is going to be absolutely packed up there. Heard groups from other counties bought out a ranch for the week for like half a million. One of my buddies wanted me to drive up there. Eff no

One of my daughter's science teachers organized a trip to Oregon to watch it at full effect.

[Tank]

1 hour ago, red321 said:

I'm not sure you can say a natural event would be better on tv...it's like a morning sunrise...sure, watching it in HD is nice, but there is absolutely no comparison to sitting on the ledge of a mountain as the dark sky turns violet and slowly watching the sky light up. You can watch that all you want on Discovery HD Sunrise Earth...and it doesn't hold a candle to being there.

I expect, outside of the 40,000 people jostling for position, the eclipse would be similar

The biggest difference for me is color. Sunsets and sunrises have tons of potential for stunning colors and beautiful cloud formations, plus I don't have to wear special glasses to see them. An eclipse is, and this is probably just my view, a big, colorless shadow for a few moments. I get that they're rare, but it Doesn't interest me in the least.

[Slegnaac]

On 8/8/2017 at 10:14 AM, Tank said:

I can't imagine traveling somewhere to watch something that's about a million times better to watch on tv.

 

 

plus it's a school day and I won't be able to get out of work...

Just listen to it on the radio like you do the World Series.

[cez]

45 minute drive from me to see it full on, so yeah

[Ray McKigney]

I'll just listen to Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler instead.

[fan_since79]

Texas mom asks if the eclipse can be rescheduled since it's her kids' first day back to school.

https://patch.com/texas/dallas-ftworth/dallas-mom-asks-if-aug-21-2017-solar-eclipse-can-be-rescheduled-non-school-date

[gotbeer]

@fan_since79 Bravo.  Not only did the link have a mom asking about rescheduling the eclipse.  But they tied in the flat earth facts.

[fan_since79]

It's amazing how regular the orbits of the Sun, Moon, and planets are and the accuracy attainable in predicting eclipses.

The longest eclipse in thousands of years will be on July 16, 2186. Totality of 7 minutes and 29 seconds.

Angels might be back in the World Series by then. We can only hope. At least Scioscia will be gone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_July_16,_2186

[Tank]

3 hours ago, fan_since79 said:

It's amazing how regular the orbits of the Sun, Moon, and planets are and the accuracy attainable in predicting eclipses.

The longest eclipse in thousands of years will be on July 16, 2186. Totality of 7 minutes and 29 seconds.

Angels might be back in the World Series by then. We can only hope. At least Scioscia will be gone.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_July_16,_2186

we'll see (though i applaud your confidence).

[Adam]

I saw it last night. Yes, I was at your mom's

[red321]

On the road to Oregon now. Wasn't my idea. At least there will be good beer. 

[fan_since79]

1 hour ago, red321 said:

On the road to Oregon now. Wasn't my idea. At least there will be good beer. 

Get ready for the possibility of horrible traffic. 30-mile backup near Prineville, wherever the hell that is.

Some gas stations are running out of fuel. An absolute mess.

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article167718217.html

Edited August 17, 2017 by fan_since79

[fan_since79]

14 mile backup last night, now 30 miles. Highway 26 in central Oregon.

I should add that this road goes to an eclipse "festival" they're holding nearby. Maybe the main roads and highways are not quite as bad.

Edited August 17, 2017 by fan_since79

[Amazing Larry]

An eclipse festival?

[Ray McKigney]

Not sure if this is real or not. Either way, pretty funny. 

 

[Homebrewer]

Talked to a friend in Roseburg Oregon yesterday. Apparently tent sites are going for $1000 there.

We bought a box of glasses (125) and will settle for 80% totality on the courthouse lawn, with most of the town, 72 watermelons....  and 20 bottles of my own special Eclipse Lager.