PSA: Upcoming Solar Eclipse · 12:46am Nov 1st, 2016
If you like solar eclipses—and let's face it, who doesn't—then you'll be happy to know that one's coming up fairly soon. Keep reading for more details!
It takes place on August 21, 2017, and when it happens will of course depend on where you live. It’s gonna be in the late morning or the early afternoon (again, depending on where you live), which you might want to take into account if you’re planning on driving into the Path of Totality™
So if you live in the continental US, or parts of Canada or Mexico, this thing's gonna be reasonably close—certainly close enough that you could make a little trip to get somewhere that has totality. And if you live in a foreign country and are planning a trip to the US next summer, and if you’re also an eclipse fan, then this should be sufficient heads-up to schedule your trip accordingly.
Protip: Eclipse2017.org (the source above) has lots of handy eclipse information. I highly recommend their interactive map.
Apparently, all the good seats hotel rooms and campsites are filling up fast, so if this is something that you think you want to go to, then now is the time to make your plans. Don't be the fool who waits until the very last minute and then tries to see the eclipse through a cutting lens for a welding helmet (trust me, that doesn't work).
Now, those of you who live on the west coast, so does Titanium Dragon, and I’ve heard he lives right in the path of totality (Philomath, Oregon; near Corvallis), so perhaps you could set up some kind of an eclipse-watching party with him. And, since I just brought up his name and sooner or later he'll wonder why so many people are suddenly asking him about eclipses, where's that good review I bribed you for, TD?
Obligatory links to pony-related eclipse stories:
Syzygy <--Shameless self-promotion
A Total Eclipse of the Fun
Obligatory Moonbutt
Source
Not quite sure where i'll be over the summer but I may be able to see a partial from my parents house. I've seen a partial before, it's really cool to see.
That picture really puts the butt in moonbutt.
Also I unfortunately don't live anywhere near the path of totality. Sucks to be me I guess. :/
Yeah I live in Atlanta, but luckily, my father has cousins who own a ranch right in the path of totality in Wyoming. Since all of us are photographers, and two are astronuts as well yeah definitely time for a road trip. Also thanks for the reminder here I still need to find a few good solar filters for a couple lenses.
Gonna have pull out the radio remotes too. Always nice being able to trigger 5 cameras all with just one button press.
and now I really think I need to find the right Luna figure to slip into some shots....
The Path of Totality just sounds like the most epic fucking quest unlock requirement or something.
I looked at a pair of cheapshit 'eclipse glasses' once, and found they were just mylar. I doubt they were anything special, you could probably just look through a potato chip bag...
4279573
It's also the name of Korn's album* where they teamed up with a number of dubstep artists. IMO, Korn and dubstep were made for each other.
*Path to Totality, in actuality.
4279594
Ah! There were a couple really good tracks off that.
Looks like the middle of the path of totality runs right over Detroit Dam. I'm in Portland, so taking a drive down there will be worth the time. I might even be able to swing it as a work trip.
So going to see this in the path of totallity. Just have to wonder if I am going to rent the 100-400 mm lens for my camera.
It literally goes right through my city in Wyoming.
KC is about two hours away, so my wife may travel up to her brother's house to watch this. She's a science geek/teacher. :)
What would be interesting if there was a charter airline that was fast enough to keep up with the eclipse and see it for more than two and a half minutes.
4279498
When I was in high school, I saw a whole/very nearly whole eclipse. That was really cool. This one would be neat to see as well, but I doubt I could get time off work to see it.
4279503
I know. Much more butt and it would be against FimFiction rules.
Me, neither, sadly.
4279538
Sweet!
Heh, I didn't even know that such things existed. The fanciest thing I ever used with a camera was one of those remote cables.
Oh yeah, you totally do.
EDIT: A Nightmare Moon might be a good choice, too.
4279573
4279593
Well, trust me, a cutting lens does nothing. I didn't try a potato chip bag.
4279798
Something about how the high gravitational forces on the dam might cause it to come apart and you need to monitor it?
4279840
Probably if you're renting a lens you'll want to have that reserved ahead of time.
Also I didn't know that you could rent lenses for cameras.
There are a couple of MiGs that could do it, maybe, and they're probably rentable, but not cheap I'm sure. Your other option is to have a friend who flies a SR-71 Blackbird. . . .
4279847
Sweet! The one I saw back in High School passed right overhead, too, which was really convenient.
4280115
Two hours is a pretty reasonable drive. Looking at the map, I don't think it comes much closer than 8 or so for me.
4281347
How ironic, I'm in High School still!
4281354
Which means you weren't even born yet when I was in high school.
4281339
Can't belaive I didn't think of that one already.
4281356
Nope, I was a ghostie.
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4281346
There are! The longest I've heard of is something like an hour and a half, if I'm remembering right. Not having any luck finding the bookmark on it I thought I saved, unfortunately...
I'm afraid I have to respectfully disagree on the welding helmet. I've used it just fine on more than one eclipse. Maybe yours just wasn't strong enough?
I not only live in the path of totality, but some family friends actually arranged last year to come here next year to view the eclipse.
But I'd totally be down for an eclipse party. Gotta have someone to celebrate with as
my plans come to fruitionthe Sun is blotted out by the Moon.Hey, uh, look, something shiny!
4281337 I think i got a 1/3 eclipse. It was really cool so hopefully i'll be able to see this one.
4281852
The one I had was for cutting with a torch, so it didn't block enough light. I could see an arc welding helmet actually working for it.
4282432
If I didn't live way across the country, I'd come.
I'm terrible at making plans, and I'm dubious about being able to setup time off from work this far in advance.
Also, money.
So this is likely a thing that doesn't happen for me since I live in Texas.
4282555
For me, I'm not sure how much (if any) sun coverage there will be. The last partial that I could see wasn't really noticeable, although I didn't have the correct glasses to view it.
4282886
Yeah, I know the feel. For me, the money issue is the least of my worries; the time off work is pretty much insurmountable.
4286187 I didn't have goggles for the one I saw, but it was interesting to observe what was happening. It was noticeably darker and it felt cooler (which may have been in my mind). It also messed with all the shadows because the light wasn't a point source.
4286189
Even if I can arrange the time off this far in advance, it would be tricky to figure out a room to rent that is in the patch, that isn't a hole in a town where the ENTIRE TOWN is "the bad part of town".