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An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

nytimes.com

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Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#31

Post by ajmurmann »

js2 wrote: post #3

I think there are all of four tips in this guide. Mostly it's a profile of eclipse chasers. Tips: 1. Get to somewhere in the path of totality. 2. Get there the day before. (There's already highway signs up near me in NC warning of traffic and I'm five hours away from the path of totality.) 3. Stay mobile if you can to be able to drive to clear skies in case of weather. 4. Don't bother with a camera; just observe as m…

Having seen a few of these I also strongly recommend to learn about phenomena you can see during a eclipse. Look up things like Bailey's Beads, shadow band and the awesome stuff that will happen to your shadow leading up to the eclipse. Also bring a white cloth so that you can see the shadow band of they occur. It's well worth it.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#32

Post by Florin_Andrei »

js2 wrote: post #3

I think there are all of four tips in this guide. Mostly it's a profile of eclipse chasers. Tips: 1. Get to somewhere in the path of totality. 2. Get there the day before. (There's already highway signs up near me in NC warning of traffic and I'm five hours away from the path of totality.) 3. Stay mobile if you can to be able to drive to clear skies in case of weather. 4. Don't bother with a camera; just observe as m…

> Don't bother with a camera; just observe as much as you can with your eyes.

"Look up (at the Sun), don't look down (at the camera)."

I'm actually going to install the full astrophotography stack - telescope, camera, computer, software, battery, etc. But it's all dialed in, it will take a timelapse on its own while I'll kick back and enjoy the show. I only need to remove / replace the main filter at the edges of totality, at the same time when I take off / replace my eclipse glasses.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#33

Post by Florin_Andrei »

neogodless wrote: post #10

I would just be happy to know how (where) to get solar eclipse glasses. I had a thought a couple months ago to order them, but I brushed it aside. About two weeks ago, I started to get serious, but it was already too late. I couldn't find anything that wasn't wildly marked up on Amazon. Finally, I found a set of 4 on REI.com with estimated delivery of August 18th, and I ordered them on the 10th. They were shipped on…

Yeah, it's a little late, but not all hope is lost.

The AAS page lists the gear that meets the ISO safety standard, along with the vendors that carry it:

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

I prefer the Baader solar film (for telescopes and cameras) or its newer "gold/silver" version (for goggles) because it's color neutral and it shows the Sun in its true color, not some arbitrary shade of orange, green, etc.

But any ISO-compliant filter should be fine.

Do you know any welders? Are there welding supply shops near you? Welding glasses #14 are ISO-compliant for the purpose of the eclipse. Even #13 are fine for non-continuous observation.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#34

Post by dubya »

teilo wrote: post #18
neogodless wrote: post #10

I would just be happy to know how (where) to get solar eclipse glasses. I had a thought a couple months ago to order them, but I brushed it aside. About two weeks ago, I started to get serious, but it was already too late. I couldn't find anything that wasn't wildly marked up on Amazon. Finally, I found a set of 4 on REI.com with estimated delivery of August 18th, and I ordered them on the 10th. They were shipped on…

If you are in the path of totality, don't worry about the glasses. In the path of totality, eclipse glasses are only for observing the sun before and after full occlusion. Instead, make a pinhole projector. It's super easy (any thin-walled cardboard box will do). Then, when you are at full occlusion, you can look directly at the sun to observe the eclipse until full occlusion is over.

My local Ace hardware will be getting glasses in tomorrow, supposedly. Plan B is this improvement on the pinhole projector: http://richardsont.people.cofc.edu/safe_solar_folder/index.h...

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#35

Post by ytNumbers »

overcast wrote: post #7

I was considering flying down to the Smokey Mountains to do some hiking, and eclipse seeing. But from the sound of things, it's going to be a complete madhouse. Coupled with the prices for everything, and the risk of poor weather(thunderstorms are predicted this entire week), not worth it. The eclipse in 2024 is going to be literally dead center over my house, I think I'll wait it out, and check out the mostly total…

You should re-think your decision before it's too late. April showers bring May flowers.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#36

Post by Declanomous »

neogodless wrote: post #10

I would just be happy to know how (where) to get solar eclipse glasses. I had a thought a couple months ago to order them, but I brushed it aside. About two weeks ago, I started to get serious, but it was already too late. I couldn't find anything that wasn't wildly marked up on Amazon. Finally, I found a set of 4 on REI.com with estimated delivery of August 18th, and I ordered them on the 10th. They were shipped on…

Check Walmart. They have 6 packs for a dollar, and the one near me still had plenty.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#37

Post by ytNumbers »

pythonaut_16 wrote: post #23
overcast wrote: post #7

I was considering flying down to the Smokey Mountains to do some hiking, and eclipse seeing. But from the sound of things, it's going to be a complete madhouse. Coupled with the prices for everything, and the risk of poor weather(thunderstorms are predicted this entire week), not worth it. The eclipse in 2024 is going to be literally dead center over my house, I think I'll wait it out, and check out the mostly total…

Thanks for this. All the hype makes it sound like this is an exceedingly rare event, but it looks like the 2024 eclipse will sweep over a huge part of the US population as well.

Yep, but after that, you've got a looong wait for the next one in the USA.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#38

Post by hellogoodbyeeee »

js2 wrote: post #3

I think there are all of four tips in this guide. Mostly it's a profile of eclipse chasers. Tips: 1. Get to somewhere in the path of totality. 2. Get there the day before. (There's already highway signs up near me in NC warning of traffic and I'm five hours away from the path of totality.) 3. Stay mobile if you can to be able to drive to clear skies in case of weather. 4. Don't bother with a camera; just observe as m…

My plan was to set my camera up on a tripod facing my family and record our reactions and the transition into and out of darkness on the landscape behind us. I'm not sure how good my dslr does at transitioning exposure on it's video mode so it might turn out useless, but I figure it's got a chance of being interesting.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#39

Post by chris_7 »

goda90 wrote: post #24
solutionyogi wrote: post #16

So as someone who did not plan for this monumental event, what are my options to see the totality? I live in NYC and can rent a car.

Be prepared to sleep in the car. If you know anyone along the path, ask to sleep on their lawn or something. Start driving down probably a couple of days out. http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/maps/whole-us.jpg You probably won't get home Monday.

> You probably won't get home Monday.

New York to/from SC is an 11 hour drive without stopping, and the eclipse in the afternoon, so definitely.

Re: An Eclipse Chaser’s Guide to Your First Eclipse

#40

Post by LCoder »

neogodless wrote: post #10

I would just be happy to know how (where) to get solar eclipse glasses. I had a thought a couple months ago to order them, but I brushed it aside. About two weeks ago, I started to get serious, but it was already too late. I couldn't find anything that wasn't wildly marked up on Amazon. Finally, I found a set of 4 on REI.com with estimated delivery of August 18th, and I ordered them on the 10th. They were shipped on…

Both of my local universities still have glasses available. One is giving them away free and the other is charging $1 per.
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