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The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

nasaviz.gsfc.nasa.gov

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Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#111

Post by eclipsePrepper »

brewdad wrote: post #107

So what will be the practical difference between 99.4% (at my home) and 100% about 35 miles away. Is it worth the effort to travel to the true totality zone? I do unfortunately have a commitment that day, that I cannot avoid, about 2 hours before the max obscuration passes by.

The difference between totality and 99 percent is estimated to be brightness of 10000x brighter! In a clear sky, a total eclipse will let you see 4 planets and lots of stars! It's a once in a lifetime event--- at the least an EPIC adventure! Make sure to bring LOTS of water, in case you are stuck in traffic forever. (Before and after the eclipse)

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#112

Post by tzs »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #109
brewdad wrote: post #107

So what will be the practical difference between 99.4% (at my home) and 100% about 35 miles away. Is it worth the effort to travel to the true totality zone? I do unfortunately have a commitment that day, that I cannot avoid, about 2 hours before the max obscuration passes by.

35 miles seems small enough to not worry about it - it's just a half hour drive! It's still months away, I'd hope you could reschedule that conflict. I have several hundred miles if I wanted to go to the totality zone. But I'm still curious what it will look like in the difference of 100% vs 82% at my home.

Well, one difference is that if you go to where there is totality you can look with the naked eye once totality is achieved. If you are in a place where it is only partial, most experts recommend only looking through filters or via pinhole projection.

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#113

Post by eclipsePrepper »

jasode wrote: post #22
Retric wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The ideal location is 70 miles wide and 2100 miles long. I don't think viewing space is going to be much of an issue. PS: Sure, the closer to the center the longer the total eclipse lasts. But, you still end up seeing the same thing.

> The ideal location is 70 miles wide True but I was trying to minimize the distance from Omaha airport since I have to catch a flight 5 hours later. It will be interesting to see how many of the ~500,000 Omaha residents will be on that stretch of I-80!

I highly recommend rescheduling your flight.. seriously. Right before and right after the eclipse roads will be slammed! One article from Missouri said to expect Florida hurricane evacuation level traffic. If you still want to try to fly, bring LOTS of water in case you are stuck in traffic for hours.

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#114

Post by eclipsePrepper »

ant6n wrote: post #101
jasode wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>, or western Nebraska. I'll be in eastern Nebraska (Omaha) and will drive south on I-80 towards the eclipse path and hopefully pull off to the side and park somewhere. What's hard to plan for is whether too many other Nebraskans will have the exact same idea which means I have to camp out a ridiculous 12 hours before the event to secure a spot -- or give up entirely.

I'm planning to drive up north from Denver, the day of. Kind of concerned about how many people will have the same idea, and how early I should start...

Many people I've talked with are planning to make this event into a long weekend. If you want to avoid traffic... and find parking - I'd recommend at least Thursday.

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#115

Post by eclipsePrepper »

matthewmcg wrote: post #44
spcelzrd wrote: post #42

My first thought: how will this affect traffic. I've been in Atlanta too long.

Me too. We were going to make a weekend trip out of this. But we realized the chances of bad weather are pretty high at our planned viewing site in Western North Carolina and that it would be better to stay in Atlanta closer to an Interstate Highway so we can quickly drive to an alternate site.

It might be difficult to predict a clear sky. Because of hot, summer humidity, The eastern US has a pretty good chance of afternoon thunderstorms during the time of the eclipse.

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#116

Post by eclipsePrepper »

martinald wrote: post #102

What affect is this going to have on solar power? California has a load of solar going on, and this may cause a complete collapse in solar output very suddenly (way more suddenly than the evening). Can peaker plants come up quickly enough?

On a hot August summer day, LOTS of power will be lost. It's recommended to turn off your A.C. to help prevent blackouts and the prevent use of more expensive natural gas power.

https://qz.com/973684/california-will-lose-enough-solar-ener...

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#117

Post by brewdad »

tzs wrote: post #110
gmiller123456 wrote: post #74

Best advice I've accumulated so far: 1. Don't plan to drive anywhere on eclipse day (90% of the US lives within an 8hr drive of totality, so traffic will be horrible) 2. A 600-800mm lens is optimal for photography. Anything short of 200mm is useless. 3. Don't make any solid plans until 3-4 days before. Most places only have about 40% chance of it being clear. 4. If you're photographing the partial phases. Stop and ch…

> Don't plan to drive anywhere on eclipse day (90% of the US lives within an 8hr drive of totality, so traffic will be horrible). Speaking of driving, anyone from the Seattle area have any thoughts on the best approach? The first one that comes to mind is to take 5 down to the path of totality. The second thing that comes to mind is heading east toward Spokane, and turn south at Yakima and head on down 84 to somewher…

My bet is that you'll get as far as Portland and then be stuck. I-5 through PDX can be a mess on a regular Monday. Get south of Portland on Sunday and you might be ok.

The Spokane option might work but the unknown there is that most of the roads in Oregon will be one lane each direction with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected in that area.

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#118

Post by brewdad »

anth1988 wrote: post #75
gmiller123456 wrote: post #74

Best advice I've accumulated so far: 1. Don't plan to drive anywhere on eclipse day (90% of the US lives within an 8hr drive of totality, so traffic will be horrible) 2. A 600-800mm lens is optimal for photography. Anything short of 200mm is useless. 3. Don't make any solid plans until 3-4 days before. Most places only have about 40% chance of it being clear. 4. If you're photographing the partial phases. Stop and ch…

> Don't plan to drive anywhere on eclipse day > Don't make any solid plans until 3-4 days before. Most places only have about 40% chance of it being clear. If you haven't made plans already, you are probably driving. Best I could do was get a room in portland the night before. Gonna have to get up stupid early and try to make it. 3-4 days before is gonna be tough.

If you can get east of the Cascades from Portland, that would be your surest bet. Even if the weather is expected to be clear in the Willamette Valley on the 21st, there is a risk that the marine layer could settle in and not clear by the time of the eclipse. The risk is less in August than now, in June, but it could happen.

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#119

Post by jpablo »

pcl wrote: post #99
gmiller123456 wrote: post #74

Best advice I've accumulated so far: 1. Don't plan to drive anywhere on eclipse day (90% of the US lives within an 8hr drive of totality, so traffic will be horrible) 2. A 600-800mm lens is optimal for photography. Anything short of 200mm is useless. 3. Don't make any solid plans until 3-4 days before. Most places only have about 40% chance of it being clear. 4. If you're photographing the partial phases. Stop and ch…

The annular eclipse in California in 2012 really didn't draw much in the way of crowds. Some friends and I drove up to near Mt Lassen and found a field with no real traffic or crowds to contend with. There were others in the field we ended up in, but it was really pretty straightforward. It seems like there's a lot more hype around this one; I'm not sure why. Maybe 'total' vs 'annular'? Personally, I think they're bo…

Have you ever seen a total eclipse? An anular/partial one doesn't even compare to watching the sun during totality with your bare eyes.

Re: The most accurate map for August 21’s total solar eclipse

#120

Post by mkempe »

tzs wrote: post #110
gmiller123456 wrote: post #74

Best advice I've accumulated so far: 1. Don't plan to drive anywhere on eclipse day (90% of the US lives within an 8hr drive of totality, so traffic will be horrible) 2. A 600-800mm lens is optimal for photography. Anything short of 200mm is useless. 3. Don't make any solid plans until 3-4 days before. Most places only have about 40% chance of it being clear. 4. If you're photographing the partial phases. Stop and ch…

> Don't plan to drive anywhere on eclipse day (90% of the US lives within an 8hr drive of totality, so traffic will be horrible). Speaking of driving, anyone from the Seattle area have any thoughts on the best approach? The first one that comes to mind is to take 5 down to the path of totality. The second thing that comes to mind is heading east toward Spokane, and turn south at Yakima and head on down 84 to somewher…

My plan is to take a long weekend, drive to Idaho (near Boise or Sun Valley). I've been thinking of renting an RV but it may be too late.
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