Great Read and Video - Eclipse Mania 2017: Where Will You Be?

[malaise]

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/eclipse-mania-2017-where-will-you-be
<snip>
The first coast-to-coast total eclipse to grace the United States in nearly a century will sweep across the landscape on Monday, August 21—and, to say the least, word is getting out. Some eclipse fans from across the nation and the world made their hotel reservations literally years ago. Others started thinking only a few days or weeks ago about venturing into the total-eclipse path. Millions of Americans won’t have to go anywhere, as the narrow path of this eclipse will pass over a number of big cities and small towns (see the embedded YouTube video below).

Experiencing totality—when the moon completely obscures the solar disk for two minutes or more, depending on location—is a very rare treat. “Words often fail when trying to explain the kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, feelings and emotions that consume us during this other-worldly event,” says NASA scientist emeritus Fred Espenak, a.k.a. “Mr. Eclipse.” In a post for EarthSky, Espenak featured an excerpt from Total Eclipses of the Sun, 1894, by 19th-century U.S. writer Mabel Loomis Todd. Her description is spine-tingling and well worth reading in full. Here’s an excerpt of the excerpt:

“…A vast, palpable presence seems to overwhelm the world. The blue sky changes to gray or dull purple, speedily becoming more dusky, and a death-like trance seizes upon everything earthly. Birds with terrified cries, fly bewildered for a moment, and then silently seek their night quarters. Bats emerge stealthily. Sensitive flowers, the scarlet pimpernel, the African mimosa, close their delicate petals, and a sense of hushed expectancy deepens with the darkness...”

[HeartachesNhangovers]

1. Not sure where I'll be - either stuck in the worst

traffic jam in history trying to get into the path of totality (if the worst fear-mongering turns out to be correct), or sitting in lawn chairs with my wife in a city park somewhere in Oregon watching the eclipse (if all the fear-mongering is just that).

[malaise]

7. Ignore the fear-mongering

Please

[loyalsister]

2. do do do looking out my front door

I live on the totality path.

[renate]

3. lucky you!

Have fun!

[loyalsister]

11. It will be the best 2.5 minutes out of a couple of days

The population in my small city is expected to at least double. I'm glad it's for something worthwhile.

[malaise]

5. Enjoy

We'll watch the partial from here

[neeksgeek]

4. On top of the parking deck...

Next to my classroom building. 98% totality.

Since I have a class to teach during that time, I'll just work it into my lesson somehow. I teach Photoshop, so I can make a case for pinhole observation being tangential to our topic.

[malaise]

6. Lovely

Enjoy

[mainer]

8. Jackson Hole. Made my reservations a year ago.

I plan to be on top of a ski slope.

[MineralMan]

9. I've seen one total eclipse.

This one will be about 81% where I am. However, anytime something happens in the sky over Minnesota, we have clouds. So, I'm unlikely to see anything. I will have my cardboard box with the pinhole ready, just in case.

[Permanut]

10. Lincoln City Oregon. .

Right where it begins. We pretty much expect gridlock; it's a small town.

[irisblue]

12. Waiting for the youtube videos to post. nt

[roamer65]

13. Southeast corner of Nebraska.

The town I am landing in is basically shutting down that day. The hotel has had tons of calls trying to get reservations but none are available. I made mine years ago.

If I get to see totality, I will have completed the "Trifecta"...A Venus transit, a Mercury transit and a total solar eclipse.

[Lilma]

14. In my driveway.

I live 40 miles east of Carbondale, Ill. There will be a total eclipse just south of there. I really hope it doesn't rain. There are thousands of people coming into the area to watch it. Just read that The Eclipse Special, a train coming in from Chicago is sold out.
Have glasses - will watch.

[HipChick]

15. I will be on a flight...

Hopefully with a non-chatty pilot...

[roamer65]

16. April 8, 2024.

Mark the date. That is the next total eclipse in the lower 48.

[countryjake]

17. Sitting up here grousing about the clouds & rain, most likely!

We haven't had a drop of rain here for fifty-five days and it's been hotter than blue blazes (not to mention being totally socked-in by the smoke from the real blazes; wildfires have burned all around us during the past month, a couple of them a bit too close for comfort).

So, our local WA news has now released their ten-day forecast ...clouds and rain is predicted for parts of both western Washington and Oregon on the morning of August 21.

I have to say, at this point I'd much rather see raindrops falling from the sky than watch a partial darkening of the sun, since this far North it's only going to be around 88% total coverage anyway. I'll probably change my mind by next weekend, tho, that is if we get rain during the interim.

I sure hope there won't be a whole bunch of disappointed people who have planned for months in advance to watch the Total Eclipse arrive in Oregon. That would be a shame.

[malaise]

19. Damn!

Yes the weather could mess this up for some folks.

[smirkymonkey]

18. Planning on a long weekend in Kennebunk, ME

Going to my sister's house for my nephew's birthday. Can't wait to see the puppy again! I'm obsessed with her - she is the cutest thing ever!

[jalan48]

20. Eugene, Oregon -eclipse will be about 90%

[ThoughtCriminal]

21. Near Casper, WY

Hope for clear skies