So, how close do you all live to totality? Here in Wood River, we're at 99.4% Here's an eclipse calculator, courtesy of the US Navy. It's slow, so I guess it's getting hammered right now. Edit: I got two pair of eclipse glasses free from the local library. (The value of calling, since it wasn't really advertised.) and I also have a semi-pinhole projector, using an old 4x finder scope, box, trashbag (black), and white paper projector screen. Now everyone chant "Clouds clouds, go away! Come again some other DAY!"
We shouldn't get too much of it up here, but enough that the soccer camp my son is enrolled in doesn't start until 1pm (originally 9am). Should be interesting in my office as my window is south facing so I get lots of sunshine as it is.
Here are pics of my home-made eclipse projector, made while I tested it out for stability after attaching the box to a tripod with a wire nut, of all things! CRW_0938 CRW_0937
I saw a partial eclipse in 3rd or 4th grade. That was kind of enough for me. It's a lot less exciting than it sounds. It's insane to me that places in Wyoming are expecting gas and food shortages for the viewing.
I hear you there. This hype is driving me nuts. It's like the media is playing real hard with their puppets just to prove that they can. That's an awesome pinhole viewer Goofus. We're going to be at 93-94% totality here. I'm not too awful enthused about all the hub-bub.
$)*&)(%&$%)*&$(!!!!! ONE PIDDLING LITTLE CLOUD!!!!!! Just GUESS when ONE CLOUD passed over the Sun here! GUESS! Just before max cover, and leaving just after! I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!!
Same here. Both the last two I saw were a lot more worthy of being called "epic". They weren't hyped nearly as much or even at all.
From what I've heard, it's only awesome if you were at totality (with clear enough skies), to get the full-moon-bright ring of fire, bailey's beads, or shadow bands (though we did get something like that at 99.5% because of the strangely sharp cloud shadows that raced across the ground.). From the reports, even the folks who were dragged along by family and thought "what's the big deal?" went gaga when it happened. I kind of wished I went ahead and faced the traffic to Carbondale IL. My projector did a better job than the glasses, by the way.
The last coast-to-coast eclipse was 99 years ago, different set of millennials. Definitely reason for the hype this time. ... the eclipse is a media conspiracy?
We were about 70-80 miles from the totality path. I went flying, but my plan to go up into the path was foiled by a minor airplane problem (wasn't hot-starting) such that I could not land and shut-down the airplane. Thus I couldn't go too far off and where I did get to it only got dim, not dark. Still it turned out to be a great day for flying and I greased three landings doing touch-and-goes at the home base.
