Total solar eclipse -- 21 Aug 2017

[NN5I]

On 21 Aug 2017 -- 13 months from now -- there will be a solar eclipse visible as a partial eclipse in all of North America.

On a path from (approximately) Salem OR to just north of Charleston SC it will be visible as a total solar eclipse -- the last one in North America in my expected lifetime.

I have friends in the Charleston area, where totality will occur at about 14:50 EDT and last about two minutes. I'm already planning to go there, or somewhere, and watch it.

All my life -- that's a long time -- I have wanted to see a total solar eclipse. In the 1960s I was thwarted by cloud cover in Florida, but I hope for better luck this time. So now it's on my Bucket List.

I'm already planning. I've ordered filters to go over the objective lenses of my excellent binoculars. I've ordered other filters for direct viewing, enough of them to equip a small army of amateur observers. No one should allow his friends to miss so rare and so wondrous an event.

Anyone else on ORR making plans for 21 Aug 2017? Maybe we could even have an ORR Eclipse Party or such. We'd make Wade do the cooking.

[Radio]

Is there a map that tracks the progress across the country?

[NN5I]

Yah, lots of maps by clicking here: (http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/maps.htm)

At first I uploaded one, but then I saw that it was copyrighted so I removed it.

[Radio]

There's a whole string of state parks on the GA/SC line.

Not too far, hmmm. Carl you might be onto something.

[Radio]

All my life -- that's a long time -- I have wanted to see a total solar eclipse. In the 1960s I was thwarted by cloud cover in Florida, but I hope for better luck this time. So now it's on my Bucket List.

I remember my father worked for Delta Air Lines at the time. The solar eclipse was much talked about in all the schools. Dad worked on modifying a DC-8 with special cameras and such that was leased to the government to study the eclipse.

****

I will discuss the "Eclipse Trip" with Sweet Wife when she returns from her teacher conference. 17 Aug 17 is a Monday. Thinking arriving Saturday 18 Aug and leaving 22 Aug.

I've been looking at Lake Hartwell State Park. (SC, where I-85 crosses state line) Carl, you think that's close enough?

[NN5I]

I've been looking at Lake Hartwell State Park. (SC, where I-85 crosses state line) Carl, you think that's close enough?

Well, I don't think we'll have much luck trying to make the eclipse come to us. We've got to go to it.

But you never know. It is possible to have some effect on eclipses. Experiments over many centuries proved that the beating of tom-toms would restore the sun after an eclipse. It worked every time.

[Radio]

Experiments over many centuries proved that the beating of tom-toms would restore the sun after an eclipse.

Don't have a tom-tom. We do have a djembe. (JIM-bay) Part of Sweet Wife's musical instrument collection. Will that work?

[Radio]

Sweet Wife is still at her convention (as of 7/28) but I spoke to her by phone and she's all in. We will be setting up reservations for Lake Hartwell State Park (South Carolina) arriving 18 Aug 2017 and leaving 22 Aug.

So I guess this is a go. Our first ORR.net rally. If you can't make this site, organize your own gathering along the totality path. Sounds like fun!

On edit:

We have reserved site 11, on the "Boat Ramp Loop" near the water, showers, rest rooms and there is a parking area near where we can stand around and look at the eclipse, if we don't decide to pack up and go elsewhere in the park. Sites run about $20 a night, 4 nights came in at $90 with taxes and fees.

Be sure to check the length of your site, they vary and some are a bit short.

http://southcarolinaparks.com/lakehartwell/introduction.aspx

[electricflyer]

I guess the eclipse will be a chance of a lifetime (mine). Have you already made your reservation for next year. I see they can reserve more than a year out. If we decide to go I may look at site 9 right next to you or the ADA site 14. Still a little early for me to make a reservation but will do it before the end of the year. $18 per night is a decent rate. Did you call the park or did you do the Reserve America? Also, you need to check your date, August 18, 2017 is on a Friday, not Saturday. If we go we will probably arrive on the Thursday the 17th and leave the 22nd or so.
Marv - KT4W

[electricflyer]

Doing a little research on just where the best viewing area in NE GA would be. It looks like the Lake Hartwell SP is a little off of the center line but should still be in the path of a total eclipse. http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/states/GA.htm

For safe viewing here are two options. The first is viewing glasses and the second is a indirect projection method. http://www.eclipse2017.org/glasses_order.htm
http://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how-to-view-eclipse

[NN5I]

[QUOTE=electricflyer;15314]For safe viewing here are two options. The first is viewing glasses /QUOTE]

I've ordered (and received) special filters to go on the twin objectives of my binoculars, so I'll be able to view with magnification right up until totality starts. While it's total, of curse, naked eye is safe -- but don't view totality with unfiltered binocs, because when totality ends it would take only milliseconds to blind you permanently. If you're viewing totality with the naked eye you'll have time to react, but not with magnification.

Anyone remember Cobean's Naked Eye, a cartoon series in magazines of old?

[electricflyer]

Just made my reservation at Lake Hartwell State Park, SC. I will be next to you Wade at site #9 arriving on the 17th and departing on the 22nd. See you there next year.
Marv
KT4W

[Cutter46]

I received an email from Oregon state parks saying they will start taking reservations for the parks in the total eclipse path on Nov 17 2016. Plan early.

[electricflyer]

Reading about the eclipse on other forums it seems camp sites are filling fast and some already full. There is a large group of FROGs (Forest River Owners Group) that are getting together in Gatlinburg TN. Some have remarked that there is limited sites in Oregon. I would imagine it would not be crowded in Western Nebraska to watch. There are some counties out there with only one community in them, I would say town but some of them may not even qualify as a town. My parents used to have good friends that had a 4,000 acre ranch near Dunning, NE and they not only owned a ranch but most of the business buildings in Dunning. You may need to do some boondocking to watch it there. Possibly in the Halsey National Forest. Looking at the eclipse map it would be right on the northern fringe. Grand Island would be great, get a room at the Holiday inn, used to stay there often. I remember reading about a child birth in a county that was the first one in over 35 years, that was because there was no hospital in the county and a lady went into labor and had a baby before the could make it to a hospital.

I got a reply on the Forest River Forum about past eclipses and a link to check on them. I remembered a total eclipse a long time ago and the link gave me a possible time, of June 30, 1954. I remember using a indirect sighting of it by putting a pin hole in a piece of paper and then shining the eclipse through it on another piece of paper. There will be an eclipse in a little over 4 days but it will be in the Southern Hemisphere, on the southern tip of SA and Africa.

Wade and I have reservations at Lake Hartwell State Park in SC. Come join us if it isn't already full.

Here is the link for the time chart of solar eclipses.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/north-america.html?starty=1960&type=solar Solar Eclipse time chart

[ke0me]

Out in my neck of the woods, looks like Grand Teton National Park has possibilities, also several state parks in eastern Wyoming (Glendo, Guernsey) are almost dead on the path.

Will talk to wife, may do something out west.

[electricflyer]

Find a campground north of Scottsbluff NE. If you need to drive to a location centered on the eclipse you can just stop in the middle of the road. There won't be any traffic to worry about, the only thing out there would be a couple cows.

[Radio]

AS of July 4th...

If you want to go with Marv and me, there are 31 sites still available at Lake Hartwell State Park (SC) Sites 1, 2, 12 and 13 are near us.

They're not raising the rates for the eclipse. Still $24 a night (for the sites on this loop, anyway) The park has pretty good reviews. There's room for a few more.

(I put this info in the other eclipse thread, too)