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Merged Solar Eclipse 2017!

I am currently in the path of totality, got to remember to take the day off.

A trick I learned at the east coast US partial in 1970 was to use a pair of binoculars to project an image of the sun and moon onto a sidewalk or other smooth flat surface.

Note: The eyeball is not a smooth flat surface and I do not recommend viewing the eclipse through binoculars without suitable filters (#14 welder glass for that)
 
bobdroege7 said:
I am currently in the path of totality, got to remember to take the day off.

A trick I learned at the east coast US partial in 1970 was to use a pair of binoculars to project an image of the sun and moon onto a sidewalk or other smooth flat surface.

Note: The eyeball is not a smooth flat surface and I do not recommend viewing the eclipse through binoculars without suitable filters (#14 welder glass for that)
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Back in the 60's I eyeballed one and had a bright green spot in my eye for several days. Fortunately it was not long enough to lose sight in the spot!!!!!
Your warning should be taken - it is very correct!!!!! Using a magnifying glass or sheet (I have 8&1/2 inch by 11 inch ones) to project the image onto a lightish surface. Preferably one that is not burnable!!!
 
Don't Get Caught in the Crunch!

This snippet is from an article at space.com:
Prepare for the traffic jams

Twelve million people live along the path of totality, and another 25 million live within one day's drive, Rao said. But people from all over the U.S. will be flocking to the centerline to experience the rare and amazing celestial event that is totality. As with most crowds of people heading to a major event, there will be traffic — lots and lots of traffic.

"State departments of transportation and police are expecting hurricane evacuation-like traffic," Reynolds said. So if you're planning on taking a small road trip the day of the event, give yourself plenty of time to get to the path of totality. Don't get stuck watching a partial eclipse in standstill traffic on your way to the centerline. Allot at least a few extra hours of driving, or seek lodging the night before.*
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bobdroege7 said:
I am currently in the path of totality, got to remember to take the day off.

A trick I learned at the east coast US partial in 1970 was to use a pair of binoculars to project an image of the sun and moon onto a sidewalk or other smooth flat surface.

Note: The eyeball is not a smooth flat surface and I do not recommend viewing the eclipse through binoculars without suitable filters (#14 welder glass for that)
Click to expand...

Also note the filter should go on the big, upstream end. Put it on the small end and the concentrated light can heat it up a lot, possibly even enough to crack. You don't want to be looking through when that happens.
 
I'm very worried about the traffic jam. A year out there were no hotel or camping spaces left within the shadow or near it. I've been thinking about how early I can go given I'll have to sleep in my car if I go the night before.
 
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Skeptic Ginger said:
I'm very worried about the traffic jam. A year out there were no hotel or camping spaces left within the shadow or near it. I've been thinking about how early I can go given I'll have to sleep in my car if I go the night before.
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SG, given the developing traffic prognostications, going the day before is a much safer bet. I think you mentioned upthread you'll be on the west coast, maybe Oregon? If you travel as far as Wyoming you are welcome to join us for the viewing.
 
Ziggurat said:
Also note the filter should go on the big, upstream end. Put it on the small end and the concentrated light can heat it up a lot, possibly even enough to crack. You don't want to be looking through when that happens.
Click to expand...
I've read of people who will use binoculars in much the same way as a pinhole viewer.

Cut a hole in cardboard. Stick one half of the large end (upstream end) of the binoculars through the hole and make sure the other half is covered by the cardboard. Mount the binoculars on a tripod. Like a pinhole viewer, place a white piece of paper or cardboard some distance (couple, three feet?) from the small, eyepiece end of the binoculars. Voila. No need for a filter.

Your focused image through this method is much larger than the typical pinhole viewer. Also, they say you can detect sunspots in this larger image.

Actually, I'm thinking of giving this a try.
 
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Dumb All Over said:
SG, given the developing traffic prognostications, going the day before is a much safer bet. I think you mentioned upthread you'll be on the west coast, maybe Oregon? If you travel as far as Wyoming you are welcome to join us for the viewing.
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That is so sweet of you. Are you sure? Because if I get desperate I may take you up on that.

I'm near Seattle.

[note I said this upthread also] I think if there are clear skies west of the Cascades, I'll be able to get there the night before and sleep in the car.

But if it is only clear east of the Cascades there are only three 2 lane highways that can get you to the center line in Eastern OR and I fear even going the night before I might get stuck in a jam.

I went to see the '91 eclipse in Mexico and at the very last minute clouds rolled in. During the 79 eclipse in the US I was in Australia. And when I was a kid my parents took us to the movies during an eclipse because they were afraid we'd get eye damage.

I feel jinxed.
 
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Dumb All Over said:
I've read of people who will use binoculars in much the same way as a pinhole viewer.

Cut a hole in cardboard. Stick one half of the large end (upstream end) of the binoculars through the hole and make sure the other half is covered by the cardboard. Mount the binoculars on a tripod. Like a pinhole viewer, place a white piece of paper or cardboard some distance (couple, three feet?) from the small, eyepiece end of the binoculars. Voila. No need for a filter.

Your focused image through this method is much larger than the typical pinhole viewer. Also, they say you can detect sunspots in this larger image.

Actually, I'm thinking of giving this a try.
Click to expand...

I picked up some wielder's glass in a junk shop and I use those over my small binoculars. They've been excellent for seeing sunspots and I was able to see the Venus transit with them. That was spectacular.

I couldn't see see the mercury transit with them though, Mercury was too small.
 
Just found out today that a former cow-orker and partner lives in Jefferson City, MO -- right on the line! I might have to hit him up for a visit.
 
Skeptic Ginger said:
Are you sure?
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Absolutely! The more, the merrier!

I am still hoping that hcmom, Hokulele and jasonpatterson will show up. I doubt they will, but hope springs eternal. Faydra thought she might show up, but now she can't.:( I wish I could tell you why she won't be there but I am sworn to secrecy. I am sure she will let everyone here know of her plans for that day. :)

As I've mentioned, I'll be in Casper with my family. We will be in the South Mike Sedar Park where I have rented one of the city's covered picnic table pavilions. The picnic table sits dead-center on the path of totality, literally. You can zoom-in to the exact location on this map. Plug in these coordinates and check it out: Latitude = 42.8667, Longitude = -106.3131. It would be fun to see you there.

ETA - Correction: Latitude = 42.8237, Longitude = -106.3350.


I feel jinxed.
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Wait a minute. I take it all back!
:D
 
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We're staying in Portland the night before, will head out as early as I can get my wife going and find a parking lot in the zone. If it's clear, of course. I've got my glasses, but the sun looks pretty darn small through them. I think I'll shop for solar binoculars and/or solar filter for the camera.
 
Plans for the 2017 total eclipse

I'm staying home (note location) and deploying my 70's era Celestron 8 on the sidewalk. Have a solar filter with which I observed the transits of Venus and Mercury and also the annular eclipse in the 80's.

Yours?
 
Dumb All Over said:
I take it that wearing a pair of the cheapie solar glasses while looking through binoculars is out of the question, amirite?
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First, sorry I did not remember this thread, and regarding the quote above the filters have to be on the objective (big lens) of your binocs. Otherwise the rods and cones on your retina become the ants kiddos torment with a magnifying glass.
 
Fidelio said:
I'm staying home (note location) and deploying my 70's era Celestron 8 on the sidewalk. Have a solar filter with which I observed the transits of Venus and Mercury and also the annular eclipse in the 80's.

Yours?
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Here's wishing you clear skies, Fidelio.

I assume you live in Atlanta, GA? If true, you won't be in the path of totality and will need to move slightly north.
 
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