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Merged Solar Eclipse 2017!

alfaniner said:
Re: first pic

Is that what we can expect? I've only seen closeups of just the sun during eclipse. Is there really that much ambient light? Wow.
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No it's much darker and suprisingly chilly, bring a jacket. And my experience was an annular eclipse.

My dogs got creeped out and curled up around my feet shaking the 70's era Celestron scope which I plan to set up on the sidewalk in front of my house.

I shall also have a camera obsurea (sp) with a focal length of about 100 feet projecting into a box attached to a tree. And finally as mentioned above a large piece of peg board for multiple images.


In other words it's not gonna be just cloudy but actively raining.

The universe is a harsh mistress.
 
This morning, I booked a motel room in Salina Kansas, about three hours (188 miles) south of Grand Island, Nebraska. Grand Island is almost exactly in the center of the shadow of totality.

The plan is to arrive in Salina on Sunday and spend the night, and in the morning drive to (or do I mean toward? Depends on the traffic) Grand Island. Totality is at 1:00 p.m. so there is plenty of time to make the drive.

Surprisingly, the Days Inn was not totally booked, nor did they raise the price. Several of the other hotels in Salina were quoting prices from two to three times their normal rates for this time of year. I checked the availability of places closer to the path of totality, but couldn't find any; or more accurately, any that had a price I was willing to pay.

Dumb All Over mentioned a pinhole camera. Is there anything special I should know about making one for this event? I am traveling in my very primitive camping van and I have a little room for equipment.

EDIT - Never mind, I just found instructions.
 
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Fidelio said:
No it's much darker and suprisingly chilly, bring a jacket. And my experience was an annular eclipse.

My dogs got creeped out and curled up around my feet shaking the 70's era Celestron scope which I plan to set up on the sidewalk in front of my house.

I shall also have a camera obsurea (sp) with a focal length of about 100 feet projecting into a box attached to a tree. And finally as mentioned above a large piece of peg board for multiple images.


In other words it's not gonna be just cloudy but actively raining.

The universe is a harsh mistress.
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Don't know where you were but as I noted, I spent the full ~6 minutes of the total eclipse in Mexico under cloud cover and it did neither get that dark, nor did the temperature change, nor did animals do anything odd.

Guess we all have different experiences.
 
Trying again, stupid ISP ate my post. They are evidently running their DNS server on a 386SX.

Amazon now says I'll get my Celestron solar binoculars next week. I've already got the eclipse glasses and solar filter for the camera. And then....

...I just realized I've gone and scheduled my second cataract surgery for less than three weeks before the event. Doesn't sound good to me, but I'll call the Doc tomorrow anyhow. I don't want to do it in September either because that's pumpkin hurling season.
 
Skeptic Ginger said:
Don't know where you were but as I noted, I spent the full ~6 minutes of the total eclipse in Mexico under cloud cover and it did neither get that dark, nor did the temperature change, nor did animals do anything odd.

Guess we all have different experiences.
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ATL. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_May_30,_1984

addendum to the above: It can be rather chilly in Atlanta in May unless you are sitting in full sun, also my doggies were (insert sad smiley here) big wussies.
 
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I plan on viewing the solar eclipse in August near Salem Oregon. I'll have an SLR camera with a 600 mm zoom and a Sony Handycam both equipped with solar filters for recording during the partial eclipse. I'll take them off during totality.

I made a filter from cardboard and Baader film based on what i saw on the internet. The results were poor to say the least. I need help.



Not sure why results were worse after I painted it. It is possible I damaged the film when I spray painted the film holder even though I covered it prior to spraying. I think the camcorder might be trying to focus on the filer instead of anything farther away when it has an unobstructed view of the sun. The camcorder works fine when performing the usual recording without the filter in place.

I'm going to obtain two 37 mm filers to contain a piece of Baader film and attach it directly to the camcorder lens next.

Ranb
 
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Ranb said:
I made a filter from cardboard and Baader film based on what i saw on the internet. The results were poor to say the least. I need help.
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You might investigate welder's goggles or welder's mask inserts. Still time for a bit of tinkering.
 
I tried again with the filer taped backwards to the camcorder. It helped. There is much more light leakage of course, but this goes away for the most part when zooming in on the sun. I'm impressed that the camera seems to be able to focus in on the filter itself.

I've ordered two 37 mm filters for about $6 each. I'll insert of piece of the solar film between them. It's not ideal but this should eliminate the light leakage and protect the solar film. It is more expensive that the one I made from cardboard, but far cheaper than a dedicated filter.



There is a little dot in the lower left quadrant of the sun's image. Is this a sun spot?

Peregrinus said:
You might investigate welder's goggles or welder's mask inserts. Still time for a bit of tinkering.
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I have welder's hoods. Wife also bought eclipse sunglasses.
 
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I found some wielder's glass at a used scientific shop years ago. I got several and played around with them to find the right degree of filter to put over the end of my small binoculars.

Totality is only a bit over 2 minutes. I'll be leaving the photography to everyone else. I'll take pics for the memories of the event, but the eclipse will have my full attention when it happens.
 
I'll have two tripods; one with a DSLR and another with the camcorder. The camera has a remote and the camcorder will just be left alone for the most part. I'll take off the solar filters during totality, but other than that I'll be able to enjoy the eclipse.
 
Ranb said:
I'll have two tripods; one with a DSLR and another with the camcorder. The camera has a remote and the camcorder will just be left alone for the most part. I'll take off the solar filters during totality, but other than that I'll be able to enjoy the eclipse.
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I wish you clear skies, and think it's fantastic that people love to photograph the stars. Can't wait to see your vid. :thumbsup::D
 
I'm going to Missouri to see it!

Maybe St. Joseph, but I think I'll go to St. Louis for the weekend and then on Monday morning drive down south a bit to get into the center of line of total eclipse. I'm thinking maybe Mark Twain National Forest.

Anybody got any good tips on where to see it near St. Louis or any eclipse related activities that weekend?
 
Dumb All Over said:
Going to the bathroom might be an issue. Fraknoi says porta-potties will be in demand.
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We'll be bringing our own, used it at Burning Man. :D

Looks like this one. Set up our two room tent, put it in one room and we're set. I also plan to be totally self sufficient as far as meals, ice and water go. There's no way restaurants in Madras are going to be sufficient for the incoming crowd though they are going to be selling food at the Solarfest.
 
Skeptic Ginger said:
I wish you clear skies, and think it's fantastic that people love to photograph the stars. Can't wait to see your vid. :thumbsup::D
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Well, I live in Western WA amidst the trees so star gazing is not a common activity. But since this will be the first total eclipse near me (217 miles close) I'm not going to miss it. My wife and mother will be together for it and these past several years I've taken to using my camcorder and cameras more.
 
Dumb All Over said:
Quite off-topic but - I have never been to Burning Man but have a fascination for it. Have you ever written about your time at the festival? Linky? If not, I'd love it if you started a thread on this.:thumbsup:
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All I can say is, everyone should go once in their life. Definitely belongs on the bucket list.
 
We have property in Lenoir City, TN, with lots of room for camping.

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