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Merged Solar Eclipse 2017!

I want to use some binoculars for the eclipse, but I don't want to buy some solar binoculars just for this purpose that I won't use again. I don't own binoculars, but have been long considering buying some for general use. I would like to buy some basic binoculars and a solar filter I can use for the eclipse. The buying options and combinations of filters for that are just confusing me. Is there a good set of binoculars that I can get with a set of solar filters?
 
DevilsAdvocate said:
I want to use some binoculars for the eclipse, but I don't want to buy some solar binoculars just for this purpose that I won't use again. I don't own binoculars, but have been long considering buying some for general use. I would like to buy some basic binoculars and a solar filter I can use for the eclipse. The buying options and combinations of filters for that are just confusing me. Is there a good set of binoculars that I can get with a set of solar filters?
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DA, The American Astronomical Society has a page that answers some very basic questions on sun filters:
https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/optics-filters
It seems you are asking to purchase a pre-packaged, solar filter/binoculars retail combo. A quick surf and I found these.
Meade is a respected company in the optics biz. I would trust them to sell a safe product. And the price is nice, starting at only $49.95. In stock and available for shipping.

ETA: Where will you be for the event?
 
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Dumb All Over said:
DA, The American Astronomical Society has a page that answers some very basic questions on sun filters:
https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/optics-filters
It seems you are asking to purchase a pre-packaged, solar filter/binoculars retail combo. A quick surf and I found these.
Meade is a respected company in the optics biz. I would trust them to sell a safe product. And the price is nice, starting at only $49.95. In stock and available for shipping.

ETA: Where will you be for the event?
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Thanks. I saw those Meade binoculars on Amazon but they didn't have very many or very good reviews. I'll keep looking around a bit.

I'm going to St. Louis for the weekend. Monday morning I'll drive near the center line...somewhere. I think I'll go to the petroglyph site in Washington State Park. But maybe Robinsonville State Park or Meramec State Park. Meramec has caves we could explore after, but I figure it might be too crowded anyway and it doesn't have a very good viewing area (near the campgrounds and boat launch). Robinsonville looks nice, but rather small. I'll have to look into Washington a bit more, but being around pertoglyphs sounds like a nice special place.

None of those are really ideal. All the places really having events are further north, but totality doesn't last as long. Plus, I think I'd rather avoid the crowds.
 
I am going to film with my go-pro attached to my head band and watch with my special glasses so my retinas won't burn.
 
I didn't know there were petroglyphs in Washington State Park! On the list for my next trip in that direction. Thanks!

I agree that Meramec State Park is not suitable, crowds or no crowds.
 
Skeptic Ginger said:
Well, I committed, I paid an outrageous price for a camping spot at the fairgrounds in Madras OR. They're having Oregon Solarfest, music and other events. I can get there either Sat or Sun so I'll be able to get there without fear of being stuck in a traffic jam. Now the only risk is that 10% chance of clouds. But that's some of the best odds near here.

If anyone wants to share the camping spot, PM me. You'll need a $60 festival ticket per person, (required to get in the camping area), and there are two parking options, one $25 and you take the shuttle to get to the camp site, or a much more expensive spot in the fairgrounds.

They won't allow an extra car at the campsite. The parking offsite BTW, does allow people to sleep in their cars. The shuttle is $5/day.

If you are coming from the Seattle area, I'd be happy to carpool.
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We (Terry and I) have found a dry campground that doesn't take reservations, in the middle of nowehere, but Madras is the closest town. We hope if we get there a few days early, no one else is going to be willing to camp that long without any facilities. But if all else fails, we'll just sleep in the back of the truck wherever we can find. We are driving 13 hours each way for this event...
 
hcmom said:
We (Terry and I) have found a dry campground that doesn't take reservations, in the middle of nowehere, but Madras is the closest town. We hope if we get there a few days early, no one else is going to be willing to camp that long without any facilities. But if all else fails, we'll just sleep in the back of the truck wherever we can find. We are driving 13 hours each way for this event...
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There are a number of 'no reservation' campgrounds that are on a first come basis. They can only be occupied 2 weeks ahead so people cannot hold them for longer and you have to occupy the camp, so someone cannot set up a tent and come back a week later. You may find something.

My fear is not getting there early enough and finding the 2 lane highway turned into a parking lot of people that have no place to stay. Such is the risk with so little highway access to eastern OR.
 
Great 'Murican Eclipse 2017

As the title says, anyone planning special events around the eclipse, either travel or attending one of the many activities along the path of totality? We decided last year to try for it, and I managed to score reservations in Yellowstone Park during the event. We will need to drive south about 100 miles to be in the best viewing area, but that is quite doable with some planning.

As a side note, there is currently a scandal in Oregon where hotels accepted reservations over a year ago for eclipse viewers, but when people started calling this spring to reconfirm, they were informed that due to a booking glitch their reservations had been canceled. In some instances, they were then told the reservations could be reinstated, but at a substantially higher price than the original booking. Some reservations were made through Expedia, who is blaming the hotels; the hotels are turning around and blaming Expedia for allowing bookings so far in advance of normal. Meanwhile, people who had made travel plans around this rare event are hosed. Moral of story: make sure any reservations regarding eclipse housing are reverified! I did!
 
OOps -- I didn't see one in the first couple of pages. If one of the mods wants to either delete or combine this one, please do so.
eta: The only eclipse threads I can find here are more than 5 years old. Were they in another section?
 
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esquel said:
As the title says, anyone planning special events around the eclipse, either travel or attending one of the many activities along the path of totality? We decided last year to try for it, and I managed to score reservations in Yellowstone Park during the event. We will need to drive south about 100 miles to be in the best viewing area, but that is quite doable with some planning.

As a side note, there is currently a scandal in Oregon where hotels accepted reservations over a year ago for eclipse viewers, but when people started calling this spring to reconfirm, they were informed that due to a booking glitch their reservations had been canceled. In some instances, they were then told the reservations could be reinstated, but at a substantially higher price than the original booking. Some reservations were made through Expedia, who is blaming the hotels; the hotels are turning around and blaming Expedia for allowing bookings so far in advance of normal. Meanwhile, people who had made travel plans around this rare event are hosed. Moral of story: make sure any reservations regarding eclipse housing are reverified! I did!
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Given how many big fans of various types of events pre-book their hotel a year in advance, the bolded should be no surprise in the hotel business..

I know folks that go to the Hot August Nights car show in Reno, Comic-Con in San Diego and the big Knob Creek MG shoot in Kentucky that book their rooms for the next year before they check out.
 
esquel said:
OOps -- I didn't see one in the first couple of pages. If one of the mods wants to either delete or combine this one, please do so.
eta: The only eclipse threads I can find here are more than 5 years old. Were they in another section?
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Well, it was started in 2013. :p

But we've been posting in it as the date approaches. Here's a link to the latest page:

Solar Eclipse 2017!
 
22 Lists Your Life Depends On (#15 will STUN you!)

Lists list:

1. 7 bizarre (but brilliant) myths and superstitions about solar eclipses
2. 6 of the Best Places to See the Total Solar Eclipse of 2017
3. 7 things you need to know about the Aug. 21 eclipse
4. 5 things to do to get ready for the 2017 solar eclipse
5. 10 amazing places in America to watch the 2017 solar eclipse
6. 5 things to do now to prepare for the solar eclipse
7. 20 last-minute places to stay for the solar eclipse in Oregon
8. 3 solar eclipse tips from Neil deGrasse Tyson
9. 10 unusual ways to experience the August 21 eclipse
10. 3 places to get your glasses in preparation for the total solar eclipse in*August
11. 17 places to watch the 2017 solar eclipse around Oregon
12. 12 best places to view the 2017 solar eclipse around the U.S.
13. 7 things to know about the rare total solar eclipse this August
14. Top 5 places to see the total solar eclipse
15. 10 best places to see this summer’s solar eclipse
16. Top 10 spots in East Tennessee to view the total solar eclipse
17. 7 rooftop bars for viewing total solar eclipse
18. 21 National Parks Where You Can Enjoy the 2017 Solar Eclipse
19. 25 things to bring to the eclipse
20. 10 Unique Places To View 2017 Total Solar Eclipse in US, Including NC
21. 5 places to see this summer's total solar eclipse, within a day's drive of Cleveland (photos)
22. 5 great places to see this summer's total solar eclipse

If I don't get these 210 items checked off quick, all my plans will be ruined.
 
Well, I think I just came across the most idiotic comment concerning next month's eclipse.

I was going over the comments section on a L.A. Times article on the event, when I saw this:

"Remember. the crowd that warns you about looking at the sun are morons with nothing to do in their miserable pathetic little lies. These annoying losers have had their day. They honestly think we are fools. Fact. The do gooders are bad people and dumb down everyone. They can shut up and the world will be better."
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:eye-poppi:jaw-dropp

I have a STRONG feeling that this person was a Trump supporter, as a few minutes after he posted his dangerous advice, he posted this:

"It's America vs the PROGRESSIVES!"
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I would have flagged this, but you have to be registered member even to perform that action...:(
 
carlvs said:
I have a STRONG feeling that this person was a Trump supporter, as a few minutes after he posted his dangerous advice, he posted this:
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Hi carlvs,

Thank goodness the eclipse has little to do with politics. The Sun and the Moon don't care who the President is. In a little over three weeks they are going to do their thing, and there is nothing any politician can do about it. What a nice escape for those of us looking forward to an amazing celestial event divorced from the drudgery of human diplomacy. For me, it will act like a dose of medicine, curing me of the long, seemingly never-ending electoral bickering.

Three cheers for the Sun and Moon!
 
9 of 10 At Once

The ten brightest celestial objects in the sky in order are:
  1. The Sun
  2. The Moon
  3. Venus
  4. Jupiter
  5. Sirius
  6. Mars
  7. Mercury*
  8. Canopus
  9. Rigil Kentaurus (Alpha Centauri)
  10. Arcturus
For those in the path of totality, nine of the ten should be visible all at the same time! Because it resides in the southern hemisphere, Alpha Centauri is the only one on the list that won't be seen. Other bright stars including Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, Capella, Pollux, Procyon, Rigel and Spica should be visible, too. And Regulus, which should appear a mere 1.2 degrees to the immediate left of the Sun.

For the purists, I'm including the Sun's corona as part of the "visible Sun" even though technically the Sun proper will be covered by the Moon.

*The brightness of Mercury is variable and won't appear at its brightest on Eclipse Day. It will take a trained eye to spot the pinkish planet.

ETA - CORRECTION - Canopus is a southern star and won't be seen. 8 out of 10 dentists recommend Crest Toothpaste. Gah!
 
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Dumb All Over said:
*The brightness of Mercury is variable and won't appear at its brightest on Eclipse Day. It will take a trained eye to spot the pinkish planet.
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The brightness of the moon is also variable, and will appear at its absolute darkest on Eclipse day. ;)
 
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