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Solar Eclipse

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:22 pm
by OmarLittle
Anyone in the path or traveling to the path? My wife grew up in Indiana so we're heading there to try and see it. Weather permitting. I was there for the last one although it clouded over it was still incredibly cool. If you have the opportunity I would highly recommend trying to see it

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:27 pm
by karstopography
Not in the totality path, but we got plans to be in the path. Weather is a looking a little iffy Monday in Texas, possibly some storms.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:27 pm
by Cole_Robbie
I'm smack in the middle of totality, sunny weather is forecast. The cheapest hotel in town is normally $69. This weekend the rates are over a thousand a night.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:38 pm
by SpookyShoe
Not in totality path, but Houston is supposed to see a 94%.partial eclipse, which is good enough for me. My husband bought two pair of solar eclipse watching glasses at the convenience store.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 6:48 pm
by Cole_Robbie

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 7:15 pm
by worth1
I'm in the path at work have welding hood that goes to 14.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2024 7:54 pm
by bower
I could get to the totality path pretty easily with a couple hours drive. But it's 99.2% in my area so I will likely stay home. Forecast is cloudy on this end of the island, but you never know.

We had an eclipse here in the 1980's - my brother and I drove out to the ocean and took pictures. The light was odd, kind of yellowish - it wasn't pitch dark or anything. We took pics of the eclipse by holding a couple layers of exposed film over the lens of our old 35mm cameras then. Came out looking like a thin red crescent moon.

I have welding goggles - hadn't thought of that. I was thinking of digging out some old exposed film to whack over my camera lens though, if it clears. ;)

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 1:48 am
by Cole_Robbie
NASA recommends welding visors rated 12 or higher, just FYI.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 6:01 am
by worth1
Set the controles for the heart of the Sun.
One of the best musical pieces in the history of mankind.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 6:02 am
by bower
Tx @Cole_Robbie . I did google it afterwards and saw they probably won't do. At least so far, I can't find a number on them, so I wouldn't take a chance.
I may just try the colander trick, if the sun shines. I have my doubts... forecast is cloudy all day.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 6:09 am
by worth1
bower wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2024 6:02 am Tx @Cole_Robbie . I did google it afterwards and saw they probably won't do. At least so far, I can't find a number on them, so I wouldn't take a chance.
I may just try the colander trick, if the sun shines. I have my doubts... forecast is cloudy all day.
The welding hood probably works better than anything you can get.
Complete UV protection.
Arc welding puts out more UV than the Sun does after going through the atmosphere I think.
The rules are if you see spots when you close your eyes they aren't dark enough.
Right out of the manual.
I remember one Korean girl got a sunburn watching me weld for about 20 minutes.
I warned her.
The had a halter top on.
The higher the amps the darker the lens.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 11:38 am
by worth1
I did some reading up on welding hoods and looking at the eclipse.
.
They dumbed it down to the smallest common denominator.
It's amazing what people will call welding goggles and hoods.
They didn't mention auto darkening either.
Mine has settings on it for whatever amperage I'm running and the reaction time of the darkening.
Obviously being safe for the general public.
Probably won't be able to see it anyway.
Thunderstorms in the forecast.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 12:55 pm
by worth1
Burnett Texas is in the path of the eclipse.
Reports of the HEB store being wiped out on food supplies.
It could be the local population buying up everything before the sun worshipers come to the area.
Suspected thousands are supposed to show up.
Highway 71 is a major route from Houston to the eclipse zone.
Trip to work might be interesting.
Plus I go by the airport.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 2:25 pm
by SpookyShoe
IMG_20240405_142202596.jpg
These are the ones my husband bought.
IMG_20240405_142215265.jpg
IMG_20240405_142354897.jpg

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 2:34 pm
by Labradors
We are in the path of the eclipse. (Not that we could care). Half a million visitors are supposed to be coming to town to see it!
We hear that the hotels in Niagara Falls are all sold out, and they will be charging $100 for parking. They have pre-emptively been declared a State of Emergency! What a sad world.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:48 pm
by TomatoNut95
I bought a set of glasses off Amazon from a business called Medical King. Wanted to share them with family members but one is a pantaphobic that's too mistrustful of them, and another is party pooping the eclipse. My family is weird. Very, very weird.
Anyway, I won't be able to see the eclipse. Figures a rare event like that would get messed up because of rain. 💔

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:08 pm
by SpookyShoe
TomatoNut95 wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2024 4:48 pm I bought a set of glasses off Amazon from a business called Medical King. Wanted to share them with family members but one is a pantaphobic that's too mistrustful of them, and another is party pooping the eclipse. My family is weird. Very, very weird.
Anyway, I won't be able to see the eclipse. Figures a rare event like that would get messed up because of rain. 💔
I'm sure it will be covered live on TV. If you can't see it in person, watch it virtually. Don't let a few buzz kill party poopers ruin your joy. And wear your glasses around the house just to annoy everybody.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:14 pm
by zeuspaul
I have seen total eclipses and partial eclipses. Both are interesting to watch. No way would I travel and pay to see a total eclipse. Do you get bragging rights if you see a total eclipse vs partial? It's basically the same thing. At minimum a partial is visible everywhere in the lower 48. If that kind of thing excites you watch the moon go through its phases every day of the week.

I watched the last one using the pinhole in a cardboard box technique.

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:24 pm
by GoDawgs
This time we have only the partial. Some years ago (5? 8?) we had totality and at mid afternoon the light looked pale like early evening. The crickets started their evening chirping! As the sun started coming back they eventually slowed and then quit. Even the birds went quiet, like they were ready to hang it up for the day. :)

Re: Solar Eclipse

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:54 pm
by worth1
GoDawgs wrote: Fri Apr 05, 2024 5:24 pm This time we have only the partial. Some years ago (5? 8?) we had totality and at mid afternoon the light looked pale like early evening. The crickets started their evening chirping! As the sun started coming back they eventually slowed and then quit. Even the birds went quiet, like they were ready to hang it up for the day. :)
Yes it's a very weird event if you pay attention.