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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGreat Read and Video - Eclipse Mania 2017: Where Will You Be?
https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/eclipse-mania-2017-where-will-you-be<snip>
The first coast-to-coast total eclipse to grace the United States in nearly a century will sweep across the landscape on Monday, August 21and, to say the least, word is getting out. Some eclipse fans from across the nation and the world made their hotel reservations literally years ago. Others started thinking only a few days or weeks ago about venturing into the total-eclipse path. Millions of Americans wont have to go anywhere, as the narrow path of this eclipse will pass over a number of big cities and small towns (see the embedded YouTube video below).
Experiencing totalitywhen the moon completely obscures the solar disk for two minutes or more, depending on locationis a very rare treat. Words often fail when trying to explain the kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, feelings and emotions that consume us during this other-worldly event, says NASA scientist emeritus Fred Espenak, a.k.a. Mr. Eclipse. In a post for EarthSky, Espenak featured an excerpt from Total Eclipses of the Sun, 1894, by 19th-century U.S. writer Mabel Loomis Todd. Her description is spine-tingling and well worth reading in full. Heres an excerpt of the excerpt:
A vast, palpable presence seems to overwhelm the world. The blue sky changes to gray or dull purple, speedily becoming more dusky, and a death-like trance seizes upon everything earthly. Birds with terrified cries, fly bewildered for a moment, and then silently seek their night quarters. Bats emerge stealthily. Sensitive flowers, the scarlet pimpernel, the African mimosa, close their delicate petals, and a sense of hushed expectancy deepens with the darkness...
HeartachesNhangovers
(816 posts)traffic jam in history trying to get into the path of totality (if the worst fear-mongering turns out to be correct), or sitting in lawn chairs with my wife in a city park somewhere in Oregon watching the eclipse (if all the fear-mongering is just that).
malaise
(269,244 posts)Please
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)I live on the totality path.
renate
(13,776 posts)Have fun!
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)The population in my small city is expected to at least double. I'm glad it's for something worthwhile.
malaise
(269,244 posts)We'll watch the partial from here
neeksgeek
(1,214 posts)Next to my classroom building. 98% totality.
Since I have a class to teach during that time, I'll just work it into my lesson somehow. I teach Photoshop, so I can make a case for pinhole observation being tangential to our topic.
Enjoy
mainer
(12,034 posts)I plan to be on top of a ski slope.
MineralMan
(146,341 posts)This one will be about 81% where I am. However, anytime something happens in the sky over Minnesota, we have clouds. So, I'm unlikely to see anything. I will have my cardboard box with the pinhole ready, just in case.
Permanut
(5,667 posts)Right where it begins. We pretty much expect gridlock; it's a small town.
irisblue
(33,041 posts)roamer65
(36,747 posts)The town I am landing in is basically shutting down that day. The hotel has had tons of calls trying to get reservations but none are available. I made mine years ago.
If I get to see totality, I will have completed the "Trifecta"...A Venus transit, a Mercury transit and a total solar eclipse.
Lilma
(132 posts)I live 40 miles east of Carbondale, Ill. There will be a total eclipse just south of there. I really hope it doesn't rain. There are thousands of people coming into the area to watch it. Just read that The Eclipse Special, a train coming in from Chicago is sold out.
Have glasses - will watch.
HipChick
(25,485 posts)Hopefully with a non-chatty pilot...
roamer65
(36,747 posts)Mark the date. That is the next total eclipse in the lower 48.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)We haven't had a drop of rain here for fifty-five days and it's been hotter than blue blazes (not to mention being totally socked-in by the smoke from the real blazes; wildfires have burned all around us during the past month, a couple of them a bit too close for comfort).
So, our local WA news has now released their ten-day forecast ...clouds and rain is predicted for parts of both western Washington and Oregon on the morning of August 21.
I have to say, at this point I'd much rather see raindrops falling from the sky than watch a partial darkening of the sun, since this far North it's only going to be around 88% total coverage anyway. I'll probably change my mind by next weekend, tho, that is if we get rain during the interim.
I sure hope there won't be a whole bunch of disappointed people who have planned for months in advance to watch the Total Eclipse arrive in Oregon. That would be a shame.
malaise
(269,244 posts)Yes the weather could mess this up for some folks.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Going to my sister's house for my nephew's birthday. Can't wait to see the puppy again! I'm obsessed with her - she is the cutest thing ever!
jalan48
(13,906 posts)ThoughtCriminal
(14,050 posts)Hope for clear skies