Total solar eclipse 2017 - official thread

[tlc1976]

I just got back. After flushing the coolant and changing the oil on the jeep, I left Saturday evening. Stopped and visited with my daughter for a bit since she couldn't go with me. Drove to Gilman IL and slept at a rest stop. Then Sunday went to Chester IL which is full totality. Found this campground/nature reserve which surprisingly had very few people there, even just before the eclipse. $8 a night and they gave out free eclipse glasses. (Shocked because most campgrounds in Michgan are booked solid even where there's nothing going on and charge roughly 4x that.) I camped there for the night, but wanted to see these racing moon shadows. Surrounding area was nothing but acres of open cornfields and the occassional house/barn/silo. I went down a dirt back road and watched from the driveway of an abandoned falling down house. The road was Autumn road, considering that's my daughter's name and that's the best I could get of her being with me.

The eclipse glasses were much lighter, clearer, and the sun looked yellow rather than the green of the welding helmet. Also were much cooler in the 90+ temps with 95% humidity. I'm not used to that. I've only seen a partial in 2nd grade, never a total. It was clear for the whole thing. Totality was cool, but I was not blown away. I didn't see pluming corona or anything, just some glow. No moon shadows racing across the field. It got dimmer but I didn't see stars, just the typical Venus and something else that I see every night just after the sun goes down. Only difference was that it was like the sun went down in every direction. It gets darker than this during the day in the rainy season. It did cool off during totality, but it was by no means jacket weather as some describe. It was more like it saved me from getting heatstroke, might have cooled to 70 or 80. I kept chugging water, hiding in the shadow of the jeep, slow breathing, so I didn't keel over in these temps. Ears were plugging up from humidity. I left for home shortly after totality when the sun was mostly still covered, and the sign at the gas station said it was still 90.

And so did everybody else. The first 45 minutes was not bad at all, most of them headed to St Louis. I figured I'd take the side highway rather than the freeway but it didn't help. Chicago was the other big return destination. Got to a few miles from Nashville IL and backed up. I normally pop it in N rather than ride the clutch in times like this, but that didn't help in these temps. I also stay off the AC because I don't want to work the engine even harder. First the pedal started squeaking. Then binding and feeling rough. Then the disengagement started being intermittent, sometimes couldn't shift at all. So I found a side road and pulled over and greased the linkage. No go. So I was able to take a side road to Mt Vernon IL. By then everything should have cooled off (and according to the temps gauge it long since did) but the clutch was still very iffy. Zero fluid loss. So I found lots of parts stores and a Midas. They said they could look at it in the morning. Found one room in a very stinky hotel, but I managed by opening coffee and lemon wipes. Others at the hotel said it took 2 hours to go 30 miles and cops were keeping more from going on the freeway. So Tuesday morning they got me right in and said throwout bearing. The engineer in me was insistent it was the master cylinder, but they were my rescue so I said let's do the throwout bearing along with the new clutch that you might as well put in anyway after 150k. They were really nice folks, I hung out and watched them the whole time and some of them chatted with me about cars. They estimated $750 but gave me the discount when they got a clutch for $40 less than they thought. My dad put some money in my account so I could get home, which I can pay back later. So I was on the road by 3 pm. Clutch is now quiet, totally silent, smooth, no problems the rest of the way home even after hitting yet another traffic jam (but not as bad and not as hot out). I kept the old parts for the memory box.

Made it to South Haven MI before all the lights and signs and bugs on the windshield suddently turning into weird hallucinations. So I crashed (not literally) at the next rest area. I wasn't the only one there, maybe that's why the cops didn't kick me out. Visited my daughter this morning when I got to Grand Rapids, then headed home. I'm not used to that kind of heat and humidity constantly but maybe I was starting to. Sunburnt from driving with my window open. I get back home and it's 60F in the sun and fairly dry and now I can breathe but I feel like I need a coat.

So all in all even though it was a much longer, rougher, more expensive trip than I planned, I'm glad I went. Because if I hadn't, I'd be thinking about it for the next 7 years until the next one. I'd been thinking about this one for about 4 years before this.

I wonder if roosters crowed when the sun came back out?

Yes they did at the next farm down the road, I heard them and I thought the same thing.

 

[Hot Rats]

Madras is a nice little high desert community. I had an uncle who taught high school there for about 40 years, used to love visiting right after Labor Day when the weather is perfect and vacation crowds thin out. There's a nice aviation museum at the airport.

They were flying some of the war planes over the campground the night before. It was cool. P-38 Lightning, Corsair, some Mustangs Etc. I'd like to get back up there and actually visit the museum. The one in Tillamook is really cool too.

 

[hbarcat]

This is going to be a long post. Read on if you have the patience.


I spent Sunday night at the campgrounds at Lake Carlyle West Dam Park in Carlyle, IL. This is just north of the path of totality so I woke up at 4 am Monday and checked the weather forecast. There was a large storm area to the north and they were predicting that clouds would be encroaching on the eclipse path with increasing likelihood as the day progressed. I went on a hunch and chose the town of Murphysboro, IL (which happened to be about 8 km away from the longest duration of the eclipse in the entire country at 2 min 42 sec). I left at 6 am and beat most of the traffic (though there were some jam ups) and arrived in town by 7:30. I checked online for some nearby park and found Lake Murphysboro State Park about 3 km outside of town. Arriving at the park I met with a friendly ranger who said the campsites were full but that there was plenty of room in the 4 separate picnic areas around the lake. I got a map and checked out each picnic area and found the largest one that had about 80 people there with spots picked out settled with gazebos and blankets and tables with food and drinks. This was the spot!

I got my own spot and set up my Meade 5" Maksutov scope with a solar filter and invited the curious to check out the sun. It was still a couple of hours until eclipse time but you could see about 12 sunspots in 2 major groups at the equator and people were usually impressed by the telescope view versus the paper eclipse glasses. I had the electric drive on the scope so it more or less tracked the sun and I only had to re-center it about every 20 minutes.

By 11 am I had mingled with the crowd and was happy to discover many of them were science nerds like me and there were even quite a few physicists and technology geeks who were overjoyed at the chance to talk astronomy and cosmology and other sciency stuff without being made to feel like an outsider. Everyone was chugging water because it had reached 95 F with near 100% humidity. There were plenty of trees in the area so we all had shade to sit in but also plenty of open space to pop out to see the sun. I estimate the crowd had reached about 140 by this time but assumed that everyone who was going to be there had arrived.

About 11:45 am the level of excitement went up as the beginning of the partial phase approached. I was looking through the scope and saw a tiny piece of black touch the west edge of the sun's disc. Someone in the crowd shouted, "It's started" and there was some murmuring and other affirmative comments. So it began.

 

[hbarcat]

There was about 90 minutes to go before totality and the crowd mostly chatted, ate their lunches and tried to stay hydrated, while checking the sun’s progress with their eclipse glasses every few minutes or so. I had a steady line for the telescope (to my surprise, no one else had brought one) and I spent most of my time helping people look through the scope and answering questions about the eclipse or about astronomy or some other science topic. Years ago, I went to college with the goal of being a high school science teacher but I never got my degree and that idea died. That morning, I found myself in front of a group of interested children and adults of all ages, answering their science questions and I felt some regret that I had lost that opportunity to do that for a living. Oh, well.

By 12:45, it was getting noticeably darker and there was a tangible anticipation in the crowd that something exciting and extraordinary was happening. One man had brought 2 large squares (about 24“ x 36“) of highly reflective white cardboard and he was using them to make projection viewers with a couple of other pieces of cardboard that had pinholes in them. He was making the rounds and showing everyone and I suggested that he bring one of the pieces underneath the trees and set it on the ground. He did so and we instantly had a view of dozens of crescent suns made by the holes between the leaves each projecting an image on the white paper. He called other people over and about 2 dozen people swarmed in with their cameras to take pictures. The kids especially thought this was cool.

By 1:00, light was down to about 15% and the temperature had dropped to 87 F. There was a breeze off the lake and this was a slight relief from the oppressive heat and humidity. Someone mentioned that the birds had all disappeared. This was true. Normally there birds of all kinds hanging out around the lake but they were all gone. Then the cicadas began to buzz. In southern Illinois they only do this after dark so it was kind of eerie. Something else that was strange - because the source of sunlight was becoming less spread out, objects appeared sharper and more defined than usual. It was as if someone had turned up the contrast knob. Everyone in the crowd was checking the sun with their glasses or viewers and calling out progress. 85% . . . 90% . . . 95% . . .There was a constant line to look through the scope and I had to put a limit of 10 seconds on each person so everyone could get a chance but told them to get back in line for another go if they wanted to.

About 1:15, it was getting darker moment by moment and I pointed out that the planet Venus was easily visible along with some other bright stars. I said this in a whisper because I realized that it was very quiet. the crown had gone almost silent and pretty much everyone was just staring at the sun with their glasses or viewers. At this time I apologized to those waiting and halted the telescope line so I could look for myself. I saw just a tiny sliver of sunlight left and it was disappearing fast. I looked toward the western horizon and saw this immense wall of darkness rushing toward us. I looked back in the scope and saw the sliver of sunlight shrink into a small spot (eclipse buffs call it the diamond ring) and then that too disappeared. The only bit of sunlight left was the “Baileys Beads”, which appear for only a second or two when tiny bits of sunlight leak around the moon’s edge between its valleys and mountains. Then those were also gone and we had TOTALITY.

I stepped away from the telescope and looked up at the sun and saw what I’d seen in countless pictures - except that it was like 1,000x more vivid. The pictures don’t compare at all to the live view and it’s impossible to describe in words just how amazing this sight is. Instantly, the crowd collectively gasped and began whooping and hollering. I heard dozens and dozens of exclamations of “Oh, my God!”, “Wow!!”, “That is amazing!”, “Unbelieveable!!”, “Just incredible!” plus lots of people were actually laughing uncontrollably. Then, after about 10 seconds, everybody burst into an impromptu applause and cheering.

I went back to the telescope, pulled off the solar filter and looked. That was it for me. I had expected to see the corona and that was about it. I saw the corona in such incredible detail that I’d never seen in any photograph. Also, there were deep red flares streaming out of the sun and I had been told that they could only be seen with a specific type of filter that was pretty expensive but I was mistaken.

It looked just like this only much more detailed. (Not my picture)

I said to the people next to me, “You all have to see this.” and had them line up to take turns. They each took about 5 to 8 seconds and I maybe got a dozen a chance to see before totality was almost over. Every single person who looked responded with some kind of spontaneous exclamation (all of which could be translated as, “Wow!!!”).

I took my own turn at the scope and saw “Bailey’s Beads” reforming on the opposite side of the disk and then the diamond ring. I popped the filter back on the scope and watched as a sliver of sunlight reappeared. The end of totality. Once again, the entire crowd applauded like it was the end of a concert of a megaband’s farewell tour. I noticed a few people on their knees and some were crying.

It got rapidly brighter and after a few minutes people started to talk normally again, although the conversation was all about what we had just witnessed together. Over the next hour, about half the crowd left (most in a hurry to beat the traffic jams) while others mingled and talked until the very end after 2:30. At least a dozen people thanked me for bringing the telescope saying it made the experience even more enjoyable. In turn, I’m thankful for my friend’s father, who let me borrow his $700 piece of fragile optical equipment and drag it to a park almost 400 miles away to let strangers look through it.

 

[hbarcat]

I’ve heard it said by those who’ve seen a total solar eclipse that it is a profoundly moving event. Now, having seen it for myself, I would agree. Firstly, pictures don’t come anywhere close to showing the real view. Even the most modern cameras with the best telescopes can’t capture the detail or (more importantly) the wide range of light intensity that the human eye is capable of.

Secondly, the naked eye view of a total eclipse is unlike anything else you could possibly experience. Someone said to me right after the event that it was like witnessing the opening of a black hole in space that connected us here on Earth with the rest of the universe. I think that’s as good a description as I can come up with and more than a few people have said that seeing this made them rethink their place in the universe on some level.

Thirdly, a total eclipse is an event that unfolds over a period of a few hours. It’s not just a “thing” you look at and that’s it. It starts out as any other day with bright sunlight. Then suddenly, the edge of the moon touches the sun’s disc and it begins. Slowly at first, the moon’s dark circle overtakes the bright disc of the sun. The process moves faster as it gets darker and the atmosphere itself, changes. The strange twilight and unusual colors with the sun overhead, the sudden temperature drop, the weird crescent images under the trees and moving “light snakes” turn an eclipse from a static image into a dynamic event. It inevitably builds to an emotionally charged “crescendo” as the last of the light disappears, and within a span of mere seconds, a wall of darkness rushes in from the horizon and engulfs the landscape, revealing this black hole in the sky where the sun used to be, and glowing streamers of hot gas and plasma shooting out of it.

I will probably not see another total solar eclipse in my life. I will encourage my daughter and granddaughter to make every effort to see one for themselves. It will be a memory to be treasured for a lifetime.

 

[tlc1976]

^I had a small telescope as a kid for many years. Saw the outline of the rings of Saturn in 1992. For many years I've wanted something like you used, maybe 5-8". I've looked at planets through some of these every now and then and the pics are quite impressive. So this is one more reason to want one. I've got the yard for it now. Now less than 2 years I'll be done with my kid's mom and I'll be able to have one, or build one.

I had thought about contacting you on your offer, but I still hadn't decided my destination until about halfway there. But turns out I drove through Carlyle and probably right past your campground.

The cicadas were really messing with me. We don't have them (or if we do they don't make noise) up north. They made noise all day and night. Made it hard to sleep. The farther south and west I got, the louder and more frequent they got. First it was in patches, and some cut through more than others. I thought the u-joints in my jeep were making noise, since they do need to be done eventually. So I laid down in a church parking lot in Nashville IL and greased them more. Wasn't until I got to certain areas farther south/west that I heard the same noises while not even driving and I realized what it really was.

 

[Aberdumbie]

Someone said to me right after the event that it was like witnessing the opening of a black hole in space that connected us here on Earth with the rest of the universe.

Yes... Yes that has to be the best possible description. It is truly an experience that transcends mere words...... And I believe you should pursue your dream to teach science. The best teachers I had in my formative years were the teachers that had a childlike and genuine wonder for the subject they were teaching. You would make a superb teacher.

 

[hondo4life]

I will be sure to have a telescope for the 2024 eclipse. I miss having a telescope.

 

[FilterFunk]

hbarcat...thank you for posts #283-#285.

Anyone who would "TL;DR" these posts would be poorer for not taking the time to read them.

 

[Alkali Ike]

It's funny how some otherwise intelligent people just don't get it, while others are fascinated.

"It got dark for a while. What's the big deal?"

 

[nutdog]

Years ago, I went to college with the goal of being a high school science teacher but I never got my degree and that idea died. That morning, I found myself in front of a group of interested children and adults of all ages, answering their science questions and I felt some regret that I had lost that opportunity to do that for a living. Oh, well.

Never too late.

Firstly, pictures don’t come anywhere close to showing the real view.

Agreed, I've seen many, many very cool pictures but none that accurately capture what we saw.

 

[hbarcat]

Never too late.

Sometimes it's too late.

Agreed, I've seen many, many very cool pictures but none that accurately capture what we saw.

The Grand Canyon comes to mind.

I went to see it in 2003 with my 8 year old daughter and I had a cocky attitude. I embarrassed myself in front of her while standing on the famous South Rim and tearing up when taking in the vast expanse of its beauty. It just when on and on and on into the background, seemingly without end.

She said, "It's okay, dad. I don't care if you cry."

Thanks, daughter.


Now, this is the 24 year old woman whom I'm giving singing lessons to, and she cries while singing "Sunshine on My Shoulders" by John Denver and "Teach Your Children" by CSNY.

I'm proud of her.


Anyway, back to the eclipse discussion.

 

[hondo4life]

It's funny how some otherwise intelligent people just don't get it, while others are fascinated.

"It got dark for a while. What's the big deal?"

Some people don't care about this stuff in the same way I don't care about wearing stylish clothes, keeping pet fish, watching television, interior decorating, keeping up appearances in social circles, pop country music, politics, dancing, and meals that do not include meat.

 

[hbarcat]

Some people don't care about this stuff in the same way I don't care about wearing stylish clothes, keeping pet fish, watching television, interior decorating, keeping up appearances in social circles, pop country music, politics, dancing, and meals that do not include meat.

I tried to get my brother to come with me to see the eclipse but he just wasnt interested. I told him I'd pay all expenses and do the driving. He wouldn't have missed any work and he didn't have anything else going on.

He said that he was so uninterested that even if the eclipse would be passing directly over his house he wouldn't bother to go outside to look at it.

My brother is a very smart man and he has an active lifestyle full of interesting events. But he has no interest in anything happening in the sky unless it's weather that affects him personally.

 

[MJ5150]

I didn't care much about it either.
I was outside as it was happening, and a complete stranger offered to let me use his viewing glasses.
I started to accept his offer, then wondered if his glasses were really the right type to protect my eyes, so I declined his offer.

-Mike

 

[Gazman]

I flew my jet up to Nova Scotia to see it, but it wasn't on. That was embarrassing, hope nobody writes a song about it.

 

[Mark Reccord]

I am so danged proud of my wife. She likes photography and twisted my arm to go with her to the country where a group of photographers had set up for the eclipse. These are photos that she took Takes my breath away a second time. Dang I am proud of her.View attachment 1922530 View attachment 1922553

Spectacular pictures!

Royal Caribbean changed our cruise itinerary to avoid Hurricane Harvey so we were south of where I had expected to be for the eclipse. We were just off Cuba and got about 75%. They did give everyone eclipse glasses, which was cool. I had bought some a while back and brought them along just in case so now I have 8 pairs for 2024.

It was cloudless so we got great views. My 8 year old son really enjoyed it. It didn't get very dark though the light changed significantly. The big thing I noticed at ~22 degrees north was that all of the power went out of the sun like it does here in the winter (45N). It was a really stark difference in perceived solar power, though it was still 90+ outside.

Got a neat pic of the crescent sun. A man next to me used an old eyeglass lens to create the image on the deck and I took a snap. I only had my phone and wasn't able to get any good pics of the event itself.

We will be right in the path of totality at home for the 2024 eclipse (assuming we don't move ).

 

[Aberdumbie]

So the lasting effect of my fascination with this event.... I have become a big fan of the NASA tv station...... Today they crashed the Cassini probe into Saturn. A cool event on its own. I knew they had found water pluming from one of the moons. But I had no idea until today that they found organic molecules in those plumes. How totally cool is that? And how did I not hear that before now?.... I mean, isn't it the ultimate NASA goal to find life beyond earth? Shouldn't this make NASA the most funded and active institution in the country again?