the Solar Eclipse

[Mugwump]

See How the Solar Eclipse Will Look From Anywhere in the U.S.


enter your zip and it'll give an approximate view.

http://time.com/4882923/total-solar-eclipse-map-places-view/

[wallace]

We have decided not to drive north to see totality. There will be 91% coverage of the sun right here at home. I hate, HATE, crowds and its shaping to be madness on the highways around here.

My poor old telescope, it has been outside collecting dust for 20 years. I'll dust it off and collimate the mirrors and see about getting a picture.

[Mugwump]

...the center of the path is about a couple hundred miles south of us, but we'll get about that here too......so we'll watch on the deck swing....

[wallace]

Just checked DeKalb and you would have 88% coverage of the sun. I wonder how dim it will get? The eye perceives brightness in a sort of logarithmic way.

[Mugwump]

Just checked DeKalb and you would have 88% coverage of the sun. I wonder how dim it will get? The eye perceives brightness in a sort of logarithmic way.

....that's a neat link isn't it ?......

[waterboy]

You can't look at it. so I think I will just watch it on TV or some streaming website.  Saw the last one in the 70s with a hole in a piece of cardboard, wasn't impressed.

[waterboy]

Got to thinking about it last night.  The sun and the moon both rise in the east and set in the west which means they are both traveling across the sky east to west.  Given that, why does the shadow travel from west to east, Oregon to Florida.  If someone could explain the physics behind that so that us dummies could understand it, I would appreciate it.

[Mugwump]

Got to thinking about it last night.  The sun and the moon both rise in the east and set in the west which means they are both traveling across the sky east to west.  Given that, why does the shadow travel from west to east, Oregon to Florida.  If someone could explain the physics behind that so that us dummies could understand it, I would appreciate it.

The moon(monthly orbit) travels faster than the sun(yearly orbit).....so it simply passes it.....west coast time is earlier than east coast time....as it is the sun's position when it is passed....

[wallace]

Got to thinking about it last night.  The sun and the moon both rise in the east and set in the west which means they are both traveling across the sky east to west.  Given that, why does the shadow travel from west to east, Oregon to Florida.  If someone could explain the physics behind that so that us dummies could understand it, I would appreciate it.

Ever notice that the moon always shows up a little ways to the left of where it was yesterday at the same time? From our point of view on the ground the moon is slowly sliding across the sky to the left or eastward. During the eclipse the moon slides into the right side of the sun as the sun overtakes it. Sunshine happens first on the east coast but the shadow is moving twice as fast as the earth is turning, so the shadow is sort of passing up the progress of the day.

That's an awful explanation!.. lol... an animation would be easier, I'll see if I can find one.

[wallace]

The solar filter on the front of the scope with the camera at the focus. The eclipse should start in a few minutes.

[Mugwump]

The solar filter on the front of the scope with the camera at the focus. The eclipse should start in a few minutes.

...wonderful....

[Mugwump]

..I should add that it's so overcast here at the moment that the only thing we'll see is the darkness...

..hopefully it'll clear up some.....

[wallace]

Two things were a surprise. It started getting chilly. And if you look at your shadow the edges of your shadow are sharper than usual.

[Mugwump]

..the peak is past here...clouds obscured most of the event....not dark, but more like early twilight maybe....

[Ron Sower]

Fella came by with some glasses to view it...Missed the peak coverage, but saw it 1/3 covered....Nobody here died from it yet!!!