Author Topic: 2017 US Eclipse thread  (Read 33416 times)

Offline RonM

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #80 on: 08/21/2017 07:30 pm »
This is what the eclipse looked like from my backyard in Atlanta. Used 15x70 binoculars to project on white foamcore. Got dim in an eerie way, but the sky was still too bright to see any planets. Still, it was pretty cool.

Offline Gliderflyer

Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #81 on: 08/21/2017 07:35 pm »
I flew out to my parents' house in Keizer Oregon, and we set some chairs up on the roof to watch and take pictures. It was a pretty amazing experience! I didn't realize it at the time, but I managed to capture Mercury in a couple of the shots during totality.
I tried it at home

Offline yokem55

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #82 on: 08/21/2017 08:33 pm »
Amazing experience. Made it north of Prineville, OR well into the path of totality in a little field in Ochoco National Forest. We had almost 2 minutes of totality. Conditions were nearly perfect, but  the smoke/haze definitely limited how dark it got. The dimming light and dropping temperatures with the sun so high on the horizon was the most surprising part of the experience, and felt almost otherworldly. It gave a good impression of what sunlight on planets further out would feel like.  I didn't do any photography myself, and simply enjoyed the experience. It was well worth getting up early for. And I'm starting to wonder if a trip to Mexico in 2024 wouldn't be a bad idea....

Offline litton4

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #83 on: 08/21/2017 08:46 pm »
Posting live from the bus on the way back from Madras OR

Edit: Now back at the hotel.

We had a dedicated viewing site on the soccer field (Chris!) at the Madras Middle School, so a huge thanks to all the folks there who prepped the site for us. 170 people in 5 buses.

Additional thanks must go to Rick Fienberg, our trip Astronomer, a former colleague of Fred Espenak!

Left Bend at 4am and had zero traffic up to Madras, 1 hour drive.
One hour after we arrived, the routes were reported as a massive jam.
The way back was a little slower.
Driver took a long detour down dirt roads, which saved us 40 mins. Took about 2.5 hrs to get back.
My TomTom app agreed with him.

As for the actual eclipse - the temperature drop was amazing - 15-20 degrees!
Watched the mountains behind us go dark seconds before totality.
The last minute or so, was so wierd - just like turning down a dimmer switch.
The colours during totality were totally stupendous - I don't remember that during my other successful eclipse in Australia 2002.
 A couple of photos below - taken with a Canon 77D 70-300 zoom, and Baader solar film, home made filter, Cokin mount.

I believe Mercury is visible at the 7-8 o'clock position in the first one.

Overall I took over 200 photos during all the phases.
**Don't worry, I left myself plenty of time to "experience" the Eclipse!
 
« Last Edit: 08/21/2017 10:57 pm by litton4 »
Dave Condliffe

Offline TakeOff

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #84 on: 08/21/2017 08:47 pm »
Living on the other side of the planet, would I see the thinnest of Lunar crescents next to the Sun as it rises tomorrow?


Or would it be blinded out and invisible if I wear safe glasses?

Offline litton4

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #85 on: 08/21/2017 10:18 pm »
Chris.....hmmmm...are all these posts, your attempt to mitigate the guilt over the deletion?

Can I sell you a backup product??
Dave Condliffe

Offline Herb Schaltegger

Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #86 on: 08/21/2017 10:21 pm »
We had about a minute and forty seconds of totality where I work today; the place provided certified eclipse glasses for those who didn't have any, and we had Moon Pies and ice cream sundaes for those of us who came in instead of going to an eclipse party. 

It was pretty incredible watching the Moon begin carving into the sun a couple minutes before noon. Most of us checked early to confirm that yes, indeed, celestial events were occurring as predicted, then went back in to work, followed by more status checks every fifteen or twenty minutes. We all went outside about 20 minutes before totality and watched. Fantastic to watch the weird, eerie dimming in an otherwise mostly-sunny afternoon. A few minutes before totality, street lights and building door lights turned on, cicadas had begun singing and the nightbirds started to chirp. As totality hit and we all took off glasses, it was like being surrounded by a 360 degree summer sunset. Venus hung high in the western sky and the solar corona was plainly visible to the naked eye.

For anyone living in the path of totality or close enough to plan a short trip who missed it, you really deprived yourself of something special.  And for others who live in the path but couldn't see due to weather, you have my deepest sympathies. That has been my personal fear for at least the last couple years as I anticipated this afternoon.
« Last Edit: 08/21/2017 10:22 pm by Herb Schaltegger »
Ad astra per aspirin ...

Offline Oersted

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #87 on: 08/21/2017 10:32 pm »
I look forward to read more first-person reports from the Eclipse, keep 'em coming!

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #88 on: 08/21/2017 10:54 pm »
Nice NASA eclipse time lapse

Offline jgoldader

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #89 on: 08/22/2017 12:09 am »
Here are a couple shots from Columbia, SC.  I decided to drive the 100 miles to get out from under high clouds.  When we got there, we were under LOW clouds.  It rained on us before and after totality, still trying to dry out my gear.  Hell of a trip, but worth it.

Equipment was a Celestron C5 with guiding mount, focal reducer, and Canon Rebel T3i.  Used Solar Eclipse Maestro software to automate image taking.
Recovering astronomer

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #90 on: 08/22/2017 01:08 am »
Now this is just showing off :)

It was tweeted here. Follow-up tweet says:

Quote
He said on his page that he prepared for 4 days, trek the area and his gf and friend helped so they would get the right position.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #91 on: 08/22/2017 01:19 am »
Watched it from Sweetwater TN. Awesome experience, traffic and crowds not to bad, but driving back to Knoxville, three hours. But worth every minute for totality!
« Last Edit: 08/22/2017 09:32 am by kevin-rf »
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Online gongora

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #92 on: 08/22/2017 01:55 am »
Drove 100 miles to watch from Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia.  Temperature drop during the eclipse was very welcome.  We didn't see the beads or diamond ring at the beginning of totality, but did at the end.  I just took a couple quick snapshots with a handheld camera during totality, spent more time admiring it through my binoculars.

(After getting no sleep last night left house at 3:40am and was about 50th in line to enter the park at 5:30am.  Nice quick trip.  Getting home was a whole 'nother story.  I may spend half of tomorrow sleeping.)

Offline catdlr

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #93 on: 08/22/2017 02:13 am »
Total Solar Eclipse 2017 from space, 21 August 2017



« Last Edit: 08/22/2017 02:13 am by catdlr »
Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline catdlr

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #94 on: 08/22/2017 02:15 am »
Ground views of the darkness:

Total Solar Eclipse over Nashville 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwL1J3IucYE?t=001








« Last Edit: 08/22/2017 02:16 am by catdlr »
Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline catdlr

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #95 on: 08/22/2017 02:19 am »
now for some 360-VR views:

Solar Eclipse 2017 Full 360º VR Experience In Casper, Wyoming | 360 Video | TIME



Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline catdlr

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #96 on: 08/22/2017 02:26 am »
and a time-lapse ground level shot.  I'll wait for NASA to produce some of their own for later.



Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline Jcc

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #97 on: 08/22/2017 02:57 am »
I live in Illinois near St. Louis, but since the weather was looking cloudy, we took a road trip to Western Kentucky.
I set a HD camcorder on a tripod and hung  "eclipse glasses" off the lens, until totality, when I took them off.

Next eclipse to hit Southern Illinois: April 8, 2024.

Offline Nomadd

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #98 on: 08/22/2017 03:10 am »
 It surprised me my little pocket camera could pick up sunspots using a cheap eclipse filter card.
 Had some high cloud haze but still got a fair photo in Casper.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.

Offline robert_d

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Re: 2017 US Eclipse thread
« Reply #99 on: 08/22/2017 03:13 am »
My first Total Eclipse.
Drove from CT to TN.
Ended up at Roane State Community College. Excellent time.
Facility buildings were open with air and restrooms. Need those restrooms.  Over 1500 in attendance, about half from out-of-state. Lecture (safety and what-to-expect). Sound system to keep people updated. 
Used my same 60mm telescope that I bought in 1969 (age 14) and used to view the March 7, 1970 eclipse (96% in CT). to project onto a screen. People would stop by. Could easily see the Sunspots at 45X, which people liked. Totality was amazing with the Corona quite distinct especially eat-west, I believe.
Got totally dehydrated and met loads of the nicest people on the globe. No great pictures, as my Canon kept trying to average the brightness of the Sun vs background.
Summary: Impressive. Thank you Tennessee and Roane SCC for being such fine hosts.
If you ever get a chance at totality, DO IT!

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