View Full Version : Eclipse viewing
If anyone is into this sort if thing my place east of Dallas is in the 100% zone. I'm not much of a host but if you want to park someplace friendly, I can offer that much.
.455_Hunter
03-30-2024, 12:52
That's a gracious offer. My son and I are going to my niece's in Fate, so we will be nearby.
I have plans for Idabel OK. But would appreciate a backup.
Pm me. I'll give you my cell.
4minutes totality at my place
Driving to Ennis TX and taking a flight for work out of DFW.
Based on a few longer term forecasts, it looks like remnants of a front s clouding the majority of the path of totality in the US except close to the US Mexico border.
I will be sitting in my back yard. No crowds. No traffic probably weak eclipse. [Coffee]
BPTactical
03-30-2024, 15:26
I will be enjoying it from work[gohome]
10 day forecast for Texas on Monday, April 8th: Thunderstorms. Bummer.
For those of you that are satisfied with a say, 95% eclipse, I'll pass on a sports analogy (and typically I really hate sports analogies) that I heard an astronomer say about the 2017 eclipse:
The difference between being in the path of totality and a partial eclipse is about the same as sitting on the 50 yard line at the Superbowl versus listening to the game on radio out in the parking lot. :)
In other words you may be close distance wise, but the experience is worlds apart.
O2
10 day forecast for Texas on Monday, April 8th: Thunderstorms. Bummer.
O2
I mean, they're probably not wrong. Texas is rather large so somewhere there will likely be thunderstorms.
I'm not going to chase it, but if I can see it from the driveway, I'll check it out.
This eclipse is gonna F up my work travel plans, I just know it.
I have plans for Idabel OK. But would appreciate a backup.
Won't be far from you. Wife and I plan to be near Broken Bow, OK
Won't be far from you. Wife and I plan to be near Broken Bow, OK
Broken Bow is a nicer area. But I want to try and fly the eclipse with a paramotor. Idabel has a nice airport and a pilots lounge. Hopefully the wind cooperates.
Broken Bow is a nicer area. But I want to try and fly the eclipse with a paramotor. Idabel has a nice airport and a pilots lounge. Hopefully the wind cooperates.
That sounds neat.
I have never been to that part of Oklahoma, but looks nice.
Just hoping for some good photographs if the weather cooperates.
Will be my third total: 1963, Maine. 2017 Nebraska. And this one. Had hopes for a couple of others but school and job prevented.
That Maine 1963 has to be pretty special, and you are probably very few that have survived it? ;)
I was in Nebraska 2017, so feel I don't have to see the awesome spectacle again.
Amazing that this is your third, and that it won't happen again (at least in the northern hemisphere for like 100 years)
I.E. you will not get a fourth.
-John
BTW, thank you, Wulf! I may still pickup and drive down there with expectations of parking on your property!
-John
BTW, thank you, Wulf! I may still pickup and drive down there with expectations of parking on your property!
-John
We will see what the cloud cover does. I think that's the deciding factor for most.
Plenty of driveway space left if anyone wants to park here and stare at the sun.
rfenster
03-31-2024, 22:07
Heading down to Waco, TX.....hope that the weather cooperates next Monday afternoon!
.455_Hunter
03-31-2024, 22:25
Unfortunately, the TX forecast is looking pretty poor. May have to adjust plans.
We're into it for sure! We watched the 2017 one on a bluff on a buddy's land North of Scottsbluff. We had a full, uninterrupted 360 view and the experience was incredible. We've been planning this trip for this one since that afternoon on our way back to Colorado. Hopefully the weather cooperates.
For anyone that hasn't yet seen a total solar eclipse, you have to. Even if you're not sure you're into them, you will be. Take it from me as we were in the same boat prior to seeing one. Prior to 2017, we'd only seen partial ones and it was just okay. If you've seen a partial eclipse you've experienced like 3% of the experience even if it was a 95% eclipse. You need that total eclipse to really get the experience of all the sights, sounds and feelings that come with it. Taking the glasses off (which you can't do w/anything less than 100%) is when all of the real magic happens. I wasn't sure what all of the conversation was about prior to experiencing one for ourselves. Watch some YouTube videos on the subject (Smarter Every Day w/Destin always has some good stuff) and see what all of the things that happen are to help guide your decision. Like many large-scale things, you can watch videos and see pictures but until you see it in person... nothing else does it justice.
I'll hit you up offline Wulf to discuss details. Hopefully the weather holds.
If ya'll decide to car pool down to viewing area, please let me know, as I will share some driving time. My truck seats five.
-John
I guess carpool back up is my major concern, as I will be AWL, Monday and Tuesday, but I better be back by Wednesday.
-John
For anyone that hasn't yet seen a total solar eclipse, you have to. Even if you're not sure you're into them, you will be. Take it from me as we were in the same boat prior to seeing one. Prior to 2017, we'd only seen partial ones and it was just okay. If you've seen a partial eclipse you've experienced like 3% of the experience even if it was a 95% eclipse. You need that total eclipse to really get the experience of all the sights, sounds and feelings that come with it. Taking the glasses off (which you can't do w/anything less than 100%) is when all of the real magic happens. I wasn't sure what all of the conversation was about prior to experiencing one for ourselves. Watch some YouTube videos on the subject (Smarter Every Day w/Destin always has some good stuff) and see what all of the things that happen are to help guide your decision. Like many large-scale things, you can watch videos and see pictures but until you see it in person... nothing else does it justice.
what he said
I?m not sure what to do now. Chance of rain Monday is 20% throughout the day. Going to give it one more day and see if the forecast calms down. If there is still a serious chance of rain I may skip it as I don?t have a ton of days off and there is other can?t miss events this year. Plus my east OK event is also in question due to weather.
Aloha_Shooter
04-02-2024, 20:36
I will be enjoying it from work[gohome]
Unfortunately, so will I. It is indeed a generous offer, wish I could take him up on it.
To be honest I wouldn't make plans on weather predictions that are farther out than 72hrs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkLetRZqBwo
hollohas
04-05-2024, 17:23
We had a total eclipse in CO several years ago. Was it 2017?
I don't recall the areas seeing totality back then declaring states of emergency like several states have this time. Why is there an expectation that so many more people will travel to specific areas this time?
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.455_Hunter
04-05-2024, 17:55
We had a total eclipse in CO several years ago. Was it 2017?
I don't recall the areas seeing totality back then declaring states of emergency like several states have this time. Why is there an expectation that so many more people will travel to specific areas this time?
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The nearby totality zone was in WY/NE/KS. I-25 was red from Ft. Collins to Casper the morning of and that evening. My son and I watched it Guernsey.
With the forecast, we are trying to figure out where to go once we get to OKC on Sunday. Maybe MO?
hollohas
04-05-2024, 18:29
The nearby totality zone was in WY/NE/KS. I-25 was red from Ft. Collins to Casper the morning of and that evening. My son and I watched it Guernsey.
With the forecast, we are trying to figure out where to go once we get to OKC on Sunday. Maybe MO?So there was traffic. But was the National Guard put on call? I don't remember that happening.
Several states have done that this time.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240406/cdd3bc354c6a516ec2369260112bb6b6.jpg
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.455_Hunter
04-05-2024, 18:52
So there was traffic. But was the National Guard put on call? I don't remember that happening.
Several states have done that this time.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240406/cdd3bc354c6a516ec2369260112bb6b6.jpg
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I don't know about other locations, but WY didn't seems to activate their guard. It may just have to do with the population numbers that are more accessible to this event.
Local towns have emergency action plans. Advising everyone have a weeks worth of supplies. Walmart was a little busy today but it wasn't bad. A lot of rv parks have openings.
theGinsue
04-06-2024, 09:32
We had a total eclipse in CO several years ago. Was it 2017?
I don't recall the areas seeing totality back then declaring states of emergency like several states have this time. Why is there an expectation that so many more people will travel to specific areas this time?
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To the specific question of "Why is there an expectation that so many more people will travel to specific areas this time? ", I think more people are interested in this one for 2 reasons: (1) As I understand it, this will be the last one to occur in the U.S. in our lifetime, and (2) After the last one in 2017, people have been hearing from those who saw that one that it's "life changing" and how spectacular it is, so they don't want to miss it.
So there was traffic. But was the National Guard put on call? I don't remember that happening.
Several states have done that this time.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240406/cdd3bc354c6a516ec2369260112bb6b6.jpg
Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk
Local towns have emergency action plans. Advising everyone have a weeks worth of supplies. Walmart was a little busy today but it wasn't bad. A lot of rv parks have openings.
This is the part that has me baffled. Many places closing schools, National Guard being put on standby or activated, advising people to stock up on at least a weeks supply of food, water and other necessities. It's as if the authorities are expecting some sort of major catastrophic event. I'm at a total loss for what is driving all of this.
There has been a lot of doom-saying discussion for this event on social media. I know many are thinking this is a possible prophesied end-of-the-world event. Maybe it is - who am I to say. With all of this doom and gloom thinking, maybe there will be a large subset of society who will absolutely lose their minds over the eclipse and cause widespread disruptions (sort of like what I thought might have happened with Y2K). Maybe that's what's driving all of the "be prepared" discussions.
hollohas
04-06-2024, 10:14
I think it's the typical sort of overreaction that's becoming common. People have lost all logic based thinking, even on a large scale.
Problem: Eclipse.
Solution: get Guard hazmat crews on standby.
No logic. All overreaction.
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.455_Hunter
04-06-2024, 10:49
For reference, some of the school districts are closing in the totality zone due to concerns about liability with preventing Little Johnny Dumbass from staring at eclipse process without appropriate eyeware.
In all fairness if there's gonna be crowds of gawkers clogging the streets of these small towns I wouldn't want to drop a kid off at school. It's bad enough on normal days. I got sent to school with my dad's welding mask when we had an eclipse when I was a kid so the entire class took turns with it.
I'm all for being prepared, so I'm glad people are thinking ahead. Except those that are asking for the national guard to step in, the government doesn't need anymore simple tasks to screw up.
Apparently youtuber demolitionranch was charging $400+ to park on his place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZlqqO_AyYA
(1) As I understand it, this will be the last one to occur in the U.S. in our lifetime...
I guess it depends on how old you are. The next eclipse in the continental US is August 23rd, 2044 - but it's visible only from part of North Dakota and Montana and lasts less than two minutes.
The BIG one is on August 12th, 2044 and lasts over 5 minutes!
...and the center line of the eclipse passes between Colorado Springs and Pueblo!
Like 2017, it goes coast to coast.
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2045_GoogleMapFull.html?Lat=38.45009&Lng=-104.55999&Elv=1565.0&Zoom=5&LC=1
O2
.455_Hunter
04-06-2024, 22:59
The BIG one is on August 12th, 2044 and lasts over 5 minutes!
...and the center line of the eclipse passes between Colorado Springs and Pueblo!
O2
That will be right over Fort Rhonda Fields! (The name Carson long since canceled...)
That was neat. We had 50% cloud cover and zero clouds during the totality. Wish i had a better camera. I'll be waiting for some professional photos for sure.
My buddies in Dallas...
Clouds...
Clouds...
Totality!
The pictures I have seen so far do not compare to what I personally saw in 2017.
I don't know if the Sun is closer (we are closer to the Sun) or what, but nowhere near as "whispy" as what I saw in 2017.
Regardless, I'm very happy that my friends in Dallas had a window between the clouds.
-John
beast556
04-08-2024, 17:58
I missed it, was installing a shower and when I realized what time it was I had missed it.
I drove thru one of the little nearby towns in the peak totality that was expecting 10k+ visitors this morning. There were 3 rvs in the park parking lot having coffee. Several RV parks along the way were barren. Probably due to raising rates. Walmart was slightly busier than usual.
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/989031263551766548/1227053741564362813/Hcd7xdqJvxcp.jpeg?ex=662701d9&is=66148cd9&hm=897b47c9dda480b556659108d6795778144438e5c5f8824 f70fe7d01a3388655&
.455_Hunter
04-09-2024, 15:46
My son and I watched the eclipse in Mount Ida, AR. Almost completely clear skies made it outstanding! No drama, just some heavier post-event traffic.
I was in a windowless data center in Stockton CA and oblivious to the whole thing.
A coworker took a whole week of vacation to view it in totality n Mexico at first landfall.
From DFW
96410
Nice and whispy!
While I had built this up with coworkers, friends, and family, for months, I forgot to tell them that you need binoculars, etc. They are all out their viewing, with the naked eye. Ack!
-John
I just got back, was also in the area to see some family so was there before/after, and agree their estimation for traffic was seriously overblown. I suspect some cancelled plans just over weather.
It was pretty neat (better than Wyoming imho) - saw it from Wulf's place (very nice spot, TY Wulf for the open invite, good to meet you!), fortunately clear of clouds in the area. Arbol's pictures are pretty close to what we saw, and I never thought to bring binocs either.
I spent some time dodging storms, but traffic everywhere was normal. Literally the only bad traffic I saw during the entire trip was I saw was I40 after a brutal hollywood-ish accident that required four semi-wreckers and multiple skid-steers to clear. https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/2024/04/13/oldham-county-crash-on-i-40-involving-3-semis-1-vehicle-leaves-2-dead/73312182007/
I will say coming into Decatur on the 7th probably 50% of the plates were Colorado. By the time I was deep into Dallas, I only recall seeing a single other CO plate in one of the little towns for the rest of the trip.
I got cut off by a Colorado plated Subaru yesterday for old times sake I guess.
It was good to meet you too. I had binos. Just didn't think to use them
Aloha_Shooter
04-15-2024, 11:35
LOL, last week I had a Subaru cut in front of me to get to the west entrance of Peterson Space Force Base. Okay dude, I'm not going to fight you to save 15 seconds.
Laughable part was, he had temp tags with an expiration date of March 2022. 2022.
It disturbs me that you guys are driving slow enough that a Subaru can pass you.
Aloha_Shooter
04-16-2024, 12:33
It disturbs me that you guys are driving slow enough that a Subaru can pass you.
I've generally found it's a bad idea to speed or even jockey for position when going into a military base but YMMV. Go ahead and pass the Subarus while heading into Buckley. I'll wait for your voice report. [Coffee]
I was just razzing you guys.
I drive like a senior citizen.
My brakes were smoking in Silverton a couple days ago. You're never too old to endanger some hippies.
If I live too long I will run out of money for retirement anyway.
Currently I can afford to be retired for about 34 minutes.
BPTactical
04-16-2024, 15:18
My brakes were smoking in Silverton a couple days ago. You're never too old to endanger some hippies.
If I live too long I will run out of money for retirement anyway.
Currently I can afford to be retired for about 34 minutes.
Lol- I retire from about 1630 to 0700 5 days a week.
It disturbs me that you guys are driving slow enough that a Subaru can pass you.
WRX...
300+ HP and plenty quick.
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