So, tried WalMart and Lowes, no luck. Sold out. 7 Eleven? Bingo! 6 pairs bought. And a small banana, cotton candy, and watermelon lime slushee! Didn't see any at Kroger either. Nor Dennys. And that accounts for my Saturday. I want to see this live with my own eyes. Not through a pinhole projector or video or whatever.Now, if the clouds behave.......
I caught the last transit of Venus in a pinhole camera. Pinhole cameras are fun to make and use. I will be at my friends place in KY for this eclipse, they are on the path of totality, he has gear for me already on site. Stargazing and reading astronomy/astrophysics is a major interest of mine. I've been at it since Haley's comet in maybe 86. Hale-Bopp was amazing too. I've also been fortunate to have seen several full lunar eclipses, venus transit, a few partial solar eclipses, and even have been able and lucky enough to spot Mercury with the naked eye. Mercury is a stargazing prize, it's hard to get a clear view of it during its short appearances. So hard, in fact, that Copernicus was never able to see it himself.
Many people describe seeing a black hole where the sun should shine surrounded by 360 degree brilliant sunset, all while viewing four naked eye Planets during daylight hours, to be a very special, rare, and almost spiritual experience. I will be on a farm in KY under it, waiting for the Creator to expose his grand design, revealing the intracacy of our inner solar system's orbital mechanics to the naked eye during the daytime. But... it's your eclipse, prioritize it your way.
We're going to be a little Northwest of Murfreesboro, TN for it. Should be a good 10 miles inside the path of totality. If you can get into the path of totality folks, do it. The difference between 99% and 100% will be striking and if you are within an hour or so drive to get into the path, it'll be so very worth it. I mean, the stars come out for 2 and a half minutes! Any less than 100% and its too bright, the huge flashlight in the sky is just too powerful even at 99% it bullies the other stars and heavenly bodies out of sight.
I just checked the path of the eclipse, it misses California. I'd want to be in the 100% range. Road trip;
I'll only get to see the eclipse on TV. I'll be working. Even if I were outside, I will only see a partial eclipse as I work in NY. For those in the path, enjoy it!
We look to be in the path. My daughter has an orthodontist appointment. I'll be waiting outside. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
I live right in the middle of the path, but I'm supposed to be in school for the week as part of my job. I have the boss working on rescheduling that week. The part where that might work out for me is that my project manager needs all the people on my crew that week for some really big fiber optics jobs.
Total eclipses happen almost every year and sometimes more than that. The only thing rare about this one is that it goes from coast to coast in the United States. The last one I saw was in 1979 here in the Northwest. Good opportunity to teach young ones about astronomy, physics, and optics.
That's what I have been thinking too. I saw one in 94 here in saint louis. But on the science channel they keep saying 99 yrs in the making. I guess they are just talking about the path it's taking.
They are referring to the last time a total solar eclipse went from coast to coast. Most such events happen over the oceans or other continents and we don't get to see them.
That's what I was figuring also. They are really interesting to watch, with the right eye protection of course.
Chris, I hope you have fun visiting with your dear friend. My Bride and I have been invited to an eclipse viewing party. The host will have glasses for us, but I never leave home without my own array of gear.
