Total Solar Eclipse 2017

ithacaartist · 08-15-2017, 05:02 PM

I was visiting Vieques PR during the 1998 total eclipse. It got pretty darned dark, but not literally as dark as night. There is always a bit of corona, at least, which peeks from behind the moon. https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono...8/TSE1998.html

sheepherder · 08-21-2017, 02:45 PM

I just came in from the time of greatest eclipse in my area. It was still as light as it was at noon!

The local news broadcast last night that we would get about 70% eclipse, so I've been watching the Science Channel. It never even got dark in the areas of totality. As far as I could see on TV, the only difference was that the shadows diminished.

There has been a weird effect here though. The amount of traffic is about what I see at 1:00 at night...Minutes go by with no cars/trucks, in either direction. And about a third of what does go by have their headlights on.

The Science Channel had promised live coverage across the country but they keep showing segments of How The Universe Works interspersed with a female announcer in Oregon, and they keep repeating the segments and her comments rather than live regional coverage.

I'm really disappointed! If this is the best our solar system has to offer, I'll go somewhere else next time.

WG dog · 08-21-2017, 03:45 PM

The total eclipse was AWESOME! About 1 minute 15 seconds of total eclipse in my front yard. Southwest St. Louis County.

At totality it was not total darkness, but like evening before night falls. Did not see any birds moving, or hear any birds singing. Temp dropped noticeably on hot muggy day.

Very cool to observe the sun slowly being obscured for an hour or more before totality. And the light fading.

Eclipse glasses worked fine to watch the sun being obscured and then coming back after totality. During totality, couldn't see anything with glasses on, just dark. During totality, glasses off, just like a photo, a black disc in the sky with a little brightness circling the black disc.

Just before the end of totality, there was a tiny super bright point of light that grew and sparkled, at the edge where the sun was about to appear again. Might have been the "diamond" I read about somewhere.

Eclipse was something nice to see!

08-15-2017, 05:02 PM	#1
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,374 Thanks: 7,447 Thanked 2,613 Times in 1,380 Posts	I was visiting Vieques PR during the 1998 total eclipse. It got pretty darned dark, but not literally as dark as night. There is always a bit of corona, at least, which peeks from behind the moon. https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono...8/TSE1998.html __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

08-21-2017, 02:45 PM	#2
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	What a bust !!! I just came in from the time of greatest eclipse in my area. It was still as light as it was at noon! The local news broadcast last night that we would get about 70% eclipse, so I've been watching the Science Channel. It never even got dark in the areas of totality. As far as I could see on TV, the only difference was that the shadows diminished. There has been a weird effect here though. The amount of traffic is about what I see at 1:00 at night...Minutes go by with no cars/trucks, in either direction. And about a third of what does go by have their headlights on. The Science Channel had promised live coverage across the country but they keep showing segments of How The Universe Works interspersed with a female announcer in Oregon, and they keep repeating the segments and her comments rather than live regional coverage. I'm really disappointed! If this is the best our solar system has to offer, I'll go somewhere else next time. __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

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08-21-2017, 03:45 PM	#3
WG dog Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 142 Thanks: 1,282 Thanked 37 Times in 24 Posts	The total eclipse was AWESOME! About 1 minute 15 seconds of total eclipse in my front yard. Southwest St. Louis County. At totality it was not total darkness, but like evening before night falls. Did not see any birds moving, or hear any birds singing. Temp dropped noticeably on hot muggy day. Very cool to observe the sun slowly being obscured for an hour or more before totality. And the light fading. Eclipse glasses worked fine to watch the sun being obscured and then coming back after totality. During totality, couldn't see anything with glasses on, just dark. During totality, glasses off, just like a photo, a black disc in the sky with a little brightness circling the black disc. Just before the end of totality, there was a tiny super bright point of light that grew and sparkled, at the edge where the sun was about to appear again. Might have been the "diamond" I read about somewhere. Eclipse was something nice to see!