2017 Total Solar Eclipse

hitbyambulance · Post by **hitbyambulance** » Wed Aug 09, 2017 10:30 pm

Daehawk wrote:All I have is a Canon A75 Powershot. I just now realized Id like to try and capture some kind of photos. I have no tripod so its hand only. Any suggestions for camera settings? It has all the auto and manual stuff and Fstop and ISO and such. Not sure what to use. Should I just set it to night mode and shoot?

they'll turn out crappy; don't bother

Archinerd · Post by **Archinerd** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 12:14 am

Well, just got back from seeing the Eclipse tonight. I figured I'd go early to avoid the crowds. Honestly I don't see what all the fuss is about, don't bother.

raydude · Post by **raydude** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 7:36 am

hitbyambulance wrote:
Daehawk wrote:All I have is a Canon A75 Powershot. I just now realized Id like to try and capture some kind of photos. I have no tripod so its hand only. Any suggestions for camera settings? It has all the auto and manual stuff and Fstop and ISO and such. Not sure what to use. Should I just set it to night mode and shoot?
they'll turn out crappy; don't bother

One of my work colleagues is an amateur photographer and he posted this link to taking photos of the eclipse.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 9:26 am

It's been cloudy here for the last 8 days and it's supposed to remain cloudy for at least the next 5. Cloudy to the point of not having seen blue sky in over a week. Still have 10 days, but it's kind of a bummer.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 9:31 am

stessier wrote:It's been cloudy here for the last 8 days and it's supposed to remain cloudy for at least the next 5. Cloudy to the point of not having seen blue sky in over a week. Still have 10 days, but it's kind of a bummer.

There are going to be a whole lot of upset people come the afternoon of 8/21.

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 10:59 am

The girls and I are staying in a hotel in Sikeston, MO Sunday night, then driving around to a small town in the totality. I plan on setting up early in a WalMart Supercenter type parking lot where we'll have access to A/C and food, and can hang out until traffic clears. Hoping for good weather. If not, the ones in 2024 and 2045 go right over Arkansas...

Click to enlarge

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 2:50 pm

Looks like I'm sitting pretty for 2024.

gilraen · Post by **gilraen** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 3:54 pm

The 2045 eclipse will have the totality line starting about 20 miles south of my house...figures. A pretty minimal drive, but it would be nice to have it in my own back yard! (and yes, I plan on still being in the same house in 2045

)

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:21 pm

That's the year I pay off my 30yr mortgage.

Z-Corn · Post by **Z-Corn** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:43 pm

2099 I'm looking good!

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 4:48 pm

2045 will pass the center of totality almost over my house.
2024, I'll be in it, but can drive west 50 miles for maximum time in the shade.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Thu Aug 10, 2017 5:04 pm

2024 passes over the same stinking shithole that is southern Illinois...just like this one. I could always try to make it to 2099...that'll mean sourcing a whole lot more fetuses to extract their renown longevity properties.

Sectoid · Post by **Sectoid** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:56 am

I'm going plant shopping that day. Maybe pick up some zinnias. Da-doo...

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:06 am

Apparently I'm going all-in on this thing. Had not really planned on it, but I'm hitting a concert in Charlotte with my brother and his girlfriend on Sunday. Monday they were planning on driving down to Columbia, SC to catch it in totality so they invited me to just ride with them for the whole journey.

soulbringer · Post by **soulbringer** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:10 am

YellowKing wrote:Apparently I'm going all-in on this thing. Had not really planned on it, but I'm hitting a concert in Charlotte with my brother and his girlfriend on Sunday. Monday they were planning on driving down to Columbia, SC to catch it in totality so they invited me to just ride with them for the whole journey.

Hope they have something lined up. We are in disaster mode at the Hospital starting Friday. Expecting 1million+ visitors in the area for the weekend. I work Sunday night but I got ressies at a rooftop bar starting at 9am for the event. Gonna be a long day/fast night/longer afternoon.

raydude · Post by **raydude** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 9:22 am

Going down to Charlotte Charleston to view it. I know it's not the most optimal location but this way I could spin it as a "last hurrah" at the beach with the family. Crossing my fingers that weather will be good. Anybody have recommendations on what to see for a 9 and 5 year old while down there?

Arrgh, I keep getting all these Charlottes mixed up. It's Charleston, where the totality will hit.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 10:35 am

I'm probably switching from Columbia to Greenville. The shot down 85 seems easier and it seems like people are converging on Columbia versus Greenville.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 11:05 am

I welcome anyone coming to Columbia to give me a shout if you want to meet up. However, I will be at a friend's Eclipse Party for most of the day.

If you need any suggestions or help /advice while here, feel free to ask.

As for the Charlotte question about kids, check out Discovery Place.

Discovery Place Science is a science and technology museum for visitors of all ages located in the Uptown area of Charlotte, North Carolina. Discovery Place Science brings science to life through hands-on interactive exhibits, thrilling activities and experiments, an IMAX Dome Theatre, and boundless other educational opportunities and programs.

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 1:51 pm

There were traffic jams for the eclipses in 1970 and 1979, and that was *before* we had the potential for overnight viral social media frenzies.

Good luck, folks.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 2:03 pm

I'm actually considering NOT going to that eclipse party at the lake after all. On a normal day, that's a 40 minute drive from my house. I'm not sure there's even a good way to be able to judge how long it will take me on the day of the eclipse. I would be greatly pissed if I were stuck in a traffic jam while the eclipse happened (when I could have stayed home and watched from my backyard).

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 2:09 pm

Assume that anywhere under the totality line will be gridlock with hours-long delays.

YellowKing · Post by **YellowKing** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 4:35 pm

Yeah, I'm seriously reconsidering my excursion. I really don't care enough about this thing to spend hours stuck in traffic for it. I actually don't care enough about this thing to spend 15 minutes stuck in traffic for it.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Mon Aug 14, 2017 7:57 pm

YellowKing wrote:Yeah, I'm seriously reconsidering my excursion. I really don't care enough about this thing to spend hours stuck in traffic for it. I actually don't care enough about this thing to spend 15 minutes stuck in traffic for it.

Well if the weather is anything like the past week, you're not even going to want to walk outside for it. Humidity is ridiculous, even for here. Ugh.

raydude · Post by **raydude** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 7:21 am

Carpet_pissr wrote:I welcome anyone coming to Columbia to give me a shout if you want to meet up. However, I will be at a friend's Eclipse Party for most of the day.

If you need any suggestions or help /advice while here, feel free to ask.

As for the Charlotte question about kids, check out Discovery Place.

Discovery Place Science is a science and technology museum for visitors of all ages located in the Uptown area of Charlotte, North Carolina. Discovery Place Science brings science to life through hands-on interactive exhibits, thrilling activities and experiments, an IMAX Dome Theatre, and boundless other educational opportunities and programs.

Sorry, I mean to say Charleston. Any cool places for kids in Charleston?

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:01 am

Current forecast in Greenville (admittedly, way far out) is for afternoon thunderstorms and clouds. We've been stuck in this weather pattern for nearly 2 weeks, so it wouldn't surprise me.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:04 am

Lots of historical sites with tours:?Fort Sumter, which is neat, USS Yorktown aircraft carrier museum, an ok aquarium (but nothing like the one in Atlanta, which is world class), beach (I recommend Folly), or walk around Battery Park if they are Bill Murray fans

. He's often spotted there.

Toe · Post by **Toe** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:10 am

The small town I live in is in the path, so we are getting 2 min, 39 seconds of totality. My mother lives 2 hours away, so I invited her down. So I bought 3 pairs of eclipse glasses off Amazon weeks ago. Just got an email late last week where Amazon could not verify the glasses were properly certified, so refunded my money. And of course all reasonably priced glasses on amazon are now out of stock. My wife ran around this weekend to various stores and could not find any. Luckily it turns out our chamber of commerce got some in so was able to get some there for $2 each.

McNutt · Post by **McNutt** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:21 am

A family was selling glasses on a table in front of their house Saturday. These were the approved glasses too. $1 each. Done.

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:29 am

I'll be at work. Blocked out my schedule for the eclipse window so I'll probably go on the roof and watch a bit. I have sun filters in an old camera bag, I'll try those. If they don't work I'll just enjoy the ambient light change.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:39 am

From my local TedX... You owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:12 pm

Zaxxon wrote:From my local TedX... You owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse.

Cool talk.

I know I shouldn't have, but I read the comments. Egads.

Zaxxon · Post by **Zaxxon** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:13 pm

You should know better.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:19 pm

I always think "maybe this time it will be fine..." It never has been.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:25 pm

I'm curious how the comments on a talk about a Solar Eclipse could be that bad... but not curious enough to look. Sanity Saving Throw: 20.

stessier · Post by **stessier** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:30 pm

coopasonic wrote:I'm curious how the comments on a talk about a Solar Eclipse could be that bad... but not curious enough to look. Sanity Saving Throw: 20.

The speaker is male who says he is an atheist, casually mentions his husband during his first trip to see an total eclipse, and says the moon's shadow is 100 miles wide (suggesting that the earth is not flat).

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:31 pm

Triple threat.

Carpet_pissr · Post by **Carpet_pissr** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:41 pm

Isgrimnur wrote:Triple threat.

and

Isgrimnur · Post by **Isgrimnur** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 12:46 pm

Wait, he's white and male. That's bonus round right there.

coopasonic · Post by **coopasonic** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 2:16 pm

stessier wrote:
coopasonic wrote:I'm curious how the comments on a talk about a Solar Eclipse could be that bad... but not curious enough to look. Sanity Saving Throw: 20.
The speaker is male who says he is an atheist, casually mentions his husband during his first trip to see an total eclipse, and says the moon's shadow is 100 miles wide (suggesting that the earth is not flat).

Thanks for sating my curiosity. On the plus side, I couldn't possibly be more hopeless about the future of humanity so it doesn't hurt much.

Archinerd · Post by **Archinerd** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 10:03 pm

Just found out two of my coworkers are driving down from Chicago to St. Louis on Monday for a work related meeting. I don't think anybody realized it was eclipse day when they scheduled that one. Lucky them, they get to experience a long drive with traffic just to sit in a meeting.