Octopus Overlords

My kid and I will be leaving in about an hour for our road trip down into Blackhawk territory (Indiana) to see the total solar eclipse today.

Anyone else taking a journey to see it?

Anyone here living in the path of totality?


Anyhow, I'm a little nervous that I'm about to be driving into a Close Encounters of the Third Kind type traffic congestion. Especially on our return to the Chicago area (which I will need to drive through and then slightly past).

I'm just outside the path of totality, so a 98+% eclipse will have to do since I have no way to join the herds massing to the south. The current forecast here is "mostly cloudy" but I don't know just how heavy the cloud cover is expected to be.

I'm in the path of total eclipse, but it's cloudy here today, so I hope the clouds clear out by this afternoon when it's supposed to be at its height.

I've been talked into driving about 4 hours (one way) for a 4 minute experience.

I'm not entirely looking forward to this - especially the drive back home.

Scraper wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:16 am I'm in the path of total eclipse, but it's cloudy here today, so I hope the clouds clear out by this afternoon when it's supposed to be at its height.

While clouds could keep you from actually seeing the eclipse, you will still be thrown into darkness - so that should still be pretty cool.

I have a call scheduled at that time.

I'm driving about 20 minutes to get a nice open field that is on the way to some other errands. If it isn't cloudy we'll have about an 80% eclipse.

Philadelphia is in the 90% band, which is good enough for me. We're expecting some cloudiness, though.

I've seen people online mocking some state governors declaring emergencies for the eclipse, the joke being that Red states have forgotten about science. But the real reason is that they have to prepare for massive tourist incursions in small towns with only 10 cops and one ambulance, etc.

I'm in an area expecting 92% coverage, peaking at 3:24 pm. My journey will be to go in to my yard and marvel at what's happening.

Looks like we are getting just under 50% in southern CA.

Unagi wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:27 am My kid and I will be leaving in about an hour for our road trip down into Blackhawk territory (Indiana) to see the total solar eclipse today.

Anyone else taking a journey to see it?

Anyone here living in the path of totality?

Four hours from Chicago - where are you headed?

Luckily, the weather report for today says it'll be mostly sunny for the eclipse.

If it's mostly sunny for the eclipse in central Indiana, I think something in nature has broken...

Holman wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 10:02 am Philadelphia is in the 90% band, which is good enough for me. We're expecting some cloudiness, though.

I've seen people online mocking some state governors declaring emergencies for the eclipse, the joke being that Red states have forgotten about science. But the real reason is that they have to prepare for massive tourist incursions in small towns with only 10 cops and one ambulance, etc.

Yeah, the traffic in VT and ME is going to be epic. Hope all those people don't think they can grab a bite to eat, even in a "big city" like Burlington and certainly not in the little flyspeck towns.

We have a cloudless sky in the 92.5% band. Good enough for me. I won't have to leave my yard.

100% at my house, but like Scraper, supposed to have significant cloud cover.

So far, it is a little hazy here. A lot of people on the roads already.

Today is definitely unique and awesome. Get to see a total eclipse and also watch my college in the championship game, Purdue.

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:25 am I have a call scheduled at that time.

Same. I may take my call on the phone and head up to the roof.

Otherwise, I'll catch the next one. You never know when these things will happen!

The difference between full coverage and 99%, is literally the difference between night and day.

If you’re able, get to the totality.

60-70% here, which I have no clue what that means in terms of actually being able to tell anything. I'm assuming it will be the equivalent of a few clouds passing over.

I saw the 100% totality one in 2017 so it's already been checked off the bucket list. It was dang impressive though.

Burlington, VT it popping but not overly so. Church street is navigable and plenty of space...so far...

LawBeefaroni wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 12:49 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:25 am I have a call scheduled at that time.

Same. I may take my call on the phone and head up to the roof.

Otherwise, I'll catch the next one. You never know when these things will happen!

Call got canceled. I don't have any glasses or anything, though, so I'm not sure I'll notice more than a bit of dimming light. Do I actually need to stand outside to get my superpowers, or will they just occur regardless?

It's about to start. I'm off to confront the Bishop of Aquila.

Supposed to be around 97% here. Stepson took the day off. Had to cancel my VA appointments and daughter in law wants to see eclipse. Gave excuse that the roads were going to be too crowded. Relatives kids took a school day off and came over here to watch it. All over the news of course. All the motels are full.
And I thought Arkansas was full of morons. Got nothing on Oklahoma.

I'm slightly aghast at my complete lack of interest in watching it. And I consider myself a person who often spends time watching astronomy videos, so not an astronomy buff exactly, but not completely disinterested either.

I don't know why. As Max points out, I'm very near the totality strip. Even more of a problem, I feel like I'm letting my kids down by not discussing and showing enthusiasm. It's a very cool and rare thing, and helps solidify understanding of our place in the solar system.

Oh well. Enjoy, peeps.

89% here but cloudy. There are breaks in the cloud though, so hopefully I'll get to see it.

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Sadly we flew out for totality with friends to Oklahoma but the cloud cover is 100%. Oh well.

The willpower it takes to resist belting out Total Eclipse of the Heart today is going to be monumental.

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 2:03 pm The willpower it takes to resist belting out Total Eclipse of the Heart today is going to be monumental.

It will only be weird if you don't do it as intended - dressed like a vampire.

Think I'll step out for a look-see. Should be barely noticeable by now.

The non total crescent shadows are cool too.

Smoove_B wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 2:06 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 2:03 pm The willpower it takes to resist belting out Total Eclipse of the Heart today is going to be monumental.

It will only be weird if you don't do it as intended - dressed like a vampire.

Looks kinda cool through eclipse glasses. Just a yellow disk with a notch out of the bottom. I'll give it 20 minutes and have another peek. Supposed to hit max coverage here about 3:30, a bit less than an hour from now.

I sat on the porch and just watched the sun and shadows. Just like last time I saw it, Unimpressive.

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 2:55 pm I sat on the porch and just watched the sun and shadows. Just like last time I saw it, Unimpressive.

Zero stars.

Skyscrapers limit visibility, but it did eliminate all lines for my late lunch.

Clouds thinned out just enough to see it here.

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Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 3:01 pm

dbt1949 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 08, 2024 2:55 pm I sat on the porch and just watched the sun and shadows. Just like last time I saw it, Unimpressive.

Zero stars.

Well, technically...one star.

Just 75% this time around here, and QUITE different than the 100% experience before. Obviously.

My dogs are barely noticing, but yard birds are a bit freaked out.

I love that the temp drops so much…that’s pretty neat.

Nice viewing from our backyard. We even have the eclipse glasses from 2017 and a viewing box that our daughter had made back then. Fun times