/sci/ - Science & Math

<span style="font-size:16px;">The 2017 "Great American" Solar Eclipse[/spoiler]
<i>The sticky</i>

What is the solar eclipse? On August 21, in just a few days, the continental United States will experience its first total eclipse of the sun since 1979, and the first to cross from west to east coast since 1919. Please keep all discussion of this event to this thread, and share with us where you'll be viewing this amazing and rare spectacle of nature and what you'll be doing to commemorate this time. The next total eclipse to hit the U.S.A. will not be until 2024.

Totality: To view the full eclipse, you must be in the path of totality. This is the narrow, 70-mile wide path where the umbra (the darkest shadow of the moon) passes through. If you are not within the path of totality, you will miss the amazing spectacle that everyone the world over is coming to see. Do not be fooled by people who say 80% or 90% or even 99.99% partial eclipse is good enough. It's not. Even 99% obscuration is not enough to fully cover the sun in the same way that 100% can, and you will walk away feeling let down. See the resources below for maps of totality.

Traffic: Expect nightmare-ish traffic conditions as you get closer to and especially within the path of totality. Even in the middle of nowhere like Wyoming, traffic could be gridlocked for hours or even days on end. The state of Oregon is equating the situation to a natural disaster, with many rural as well as city roads at a total standstill. Gas stations may run out of fuel. If you are trying to get to the largest cities such as Salem, Nashville, or Columbia, you should depart wherever you're coming from by Sunday morning at the latest.

Lodging: Sold out everywhere. If you hadn't booked 6 months ago, you're out of luck.

Major cities within the path:

Salem, OR
Idaho Falls, ID
Jackson, WY
Lincoln, NE
Kansas City, KS
Columbia, MO
Carbondale, IL
Nashville, TN
Charleston, SC

<u>Resources:</u>

Live stream (Aug. 21)
Overall useful info site
Eclipse 101 by NASA
High quality solar viewing glasses — possibly sold out or too late to order, but many shops and events within the path of totality will be handing out glasses for free
Comprehensive list of viewing events
Google map showing the full path of totality and relevant details
Informative article
Informative write-up debunking various myths and misconceptions about a total eclipse

<span style="font-size:16px;">Watch this video:[/spoiler]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/LMrqJx8RfqA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<span style="font-size:16px;">And this one[/spoiler], which gives you an idea of just how spectacular the total eclipse can be:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Xt3C5MM7Jkg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<span style="font-size:16px;">The 2017 "Great American" Solar Eclipse[/spoiler]
<i>The sticky</i>

What is the solar eclipse? On August 21, in just a few days, the continental United States will experience its first total eclipse of the sun since 1979, and the first to cross from west to east coast since 1919. Please keep all discussion of this event to this thread, and share with us where you'll be viewing this amazing and rare spectacle of nature and what you'll be doing to commemorate this time. The next total eclipse to hit the U.S.A. will not be until 2024.

Totality: To view the full eclipse, you must be in the path of totality. This is the narrow, 70-mile wide path where the umbra (the darkest shadow of the moon) passes through. If you are not within the path of totality, you will miss the amazing spectacle that everyone the world over is coming to see. Do not be fooled by people who say 80% or 90% or even 99.99% partial eclipse is good enough. It's not. Even 99% obscuration is not enough to fully cover the sun in the same way that 100% can, and you will walk away feeling let down. See the resources below for maps of totality.

Traffic: Expect nightmare-ish traffic conditions as you get closer to and especially within the path of totality. Even in the middle of nowhere like Wyoming, traffic could be gridlocked for hours or even days on end. The state of Oregon is equating the situation to a natural disaster, with many rural as well as city roads at a total standstill. Gas stations may run out of fuel. If you are trying to get to the largest cities such as Salem, Nashville, or Columbia, you should depart wherever you're coming from by Sunday morning at the latest.

Lodging: Sold out everywhere. If you hadn't booked 6 months ago, you're out of luck.

Major cities within the path:

Salem, OR
Idaho Falls, ID
Jackson, WY
Lincoln, NE
Kansas City, KS
Columbia, MO
Carbondale, IL
Nashville, TN
Charleston, SC

<u>Resources:</u>

Live stream (Aug. 21)
Overall useful info site
Eclipse 101 by NASA
High quality solar viewing glasses — possibly sold out or too late to order, but many shops and events within the path of totality will be handing out glasses for free
Comprehensive list of viewing events
Google map showing the full path of totality and relevant details
Informative article
Informative write-up debunking various myths and misconceptions about a total eclipse

<span style="font-size:16px;">Watch this video:[/spoiler]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/oNH3akWXaV8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<span style="font-size:16px;">And this one[/spoiler], which gives you an idea of just how spectacular the total eclipse can be (clip featured in 1st video):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/Xt3C5MM7Jkg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Less than 25 days until the first total solar eclipse in 38 years for the United States mainland and nearly 100 years since the last time a total solar eclipse has spanned the country coast to coast. I've been waiting for this event since I first learned about it in 2005.
I'd love to hear from other anons who are interested in the event, and those planning to travel to the path of totality

Where are you going to be during totality?

How is the atmosphere in your area regarding the eclipse, is anyone you know excited about it, anyone talking about it?

How do you think it will pan out? Will cell phone service crash? Will roads become parking lots? Will it inspire people to become newly interested in science and astrology?

I will be driving from Phoenix, AZ to Casper, WY. Crossing my fingers for weather.