Practicing for the eclipse

Hoping for a clear sky

ha - thanks for the reminder!

Will we be able to see anything around here? Or do you have to be along the path the see it?

shoshannah said:

Will we be able to see anything around here? Or do you have to be along the path the see it?

From what I read the moon will start to go in front of the sun at about 1:22 pm.  The sun will be 75% covered for about 2 minutes at 2:45 pm, and the event finally ends at 4 pm.  You won't see anything as awesome as you would in the parts of the country that will see a total eclipse, but I'm told it is still worth seeing

A friend of mine lives right on the border of totality, and they told me to come down there to see it.  Tempting, but with three young kids, and my husband has to work that day, I don't think I'll drive 10 hours each way, I'll have to settle for 75% and keep my sanity.

spontaneous said:

shoshannah said:

Will we be able to see anything around here? Or do you have to be along the path the see it?

From what I read the moon will start to go in front of the sun at about 1:22 pm.  The sun will be 75% covered for about 2 minutes at 2:45 pm, and the event finally ends at 4 pm.  You won't see anything as awesome as you would in the parts of the country that will see a total eclipse, but I'm told it is still worth seeing

A friend of mine lives right on the border of totality, and they told me to come down there to see it.  Tempting, but with three young kids, and my husband has to work that day, I don't think I'll drive 10 hours each way, I'll have to settle for 75% and keep my sanity.

Thanks! Do you know if we need eclipse glasses for the 75% eclipse locally? Or are the glasses only for the total eclipse?

http://time.com/4882923/total-...

You need the glasses, or a welding helmet.  Do not stare at the Sun.

There was a solar eclipse on May 10th 1994 that went through the northeast. I remember it pretty well.  It was sort of cloudy where I was so the sky just got darker and lighter.

FilmCarp said:

You need the glasses, or a welding helmet.  Do not stare at the Sun.

Welding helmet MUST be number 14 glass. If going this route, be sure to check....https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety.html

shoshannah said:

spontaneous said:

shoshannah said:

Will we be able to see anything around here? Or do you have to be along the path the see it?

From what I read the moon will start to go in front of the sun at about 1:22 pm.  The sun will be 75% covered for about 2 minutes at 2:45 pm, and the event finally ends at 4 pm.  You won't see anything as awesome as you would in the parts of the country that will see a total eclipse, but I'm told it is still worth seeing

A friend of mine lives right on the border of totality, and they told me to come down there to see it.  Tempting, but with three young kids, and my husband has to work that day, I don't think I'll drive 10 hours each way, I'll have to settle for 75% and keep my sanity.

Thanks! Do you know if we need eclipse glasses for the 75% eclipse locally? Or are the glasses only for the total eclipse?

Glasses ARE for the partial eclipse viewing.  When it becomes total (where that happens), you can (and should) take them off or you won't be able to see anything.

Only one word is needed for eclipse viewing: Colander.

You'll get funky weird crescent shadows in the holes. It's cool.

Anything else might... strain... your eyes... amirite?

sac said:


Glasses ARE for the partial eclipse viewing.  When it becomes total (where that happens), you can (and should) take them off or you won't be able to see anything.

If you are within the path of totality (https://go.nasa.gov/2pC0lhe (link is external)), remove your solar filter only when the moon completely covers the sun’s bright face and it suddenly gets quite dark. Experience totality, then, as soon as the bright sun begins to reappear, replace your solar viewer to look at the remaining partial phases.

In the old days of photography you could use a negative and hold it up to view the eclipse.

How the solar eclipse will look from anywhere in the U.S.

http://time.com/4882923/total-...

eta - Whoops! See that lazydog posted it above. 

I'm so confused. I have a colander, I have old printed negatives. I have no glasses and no welding helmet and I have a healthy fear of going blind. I may be out of the running on this one.

The colander or pinhole paper ain't gonna get you blind. Enjoy it.

We all know it's going to be raining anyway. It always does on these days.

The colander isn't going to make you blind because you look down not up.  The shoe box acts like a periscope.  You won't be looking up; you will be looking inside the box.

So not like this......

Not even close.  

qrysdonnell said:

Only one word is needed for eclipse viewing: Colander.

You'll get funky weird crescent shadows in the holes. It's cool.




Anything else might... strain... your eyes... amirite?

REALLY?  You can just use a metal colander or does it have to be plastic?  PS.  Serious, not joking.

Plastic would also work. You need paper for the holes to reflect on.  I suspect a single pinhole on a piece of paper would work better. The number of holes on a colander could be distracting.

You need two pieces of paper or one piece of paper and colander. One piece of paper should be white. Copy paper is ok. The goal is to face away from the Sun. Place the white paper on the ground or even better, at an angle from the ground. Angle the pinhole paper so the hole magnifies and reflects on the screen/white paper. 

I guess the google also has instructions. 

Here's a video that gives a good impression of the colander viewing experience. You'll also see weird shadows in the light that comes between leaves, etc.

.

ETA: Weird how these panels shifted in order after posting. Eclipse must be messing with the space/time continuum.

Thanks for the tip about using a colander. Here's another video about how to use a colander - the narration is amusing: 

Recycled all of our cereal boxes....this is all we have to use 

I've been practicing for the eclipse by wearing eyepatches and making sure I know where all the local Triffid farms are.

In the news in 1932:

Me too. Made three viewers with cereal boxes this morning. Looking forward to using them!

blackcat said:

Recycled all of our cereal boxes....this is all we have to use