Just got back from watching the eclipse!
- Jackolantern
- Posts: 10891
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:00 pm
Just got back from watching the eclipse!
So I flew from Texas up to my sister's house in Nashville, Tennessee which just happened to be right smack dab in the path of totality. It was an absolutely amazing sight I had wanted to see since I was a small child. This was the first I had ever seen and I am already planning for the 2024 eclipse that will be a bit closer to home in Dallas, Texas.
Did anyone else travel to see it? Or anyone who was in the path of totality that just had to walk outside?
Did anyone else travel to see it? Or anyone who was in the path of totality that just had to walk outside?
The indelible lord of tl;dr
- SpiritWebb
- Posts: 3107
- Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:25 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
My wife and I moved to Oregon, just south of Portland at the beginning of the month. Though work I couldn't get away to head to Salem, I heard it was an awesome sight!
- Jackolantern
- Posts: 10891
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:00 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
Awww, I'm sorry you were there but couldn't see it!
The indelible lord of tl;dr
- SpiritWebb
- Posts: 3107
- Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:25 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
No worries, I had other stuff I had to do. I did get outside to look thoughJackolantern wrote:Awww, I'm sorry you were there but couldn't see it!
- hallsofvallhalla
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12023
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:29 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
I refuse to look at the sun, regardless of cheap carboard glasses.
- Jackolantern
- Posts: 10891
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:00 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
Why is that? As long as you had the ISO-certified glasses, it was extremely comfortable to look at it. I would watch for up to 5 minutes straight without even having to squint. I had the nice plastic ones I had bought about 6 months ago, although we did have a ton of the paper ones, too, to give away.hallsofvallhalla wrote:I refuse to look at the sun, regardless of cheap carboard glasses.
There were some fakes ones going around on Amazon and apparently it got so bad at one point that Amazon was prompting customers to get refunds and they were shutting down fake glasses sellers online, so I can imagine there being some anxiety about that. But For the most part the vast majority of glasses were real and made looking at the sun no problem.
The indelible lord of tl;dr
- hallsofvallhalla
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12023
- Joined: Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:29 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
Imagine if everyone who looked at the sun during the eclipse regardless of glasses went blind. Those of us that didn't would be kings! I am amazed on how much faith people put in science when science truly understands so little and does not recognize anything it can't explain.
- Jackolantern
- Posts: 10891
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:00 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
Haha! That is some planning ahead there!
I will say, though, that there is nothing special about eclipse light. It is just like looking at the sun during any normal time. If it hurts, stop looking at it. Pretty simple and safe. Something like 200M people watched the eclipse and injuries have been minimal.
I will say, though, that there is nothing special about eclipse light. It is just like looking at the sun during any normal time. If it hurts, stop looking at it. Pretty simple and safe. Something like 200M people watched the eclipse and injuries have been minimal.
The indelible lord of tl;dr
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
I used a telescope to project the sun onto a foam whiteboard, and used that to look at the eclipse. It worked out great, you could see sunspots on the projected image. We didn't have totality where I lived, but we got to about 85% coverage. I think it was better than glasses because with glasses the sun would look so much smaller. I did end up melting the edge of my eye piece holder though, but only by a little bit. The telescope itself is fine.
- Jackolantern
- Posts: 10891
- Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2009 11:00 pm
Re: Just got back from watching the eclipse!
I wished I had thought to get some black mylar to filter a pair of binoculars. Because yeah, it was pretty small looking directly at it with the glasses. But totality was breathtaking. I definitely recommend trying to make it to the 2024 path.
The indelible lord of tl;dr