August 21, 2017 Solar Eclipse - any tips

[campersuzid]

Getting questions from readers of forestcamping.com about the 8/21/17 solar eclipse. The swath where you'll see a total eclipse passes thru at least a dozen national forests and one grassland. Should be awesome but I have little knowledge of such an event. Can you provide some thoughts, tips, or suggestions I can pass on to forestcamping.com readers? Thank you.

[pnichols]

MidWestMama wrote:
I'll be out in the middle of nowhere in the Nebraska Sandhills.

Outstanding ... now that's the way to do it!!

[MidWestMama]

fanrgs wrote:
Incidentally, every campground and RV park in western Nebraska is filled to capacity for the night of August 20.

Newbie here...

Some of the smaller towns in Nebraska are just starting to prepare for the Eclipse. If you look, there are still a lot of options available that are super affordable. For example, Hyannis, NE is expecting 2 minutes 19 seconds of totality and has some accommodations available with options for hook-ups, and space for camping. I think they are advertising at https://www.sandhillsareachamber.com/2017-solar-eclipse Just an hour south is a great lake for camping, fishing and boating-Lake McConaughy for the weekend before and days afterwards.

Best of luck and hope you all find great locations to view the Eclipse!! I'll be out in the middle of nowhere in the Nebraska Sandhills. 🙂

[fanrgs]

Some astronomers in Denver have arranged a one-day bus trip to Nebraska for the eclipse. The total right now is 17 buses with 55 passengers each and the group is trying to find more buses for those on the waiting list. Not Rvers, but enough people to make the group one of the largest "communities" in western Nebraska!

Incidentally, every campground and RV park in western Nebraska is filled to capacity for the night of August 20.

[EsoxLucius]

Bring your pocket book.

[Sarvi]

StarkNaked wrote:

Sarvi wrote:

StarkNaked wrote:

P.S. We also just figured out that an event called Oregon Eclipse 2017 is going to be just 5 to 10 miles away from us while we're watching the eclipse. 20,000 people, live music (100 plus bands/multiple stages), art installations, etc. Imagine an event like Burning Man.

Where?

Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains.

oregoneclipse2017.com

That looks pretty neat.

[StarkNaked]

Sarvi wrote:

StarkNaked wrote:

P.S. We also just figured out that an event called Oregon Eclipse 2017 is going to be just 5 to 10 miles away from us while we're watching the eclipse. 20,000 people, live music (100 plus bands/multiple stages), art installations, etc. Imagine an event like Burning Man.

Where?

Big Summit Prairie in the Ochoco Mountains.

oregoneclipse2017.com

[Sarvi]

StarkNaked wrote:

P.S. We also just figured out that an event called Oregon Eclipse 2017 is going to be just 5 to 10 miles away from us while we're watching the eclipse. 20,000 people, live music (100 plus bands/multiple stages), art installations, etc. Imagine an event like Burning Man.

Where?

[StarkNaked]

The Oregon State Parks released 1000 more temporary campsites for the eclipse this morning at 8AM. All are three day minimum. Some in totality, some outside.

Every campground I checked at 9AM when I found out about the sale was already sold out.

Also there are land owners near where we are camping that are selling three day dry camping in a hay field for $300 to $500.

P.S. We also just figured out that an event called Oregon Eclipse 2017 is going to be just 5 to 10 miles away from us while we're watching the eclipse. 20,000 people, live music (100 plus bands/multiple stages), art installations, etc. Imagine an event like Burning Man.

[austingta]

Sadly, I have to fly to Kansas City and then drive a little north to see it. But I'm going!

[StarkNaked]

Link for weather cloud cover odds in you area.

http://eclipsophile.com/americas-eclipse/

Central/eastern Oregon look to be some of the best odds. I'll be in the Ochoco Mountains. And hoping for clear skies!!!

[profdant139]

Pat, thanks for those links -- and that video is both encouraging and funny! That lady sounds like she is having the time of her life.

[LenSatic]

Here's a video of the 1991 eclipse that was taken north of us about a third of the way to La Paz. Turn up the sound and listen to the excitement of the people (this is why I suggest that everyone have, at least, an audio recording of the event). Looking at their insert video, I do vaguely remember seeing the "sunset" horizon but, as I said, it was only to the south so probably not that interesting to us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XhpToLX6KQ

ETA: At 5:40 you hear them say the bats are coming out. 😉

Pat

[LenSatic]

profdant139 wrote:
It sounds as though I have some homework to do -- I was planning just to show up and look up during totality. But I think that if I knew what to expect (the beads and the rings and the second and third contacts), I would get more out of it than a vacant stare would provide!

Newbie question -- can the corona be seen with the unaided eye? Are there always flares, too, or are those rare?

Here's a beginners guide: https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/what-to-see-during-eclipse

The corona is very visible and, given the quiet activity on the Sun at the moment, may be the only thing we do see besides the Bailey's Beads and Diamond Ring.

Here are two more pix, sunspots and corona (and more scanner dust spots):


Click For Full-Size Image.

As for your sunset question, we were on the beach seen in this photo just below the hill at top-center and we were facing where this camera is. So the only horizon we had was to the south over the ocean.



Pat

[profdant139]

It sounds as though I have some homework to do -- I was planning just to show up and look up during totality. But I think that if I knew what to expect (the beads and the rings and the second and third contacts), I would get more out of it than a vacant stare would provide!

Newbie question -- can the corona be seen with the unaided eye? Are there always flares, too, or are those rare?