Great Eclipse of 2017

[swingline]

Mom and I sat in the backyard watching it from when the moon started covering the sun, just a little nibble, through the 100 percent totality. The eclipse was racing the clouds, and just as the moon started to move out of totality, the clouds overtook it. All around my neighborhood, whoops and cheers accompanied the darkness, and the dudes running heavy equipment timed their lunch break to watch it, too.

I wouldn't say it was a religious experience, and neither of us cried like the Weather Channel woman in Oregon -- but, still, it was better than I expected, and it's a damn good day to be alive.

 

[trifectarich]

I'm waiting for the conspiracy theories that this really didn't happen.

 

[exmediahack]

Assuming you were not using the sarcasm font, if you'd like to say more about that, I'd read it. Curious to see that from your point of view.

He is the best at anchoring unscripted on the fly. Quick with deadpan observations. Inclusive to bring in the producers and staffers. It's not all-about-me-TV with Shep but it becomes that because he's damn interesting to watch when unscripted.

 

[WriteThinking]

Did you think there was going to be juggling and elephants?

You don't think an awful lot of people had, or will have, exactly the reaction that I did?

I guess I wasn't in a good enough spot, but really, it was nothing.

As an aside, I am already picturing all the solar-eclipse glasses that are going to be returned at my Walmart today. Last night, we had 78 phone calls in one hour from people seeking them. (We've been out of them for two weeks now).

 

[MisterCreosote]

I wasn't in the "path of totality," but:

Alaska's midnight sun >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this eclipse.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

He is the best at anchoring unscripted on the fly. Quick with deadpan observations. Inclusive to bring in the producers and staffers. It's not all-about-me-TV with Shep but it becomes that because he's damn interesting to watch when unscripted.

Thanks for that.

So, is there someone (or several someones) from years ago you would consider the best at that from a different time?

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

I wasn't in the "path of totality," but:

Midnight sun in Alaska >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> this eclipse.

Speaking of that, who here has watched midnight sun baseball games in Alaska?

 

[QYFW]

 

[MisterCreosote]

Speaking of that, who here has watched midnight sun baseball games in Alaska?

I missed it by a few weeks when I was in Fairbanks.

The midnight salmon bake was pretty cool, though.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

One of the players on the college team I used to cover played up there. Really enjoyed hearing him talk about it.

 

[DanOregon]

I'm looking forward to seeing all the people smart enough to wear the glasses, but too dumb to remember sunscreen.

It was quite the event though out here in Oregon. Kind of nice to remember what it felt like to have a mass of humanity all share the same moment (and not argue about whether it measured up to expectations immediately after.
I think the last episode of MASH was the last non-sports event like this.

I'd also like to add it was kind of nice that the West Coast got it first and not have to wait three hours after it hit the East Coast.

 

[dixiehack]

Even though I drove up here to get the full show, I admit I was a little skeptical of the scientists I heard interviewed the last couple of weeks who claimed being in 99 percent totality was barely worth it.

Wrong. Holy **** was that incredible.

When the last little chunk of the sun disappears (and after waiting around for a couple of hours, that sucker starts disappearing fast in the last couple of minutes), it looks like someone turned on the world's largest xenon bulb right behind this black disc. The most brilliant white light imaginable starts radiating out around it like a child's drawing.

I wouldn't necessarily spend hundreds of dollars on the pursuit, but if you're within a half-day drive or so for the 2024 version and can swing a day off work, I recommend going for it. And I'm nobody's idea of a science buff or outdoors person.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Even though I drove up here to get the full show, I admit I was a little skeptical of the scientists I heard interviewed the last couple of weeks who claimed being in 99 percent totality was barely worth it.

Meaning that 100 percent is way better than 99 percent? Or the same?

We were 87 percent and you had to have the glasses to see anything at all.

 

[WriteThinking]

Even though I drove up here to get the full show, I admit I was a little skeptical of the scientists I heard interviewed the last couple of weeks who claimed being in 99 percent totality was barely worth it.

Wrong. Holy **** was that incredible.

When the last little chunk of the sun disappears (and after waiting around for a couple of hours, that sucker starts disappearing fast in the last couple of minutes), it looks like someone turned on the world's largest xenon bulb right behind this black disc. The most brilliant white light imaginable starts radiating out around it like a child's drawing.

I wouldn't necessarily spend hundreds of dollars on the pursuit, but if you're within a half-day drive or so for the 2024 version and can swing a day off work, I recommend going for it. And I'm nobody's idea of a science buff or outdoors person.

OK, now you've made me jealous. Seriously, I was disappointed, probably not least because I actually am pretty into space/astronomy/that kind of stuff, and would've loved to experience something like that. I wish I could've had your view.

 

[CD Boogie]

Used a shoebox with a pinhole and some white paper to see it as a reflection and it worked well here in NYC when the clouds weren't blocking. Pretty damn cool

 

[dixiehack]

Meaning that 100 percent is way better than 99 percent? Or the same?

We were 87 percent and you had to have the glasses to see anything at all.

Meaning everything up to and including 99 percent was interesting (if cumbersome) in a nerdy sort of way.

At 100 percent it was like somebody flipped the switch to light up a new Disney attraction. My mouth flew open and stayed there a good 2-3 minutes.

 

[poindexter]

so how dark did it get at 100%?
Like same as midnight?

 

[dixiehack]

so how dark did it get at 100%?
Like same as midnight?

Fifteen minutes before totality.

At totality

 

[poindexter]

yeah, that is pretty cool.

 

[swingline]

It's hot and humid here, so the temperature didn't really noticeably drop. And it got dark, but I don't think it was midnight dark -- although it could have been because I was mesmerized enough by the totality that I really didn't look around.