08/21/17 Total eclipse -- Time to get serious.

Although I've been getting excited about the 8/21/17 eclipse for eight years, ever since the July 22, 2009 total eclipse I viewed in China, I've yet to meet anyone with half my enthusiasm about it. I must say, on a forum with a lot of scientific and mathematically gifted people, I'm a little disappointed. I started to feel that nobody in this country really cared except me. Most people who I explain what is special about a total eclipse say, "What's the big deal? I've seen lots of them when I was in school. We all wore special glasses to see it." I then tried to explain the difference between a total eclipse and a partial eclipse but eyes would glaze over faster than when I speak to women about anything. Well, maybe not that fast.

With that attitude, I took my sweet time booking a hotel room. What a mistake! Every hotel room within 100 miles of Rexberg Idaho, where I planned to view it, it booked solid. It seems the softest spot in a very hard market is on Air B&B. You can camp out in people's yards for $200, get a single room in a house for $400. However, I have my eye on this one -- a four bedroom house in Brock Idadho for $957 including all taxes and fees. Brock is about 20 miles south of the optimal viewing point so it will shave only seconds from the totality time, compared to the optimal center line.

I've been saying since the inception of this site I'd like to have a WoV event to view the eclipse. I think this may be the time to put up or shut up. I'm looking for three or more people to pitch in on sharing that house. I plan to bring a telescope for the viewing and we can have a solid day of fellowship anticipating the big show.

Who is with me? Unless I get enough interest, I think I'll pay $200 to pitch a tent on somebody's lawn or stay somewhere in northern Utah, which you still can. I am looking for at least three solid people who will put up $250 for their own bedroom. What do you say?

For those of you back east, planning to see it more locally, my advice is BOOK NOW. It is only going to get worse later.



More information.

I'd been trying to gauge family opinion for at least two years on a trip to Oregon for the eclipse. Fortunately, one brother-in-law has family in Salem, which just happens to be along the path of the total eclipse, so that might have been the tipping point to confirm our trip.

So thankfully, we booked a house on the Oregon coast—west of Portland—Friday through Monday before the eclipse at the reasonable rate of $250/night, not including tax and cleaning fees. Rentals along the total eclipse zone on the Oregon coast are asking $600/night and up—with three night minimums. And it would be a "gamble" to be there because of possible morning fog. We're going to drive over to Salem early in the morning.

For fun, I also looked for hotels in Casper, Wyoming, which is also in the total eclipse zone—completely booked! Hotel rooms for the night following the eclipse were 94% booked when I checked.

So why is this better? You explained it to everyone else but us. Is it 1% better for twice the price like Verizon?

It might be cloudy and you'll have to drive across country somewhere with clear skies. Paying for a specific location might be a total waste. Plus your crew may not care and not let you chase it.

I've heard if you just keep saying "treat yo-self", people do what you say. Try that.

What's the difference between a normal eclipse and this super eclipse?

How different is the "viewing" of it from other places, say Las Vegas, compared to a location on the optimal line on on the picture?

What are your plans for getting there and back Wizard? I have started plans to catch it as part of a road trip with my wife and kids. What night is the rental?

Quote: RS

What's the difference between a normal eclipse and this super eclipse?

How different is the "viewing" of it from other places, say Las Vegas, compared to a location on the optimal line on on the picture?

Outside of the inner shaded area on the map, you will only see a partial eclipse as the Moon's shadow will not totally appear to cover the Sun. Rather, it may appear like a cookie with a bite taken out of it. The closer you are to the centerline of the shadow, the longer the "totality", or time that the Sun will be completely covered, will last.

Quote: Ayecarumba

the Moon's shadow will not ... cover the Sun

I got a chuckle out of this. I know you are too intelligent to think this is what happens, you must have not been paying attention to what you were writing.

Alas, Wizard, considered going to this for as long as you have been mentioning it, but I will not be able to join you.

Thanks for bringing this up-- I didn't know this was such a big event. My house is in the path of totality in NE, so I'll probably just watch it there. I see Alliance is also in the direct path: Carhenge

Quote: Ayecarumba

What are your plans for getting there and back Wizard? I have started plans to catch it as part of a road trip with my wife and kids. What night is the rental?

I will probably drive the full way from Vegas and maybe hit Glacier National Park afterward. Driving to Salt Lake and renting a car there is also an option.

Wizard, I agree that we should have made detailed plans a long time ago. Now, I'm not completely sure what I am going to do.

When it was all vague, my wife and I had a notion of going to the Idaho Falls area (based on your suggestion) for the eclipse and then making a tour of Yellowstone and Grand Teton. When I finally got around to checking into such a plan a month or two ago, I found that almost all of the park accommodations are already booked for the month, and what few rooms are available are $250 to $400 per night for the cheap ones. I can handle that for a night or two, but my friends who are most knowledgeable tell me that I will need to spend something like a week minimum in those parks, and that has led me to give up pretty much on the whole idea of going to Wyoming. I hadn't realized that the whole of eastern Idaho will be booked solid also.

By the way, that AirB&B house is not located in "Brock, Idadho" (or even Brock, Idaho) as you suggested. It apparently belongs to someone named Brock and is located in Rigby, Idaho.

I will talk to my wife about this later today. I haven't checked the details of the AirB&B ad -- is there a room suitable for a couple of geezers, and what contribution would you be looking for to cover such a shared bedroom?

Quote: RS

What's the difference between a normal eclipse and this super eclipse?

This is the first total eclipse - that is, one where the moon completely blocks out the sun and it actually gets dark - visible in the continental USA since 1979, the first visible in the eastern USA since 1970, and the first visible "coast to coast" since 1918. There was one in 1991 that was visible from Hawaii.
I vaguely remember watching TV coverage of the 1970 eclipse; NBC treated it like a moon landing.

In Las Vegas - in fact, in the vast majority of the USA - it will be only a partial eclipse.

Quote: Wizard

For those of you back east, planning to see it more locally, my advice is BOOK NOW. It is only going to get worse later.

The first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title was, "If you waited this long before mentioning the eclipse, you're not going to be able to find a hotel anywhere near the path of totality, or if you do, the cost will make New Year's Eve in Vegas seem like a bargain."

The "tent option" has one advantage; if you're somewhere where it's going to be cloudy, you can always pack up and drive to a clear spot to see it.


As for "two layers of welder's glass," the version I heard was, while this might work when looking at the sun under normal conditions, you don't want to do this during an eclipse; it has something to do with rays bouncing off the moon's surface that can get through the lenses and damage your eyes.

It would be more fun to watch the moon's shadow track across the earth from the ISS.

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

It would be more fun to watch the moon's shadow track across the earth from the ISS.

What does transportation and one night's lodging cost for that?

Quote: Doc

What does transportation and one night's lodging cost for that?

Well, I think the people up there are actually getting paid for it. :-)

I booked a hotel in Hastings, Nebraska about 6 months ago for the event. Will be witnessing it with a high school friend who is both an amateur astronomer and photographer. (good combo for this!)

Going to fly in to Rapid City and visit Mt. Rushmore and then drive over for the event.

Just north of Kansas City is supposed to be a good location as well. And afterward, you can hit up the casinos.

The risk of booking early is the weather. No one can predict if any area will have thick clouds or rain that day. I think the move is to wait about a week before the eclipse and see what the weather is going to be closest to your location and drive with a hundred or so miles a couple days beforehand. You can then make a decision.
To book now is insanity. You are making a commitment and can easily get burned. The eclipse is nowhere near Las Vegas or Phoenix. Let's say it was. Even with an almost 80-90% of a sunny day you can get screwed. If August has one trait all over the country it's humid days with a decent chance of rain or thunderstorms. July would be a much more favorable month. Let's say you were in Rexburg last Summer on 8/21/16 and totality was between 1:10 and 1:25 pm. You are screwed my friend because there were thunderstorms during that time. 2015 between 4:51 and 5:53, mostly cloudy. 2014, overcast till noon. Pray for 2012, it was clear all day. Obviously it's a gamble everywhere in the US. You can use weather models to see which location has the highest chance of clear skies. The sky is going to go dark no matter what the weather is in the path of totality but to not be able to see the sun, the corona and "Baily's Beads" is going to be a huge disappointment.

Quote: odiousgambit

I got a chuckle out of this. I know you are too intelligent to think this is what happens, you must have not been paying attention to what you were writing...

Not sure what you are referring to OG. Maybe you better re-read the whole sentence. Your snip left out some key words. hehe

>Not sure what you are referring to

the Moon will cast a shadow across the Earth, but not across the Sun. I suppose it is possible that your usage is still correct, but I don't think so. Seemed funny to me.

Quote: Doc

What does transportation and one night's lodging cost for that?

As I recall the going rate has been about 20 million. But for that you get something like 6 weeks of training and get to spend a whole week up there!

I looked a few months ago and saw that Casper WY was just about out of rooms.

It's more than a day's drive for me so as much as I'd like to see it I think I'll end up enjoying the partial.

When I saw how booked solid eastern Idaho is, I changed plans and reserved a single room in a hotel in Boise. The pros there is that it is a direct flight from Vegas and close to the totality path. Just a short drive north to get the best of it. A con is there is nothing to do within 100 miles of Boise. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. Idaho Falls is close to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, which Doc mentioned.

Anyway, Boise still has some rooms left and they aren't ridiculously priced. I just paid $168 including everything for a decent looking small hotel in the downtown area. I welcome anybody in the western states to join me. In all fairness, another option is Portland OR. However, your chances of cloudy weather are a lot higher there.

Wherever you live, I think seeing a total eclipse in its totality should be on everyone's bucket list. As someone just mentioned, it is the first to go from coast to coast since 1918. Do not delay. It would seem there is still some availability in the larger cities near the path. Once the mainstream media, or "fake news" to the Trump fans on the site, start talking about this, what little is left will be gone.

Now, onto booking airfare and a rental car.

- For Good Read: http://cs.astronomy.com/asy/b/astronomy/archive/2014/08/05/25-facts-you-should-know-about-the-august-21-2017-total-solar-eclipse.aspx

- For Good Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcOxhH8N3Bo

Quote: Wizard

When I saw how booked solid eastern Idaho is, I changed plans and reserved a single room in a hotel in Boise. The pros there is that it is a direct flight from Vegas and close to the totality path. Just a short drive north to get the best of it. A con is there is nothing to do within 100 miles of Boise. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. Idaho Falls is close to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, which Doc mentioned.

Idaho Falls is "close" by their standards. It's quite the haul. While I don't know if I'd require a week, Doc's comment about needing that much time to enjoy the Teton / Yellowstone area is accurate. Just checking out Tetons / Jackson Hole is a day in itself.

Quote: Wiz

Wherever you live, I think seeing a total eclipse in its totality should be on everyone's bucket list. As someone just mentioned, it is the first to go from coast to coast since 1918. Do not delay.

Explain.

I certainly take notice of the astronomical. We get great views of the Leonid, some light up the entire sky. Eclipses of both flavors, sure. And I absolutely understand the desire to go north and see the aurora. But what makes this that big a deal?

I sort of understand, but not "book out the entire region" understand. And I want to, 'cause a bit of that mob mentality is starting to creep in - I've been waffling on a trip out there; 'sposed to go out there to fish "sometime in July or August".

What makes it worthy of skewing my trip towards it?

We are going to view it in either north Carolina or tennessee. We even thought about south Carolina but we will just be getting back from our Maine trip so it will be tough to pull off anything more than a long weekend.

So what glasses are exactly needed? Can I just wear my sun glasses or do you need more?

Eta. I just noticed that the next one is 2024 and goes through cleveland which is only 2 hours away. Maybe I will just wait 7 years.

Quote: Face

What makes it worthy of skewing my trip towards it?

It is hard to explain it. Given your skepticism about it, it is possible you will think it wasn't worth the extra time and expense to see it.

Quote: GWAE

...So what glasses are exactly needed? Can I just wear my sun glasses or do you need more?...

You definitely need more, as before and after the total eclipse you will be looking directly at the Sun. If you only use regular sunglasses at that time, you risk permanent damage. Even a small sliver of direct sunlight is powerful enough to burn your retina. Cheap cardboard glasses with specially coated mylar lenses are available for a few bucks, but photographers and folks with telescopes are going to invest in higher grade optics to protect their equipment (and eyeballs).

Once totality occurs, you can, and should for the two minutes or so it will last, observe the event with your naked eyes. These fleeting moments are what makes being in the direct path of the shadow so special. You should be able to directly observe the Sun's corona, which is not usually visible to regular Earthlings, stars will be visible, birds will stop singing... it will be night during the day..

Quote: Ayecarumba

Once totality occurs, you can, and should for the two minutes or so it will last, observe the event with your naked eyes. These fleeting moments are what makes being in the direct path of the shadow so special. You should be able to directly observe the Sun's corona, which is not usually visible to regular Earthlings, stars will be visible, birds will stop singing... it will be night during the day..

That's how you make a sale =)

Quote: Ayecarumba

These fleeting moments are what makes being in the direct path of the shadow so special

now you're talking!

I did go back and make sure the following is slightly incorrect!

Quote:

Outside of the inner shaded area on the map, you will only see a partial eclipse as the Moon's shadow will not totally appear to cover the Sun.

rewrite suggestion:

Outside of the inner shaded area on the map, you will only see a partial eclipse as the Moon's shadow Moon will not totally appear to cover the Sun.

Am I being too picky?

Quote: Ayecarumba

You definitely need more, as before and after the total eclipse you will be looking directly at the Sun. If you only use regular sunglasses at that time, you risk permanent damage. Even a small sliver of direct sunlight is powerful enough to burn your retina. Cheap cardboard glasses with specially coated mylar lenses are available for a few bucks, but photographers and folks with telescopes are going to invest in higher grade optics to protect their equipment (and eyeballs).

Once totality occurs, you can, and should for the two minutes or so it will last, observe the event with your naked eyes. These fleeting moments are what makes being in the direct path of the shadow so special. You should be able to directly observe the Sun's corona, which is not usually visible to regular Earthlings, stars will be visible, birds will stop singing... it will be night during the day..

That brings me to another question or 2.

How do you know the glasses will actuslly protect you? I see some cheapy ones, hopefully they aren't fake glasses.

Can you film this with a regular lense? Not sure if it would actuslly hurt equipment?

Quote: GWAE

That brings me to another question or 2.

How do you know the glasses will actuslly protect you? I see some cheapy ones, hopefully they aren't fake glasses.

Can you film this with a regular lense? Not sure if it would actuslly hurt equipment?

As far as I know, the cheap eclipse glasses are safe. If you plan to watch, be sure to buy some well ahead of time. At the total eclipse in China in 2009, stores sold out a few days before, at least where I watched it.

At that eclipse I personally watched it through two sheets of welders glass. If there was something dangerous about that, I didn't know.

At the annular eclipse, that cut through Saint George Utah a few years ago, I experimented with just one sheet and it wasn't enough. This may explain my worsening vision now.

I have some extra pairs of eclipse glasses. If anyone is going to the WoV spring fling AND is planning to view the eclipse, let me know.

Quote: GWAE

That brings me to another question or 2.

How do you know the glasses will actuslly protect you? I see some cheapy ones, hopefully they aren't fake glasses.

Can you film this with a regular lense? Not sure if it would actuslly hurt equipment?

If you are in a position where you can try them out, do so. The coating should be so dark that the only thing you can actually see through them is the sun. In the public interest, here is a section on Sun Safety from the Kitt Peak Solar Observatory page:

Quote: Kitt Peak Solar Observatory Eclipse Website

Sun safety
Please remember that eye protection is the most important thing on eclipse day. There are a few simple ways to ensure your eye safety during an eclipse.

Eclipse glasses are special-purpose solar filters that can be worn on the eyes. They block out almost all light, so you can't see anything through them, except for the Sun. You can purchase them, or order them in bulk from a number of places, including www.rainbowsymphony.com and www.eclipseglasses.com. There are many different places who are sponsoring eclipse glasses for the 2017 eclipse (including NSO!) so you may not even need to purchase them. Remember, sunglasses are NOT eclipse glasses and will not protect your eyes!
If you do not have eclipse glasses, you can safely watch the eclipse using a pinhole viewer out of a cereal or show box, some aluminum foil and some tape.
A pinhole projector SAFELY using binoculors can also be useful for viewing the eclipse wiht a large group. This is a way of enhancing what you might see through a pinhole viewer. You can read more about it here.


No matter what method you choose, make sure to set up or put on your eye protection before looking at the sun. i.e. look at the ground, put on eclipse glasses and only when your eyes are covered, then look at the Sun.

If you are not on the path of totality, eclipse glasses or other protections should be worn the entire time. If you are lucky enough to be on the path of totality, remove your solar filter only when the Moon has completely covered the Sun. You will know it is time when you can no longer see anything through the glasses. In order to see the corona during totality, you must remove the glasses. Be prepared to put them back on once the Moon has moved past totality and the Sun begins to reappear.

For more information on sun safety during the eclipse, you can visit:

https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/how-to-view-eclipse
http://www.eclipse2017.org/eclipse2017_eye%20safety.htm
http://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety
http://www.nasa.gov/content/eye-safety-during-a-total-solar-eclipse

One thing to remember is that the event is going to appear to be the size of a full moon (well, because that is exactly what it is), so magnification via binoculars, telescopes or long lenses will be attractive options to bring the details closer.

Check out the solar flare!

However, looking at the partial phase of the eclipse directly through an unfiltered magnifying lens has the real potential to damage your eyes as the concentrated beam of light , burns through the mylar glasses like the laser in James Bond's "Goldfinger". When the sun is completely covered, it is only as bright as a full moon, so take all the pictures you like. However, put the camera down as soon as the first ray of light peeks through on the other side as unfiltered sunlight will ruin the meter, mirrors and sensors in your camera.

I'll be staying in a friend's beach house in Lincoln City on the Oregon coast, about fifteen or so minutes north of the point of totality.

Best of all, after driving down the coast highway and parking at an overlook area to check out the eclipse I'll motor back into Lincoln City and gamble locally in my favorite casino, Chinook Winds.

I freakin' love that town; should be a madhouse that day.

Thanks for posting this image!

I am astonished to see the variation in especially the *size* of the shadow on different events! Nor was I expecting the variant paths for that matter ... my god look at those arctic ones! I would have expected some to be arctic etc., but not the difference in the paths the shadow takes even when going across North America.

Moon's Apogee, Perigee differences causing the size diff.

PS: should be easier on room prices in 2045

Quote: Wizard

I did not know about the eclipse until I read Wizard's post in the WOVCON thread. So, thanks for mentioning it, Wiz! I don't think we can make it out to Idaho. Instead, we're planing to go see it in NC with some family.

I checked back in February, and I could get a comped room at Harrah's Cherokee for 8/21-23, but not on the 20th. I checked back yesterday, and Harrah's Cherokee was sold out for the 21st. Both Harrah's Cherokee and Cherokee Valley River casino locations are within the totality path.

Quote: GWAE

How do you know the glasses will actually protect you? I see some cheapy ones, hopefully they aren't fake glasses.

I had these same thoughts. I just got some on Amazon for about $2 apiece. I haven't tried them out, but they are CE certified; so that is some comfort. I can't imagine there is any value in counterfeiting these things.

BTW, I picked the last option in the poll because I saw what you did there, Wiz!

For those who are able to see the eclipse, don't for get to look down as well as up.

25 years ago or so I found that tree's make an interesting filter during an eclipse, as shown in this image, (and there are lots more online):

Quote: Joeman

BTW, I picked the last option in the poll because I saw what you did there, Wiz!

Thanks! I was hoping somebody would get the reference.

Quote: Hullabaloo

For those who are able to see the eclipse, don't for get to look down as well as up.

25 years ago or so I found that tree's make an interesting filter during an eclipse, as shown in this image, (and there are lots more online):

I saw the 5/12/2012 annular eclipse in Saint George UT, which was in the annular path, if that is the right term. Through the leaves, the eclipse made ring shapes on the ground. Here is a picture of it. That is my son walking.



Click on the image for a larger version.

Are Mrs. Wizard, and the little Wizards not making the trip in August?

Back in 2009, when I first read about the Wizard's tentative plan of viewing the 8/21/17 eclipse near Idaho Falls, I started thinking about doing likewise. I figured I could immediately follow that with visits to Yellowstone and Grand Teton, provided I survived for those next 8 years. I have survived thus far, but I didn't start detailed planning early enough, and I was shocked to find that last-minute, only-six-months-in-advance reservations at the parks were outside my budget constraints. My thinking then evolved toward a backup plan of watching the eclipse near Idaho Falls then touring northern Nevada to collect chips from casinos I am unlikely to ever visit unless something like an eclipse draws my wife and me to the area.

Then yesterday, Mike posted info about eastern Idaho lodging being basically sold out and about his having found an AirB&B house that he might share with others for the night. Then later in the day, he changed his mind and decided to book a spot in Boise. At that point, I decided it would be best not to try to coordinate plans. I did find a motel room in eastern Idaho for less than $200, so there is some residual possibility that I might still pursue that backup plan with the chip-collecting excursion.

However, I decided that I really should have a backup plan for the backup plan. Another WoV member had suggested to me that we might get together at the Harrah's in Cherokee, NC for some entertainment combined with an eclipse viewing. Being from NC, I am not very confident of clear weather at the critical time, but that option would involve significantly lower travel costs. Both Joeman and GWAE have also posted about possibly viewing the eclipse in NC.

This morning, I took a few steps to lock in some options for the backup-for-the-backup. I booked a motel room for 8/20 in Cherokee -- not at Harrah's but at a pretty nice motel I have stayed in before -- getting a King Suite for $90 plus tax. The total eclipse will last 1 minute 22.7 seconds in Cherokee but I want a little more time than that. There is a dinky little motel my wife and I stayed in when we visited the Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino. That motel is located in Andrews, NC, and that town is right in the center of the path of totality for the eclipse. There, the total eclipse will last 91.5% longer than in Cherokee for a total of 2 minutes 38.4 seconds. Those extra 75 seconds might give me time to look around a little more and get some photos I might miss if I stayed in Cherokee. So, (if I wind up following this 2nd tier backup plan) I will drive the 43 miles down to Andrews for the big event and afterward probably visit the smaller casino again. I booked a room at the dinky motel for the night of 8/21 at the same $90 plus tax. Both of those reservations can be cancelled w/o penalty if I eventually decide to pursue a different option.

At least now I have locked in an affordable (disregarding the results at the casinos) option to be right on the path of the total eclipse, even though there is no way to know how hard I will feel like kicking myself if/when it is raining in NC that day and there are completely clear skies in Idaho Falls.

Just out of curiosity, how many other folks might be interested in having some August fun at one or both of the Cherokee casinos and watching an eclipse in Andrews, NC?

I wouldnt be able to join because we will have our kids with us and I am not sure that we will even stay in the area. We might literally just drive through it and stop somewhere at the right time.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Are Mrs. Wizard, and the little Wizards not making the trip in August?

Nope. The school year starts early here in Vegas.

Quote: Doc

Another WoV member had suggested to me that we might get together at the Harrah's in Cherokee, NC for some entertainment combined with an eclipse viewing

that was me I think!

I have also made a cancellable hotel reservation - anyone else interested, get cracking as they are going fast.

PS: check out the General Science thread at Diversity Tomorrow

Quote: Doc

Just out of curiosity, how many other folks might be interested in having some August fun at one or both of the Cherokee casinos and watching an eclipse in Andrews, NC?

Just a freaking coincidence, but I will be off work that Monday. I'm a maybe.

What motel did you book?

Quote: Wizard

Nope. The school year starts early here in Vegas.

I feel like I'm Lavar Ball going after Lebron James, but here goes! When my kids were your kids ages, we also rarely took them out of school for things like Disney trips, or other non educational type events. I think this once in a generation event would qualify as a better experience than the single day of school they would miss on August 21. And with YOU as the dad, it would be an easy educational moment. We took our kids to the Galapagos Islands and they missed a week of school. Best education decision we could have made. With advance notice we had their homework, lectures, etc.

Quote: SOOPOO

Just a freaking coincidence, but I will be off work that Monday. I'm a maybe.

What motel did you book?

Comfort Suites in Cherokee for 8/20. Quality Inn in Andrews for 8/21.

Quote: SOOPOO (to the Wizard about taking his family to see the eclipse)

I think this once in a generation event would qualify as a better experience than the single day of school they would miss on August 21.

In 1982, I had the opportunity to spend a month on a consulting assignment for the UN in Cyprus. In order to get spousal approval to be away that long, I agreed to take my wife and older son on a visit to England, Egypt, and Greece on my way to Cyprus.

At the time, my sons were 9 and 1. The younger one was too young for such a trip, and the older one was in elementary school. His teacher endorsed the idea of his going on the trip, as did the administrators. The only requirements were that he prepare and present a report of his experiences for his classmates and catch up on his school work upon his return. He did a very good job of both of those, and we felt the trip was an excellent educational experience for him.

Quote: odiousgambit

that was me I think!

I have also made a cancellable hotel reservation - anyone else interested, get cracking as they are going fast.

Yes, indeed, you are the "WoV member" I referred to. Since our communications were by P.M., I thought it best (in terms of complying with forum rules) that I not identify you in my post.

Quote: Doc

Comfort Suites in Cherokee for 8/20. Quality Inn in Andrews for 8/21.

Starting to formulate a plan. Fly to Atlanta Friday night August 18. Hopefully older son (Son of SOOPOO) is interested and will drive up from Gainesville. Also hopefully younger son will fly down with me from Buffalo. I have a bunch of friends in Atlanta so will stay with one of them Friday and Saturday nights. Drive up to stay in Comfort Suites Sunday morning and meet up with whoever is attending what I will now be calling WoVEclipseNC. Drive to Andrews for Eclipse Monday morning, then drive back to Atlanta and fly home. GF will of course be invited but I doubt she will be interested.

FYI, if anyone is headed to Idaho, BYU-Idaho has set up a web page to take free reservations for a space on their campus in Rexburg to watch the event. They are about as close as you can get to the middle of the shadow, and can accommodate large groups.

I wonder how many other people in the USA would be as surprised as me to learn that BYU has a campus in Idaho?

You all better hope that the weather cooperates!!

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

You all better hope that the weather cooperates!!

Were I a betting man, I'd bet that viewing conditions will be fine, at least here in the West.

see: cloudy day statistics

Quote: MrV

Were I a betting man, I'd bet that viewing conditions will be fine, at least here in the West.

see: cloudy day statistics

Past stats mean nothing.