Quote: WizardHere is the weather for Waco up to April 4. It makes me nervous.
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That does not seem atypical for this time of year in Texas.
Quote: GenoDRPhSo make arrangements with someone with a car. keep and eye on the weather and be prepared to drive to where it's clear.
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I'll have a rental car. Driving the day of the eclipse is not a good idea.
Quote: Dieterhttps://www.newsweek.com/texas-official-warns-people-stock-food-ahead-solar-eclipse-1878477
Quote:A Texas official is recommending that residents in one county stock up on food and gas in advance of the total solar eclipse set to occur in a few weeks.
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My parents live near Toledo and they have been told the same thing!
Quote: ams288Quote: Dieterhttps://www.newsweek.com/texas-official-warns-people-stock-food-ahead-solar-eclipse-1878477
Quote:A Texas official is recommending that residents in one county stock up on food and gas in advance of the total solar eclipse set to occur in a few weeks.
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My parents live near Toledo and they have been told the same thing!
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Quote: WizardHere is the weather for Waco up to April 4. It makes me nervous.
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Hopefully it works out for you
Next one 2027 is pretty far away but you seem adventurous :-)
South America and Africa
Not sure if I'll be around for the next one in the US. 2044
You might want to position yourself at a place where the prevailing wind is descending a slope if you want your best chance of having good viewing conditions. But his won't help if it is generally overcast.
This is not looking good. Note the "PM showers." The eclipse will last from 12:20 TO 3:00.
I did not know this, but Waco will have the greatest time of totality anywhere, at 4:12. Weather issues not withstanding, it's the ideal location.
More information: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/waco?iso=20240408
I see that Baylor University is having a watch party. I'm tempted to go.
Now it's thunderstorms. At least they are in the AM.
Numerous electronic billboards have eclipse countdowns in the rotation.
Quote: DRichWizard, while in Waco will you be visiting the Branch Davidian Memorial?
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I didn't know there was one. I might go if there is nothing else to do. At the risk of making a political statement, I thought the fire was intentionally set from within. So, I can't feel too sorry for them.
In other news, the forecast is now "scattered thunderstorms" with 78% chance of rain. *sigh*
That's in improvement since the March 28 forecast.
I drove to Andrews, NC in 2017. Sunday summer traffic the day before was quite heavy, but there was little traffic on the day of the eclipse. I don't expect any problems driving a long distance on 4/8 if I have to avoid cloud cover.
Since half of Americans have a very conditional belief in science, they probably assign as much credence to the eclipse forecast as the 10-day weather forecast. I am pretty confident the eclipse will arrive on schedule.
Somebody asked for a picture of my setup a while back. Here it is.
Quote: WizardForecast for Waco is still "Scattered Thunderstorms." 58% chance of rain.
Somebody asked for a picture of my setup a while back. Here it is.
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Wiz,
Why does your unicycle have two wheels? Is it a tandem unicycle?
😉
Dog Hand
Quote: WizardQuote: DRichWizard, while in Waco will you be visiting the Branch Davidian Memorial?
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I didn't know there was one. I might go if there is nothing else to do. At the risk of making a political statement, I thought the fire was intentionally set from within. So, I can't feel too sorry for them.
In other news, the forecast is now "scattered thunderstorms" with 78% chance of rain. *sigh*
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I wish you fair skies and great viewing.
The Branch Davidian compound is there as a memorial, 13 miles outside Waco. There is some kind of walk-around opportunity. It is considered a shrine by far-right militia groups, so if you go, be cautious about what you might say within others' hearing.
You are correct, there is evidence that they set the fire from within- both overhead surveillance showing multiple points of ignition, and eavesdropping bugs within the complex overheard Koresh telling followers to put more fuel on hay fires. But that is disputed by some groups, who maintain tear gas canisters ignited the fire.
You're going to Waco near the anniversary, on a day when a lot of people will be there. I guess I would suggest you not go out there, but if you do, have someone you check in with before and after you enter and exit the property. I will be happy to be your check-in if you want.
Quote: beachbumbabsYou're going to Waco near the anniversary, on a day when a lot of people will be there. I guess I would suggest you not go out there, but if you do, have someone you check in with before and after you enter and exit the property. I will be happy to be your check-in if you want.
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Thank you for the warning. Based on this information, I won't go anywhere near the compound. I think I'll stick to Texas BBQ and the Dr Pepper museum.
Quote: DRichI enjoy watching this attorneys videos. Todays was on hotels canceling rooms for eclipse visitors.
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I skimmed it. He didn't seem to say a whole lot, other than it is a problem and the reservations holders would have good cause to take civil action.
However, how many people are going to bother taking a civil action over a hotel reservation? Especially in a state they don't live in. I think many people and business play this card. At the risk of going off topic, there was a piece on the news about how hard it is in California to get rid of sqatters from a home. The police can't do anything because in that state at least the homeowner must go through the courts to get rid of them.
Here is a comment I left on that video.
Quote:
@TheOddsMustBeCrazy
0 seconds ago
I had reservations for Waco TX for April 8 cancelled on me TWICE at AirBNB. The policy there is the host has to pay only a fee of 10% of the rental amount. I'm sure when these hosts learned they could get 10x as much for the eclipse they booted me out and got someone else through VRBO for much more. Steve, I would love you to expose this. Let me know if you're interested.
Quote: WizardQuote: beachbumbabsYou're going to Waco near the anniversary, on a day when a lot of people will be there. I guess I would suggest you not go out there, but if you do, have someone you check in with before and after you enter and exit the property. I will be happy to be your check-in if you want.
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Thank you for the warning. Based on this information, I won't go anywhere near the compound. I think I'll stick to Texas BBQ and the Dr Pepper museum.
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Random question: why are Texans so obsessed with Dr. Pepper? Any time I cruise out of Galveston that’s all they ever want to drink.
Jesus time flies.
I heard on news radio that the next one in the US isn't till 2 decades away.
Let's see how quickly we feel that date coming
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2024/04/02/solar-eclipse-2024-purkinje-effect-red-green-clothes/73154006007/
Yes, I grabbed a souvenir postcard.
Seriously hoping to be nowhere near the totality path on the day.
Best of luck to you all, I just don't want the hassle with the crowds.
Quote: IndyJeffreyLooks like 46% sky cover when the totality begins at 3:00 p.m. here in Indianapolis.
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Forecast for sky cover down to 25% at 3:00 p.m. Fingers crossed.
Quote: IndyJeffreyQuote: IndyJeffreyLooks like 46% sky cover when the totality begins at 3:00 p.m. here in Indianapolis.
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Forecast for sky cover down to 25% at 3:00 p.m. Fingers crossed.
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Dabbing is so August 21, 2017!
So much so, locals are renaming it "Dallas Cowboys playoff game"
But after doing that I decided to just look straight at the sun a few times, quickly, and my eyes weren't burned out.
It would make TOTAL sense if the eclipse isn't even visible in Waco on Monday - Murphy's law.
the moon blocks out most of the sun
Quote: 100xOddsWhy is it bad to look directly at an eclipse?
the moon blocks out most of the sun
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It's bad to look directly at the Sun at all times EXCEPT for the few precious seconds or minutes during totality, when the Moon completely occludes the Sun, leaving only the Sun's corona visible. Even when the Sun is 99% blocked, the direct rays can still damage unshielded eyeballs. So it's dangerous to look at the eclipse while it's in progress, except during totality,
I know the Wiz likes Pink Floyd
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/pink-floyd-solar-eclipse-sync/
"How to Sync Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ With the Solar Eclipse
The upcoming solar eclipse offers music fans the chance to sync the climax of Pink Floyd's 1973 masterpiece The Dark Side of the Moon with a rare celestial event.
On April 8, the moon will completely cover the sun for up to four and a half minutes along a path of totality that covers 15 states from Texas to Maine.
If you time it correctly, you can listen to Dark Side's closing line - "And everything under the sun is in tune, but the sun is eclipsed by the moon" - just as this spectacular display occurs above you."
Quote: GenoDRPhQuote: 100xOddsWhy is it bad to look directly at an eclipse?
the moon blocks out most of the sun
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It's bad to look directly at the Sun at all times EXCEPT for the few precious seconds or minutes during totality, when the Moon completely occludes the Sun, leaving only the Sun's corona visible. Even when the Sun is 99% blocked, the direct rays can still damage unshielded eyeballs. So it's dangerous to look at the eclipse while it's in progress, except during totality,
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A long time ago (I think it was during the 1970 eclipse), I thought I heard that it had more to do with how infrared rays somehow bounce off the moon's surface, which is why you could wear welder's glasses at the time to look at just the sun, but even that was dangerous during a total eclipse.
My sibs and their spouses have/will drive/fly in. A nephew, niece, and daughter are also planning to join us.
Totality will last just over 12 hours. For this type of eclipse it is safe to stare at the sun for extended periods. To locate the approximate position of the sun, drop a stone and watch where it lands. No special glasses are necessary, but you can make a pinhole camera if you like.
You can experience the eclipse from almost anywhere except the north and south poles. There are still plenty of cheap rooms available within the path of totality, but most Americans can experience it from their porch.
Oddly, many different animal species seem to instinctively sense terrestrial eclipses. Many species instinctively sleep. Some even experience dreamlike episodes similar to vivid hallucinations. Still others become more active. Nature is amazing.
I ran across a couple videos about how to shoot the eclipse. Needless to say I don't have that kind of setup. I might be able to shoot something during totality, but anytime else I've been warned I need a deep dark filter which I don't have and am unlikely to have. I bought some eclipse glasses for about $2 from WalMart before they sold out a couple weeks ago and they have the proper rating, ISO 12312-2. I'm on the edge of totality, I'm thinking I should drive 35 miles to the nearest mall and be in a better position with wide open spaces and parking lots and a longer totality. I don't know the area too well so a playground would be a little hard for me to find without getting mugged. It's supposed to be partly cloudy and mid 50's out which is a big switch from the winter rain there's been up here all week. It's been severely overcast since October 1st, so those few scant days of sunshine are an exception until the season changes, but big clouds can blow in from Lake Ontario at any time so.
Niagara Falls declares state of emergency ahead of expected one million Solar Eclipse tourists
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/niagara-falls-declares-state-of-emergency-ahead-of-expected-one-million-solar-eclipse-tourists/ar-BB1l9Kdr?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=5fdf70fe89fd48c9c0f8f52a4a05be15&ei=9
Quote: 100xOddsThis event which seemed so far away when 1st mentioned is almost here.
Jesus time flies.
I heard on news radio that the next one in the US isn't till 2 decades away.
Let's see how quickly we feel that date coming
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I remember Wizard adding,"04/08/2024 Eclipse," as a poll option all the way back in 2018/2019 five/six years earlier and now we're only two days away from it! 💡
Quote: ChumpChangeTrying to recharge my camera batteries and setting the date and time tonight on several cameras, one dating back to 2003.
I ran across a couple videos about how to shoot the eclipse. Needless to say I don't have that kind of setup. I might be able to shoot something during totality, but anytime else I've been warned I need a deep dark filter which I don't have and am unlikely to have. I bought some eclipse glasses for about $2 from WalMart before they sold out a couple weeks ago and they have the proper rating, ISO 12312-2. I'm on the edge of totality, I'm thinking I should drive 35 miles to the nearest mall and be in a better position with wide open spaces and parking lots and a longer totality. I don't know the area too well so a playground would be a little hard for me to find without getting mugged. It's supposed to be partly cloudy and mid 50's out which is a big switch from the winter rain there's been up here all week. It's been severely overcast since October 1st, so those few scant days of sunshine are an exception until the season changes, but big clouds can blow in from Lake Ontario at any time so.
Niagara Falls declares state of emergency ahead of expected one million Solar Eclipse tourists
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/niagara-falls-declares-state-of-emergency-ahead-of-expected-one-million-solar-eclipse-tourists/ar-BB1l9Kdr?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=5fdf70fe89fd48c9c0f8f52a4a05be15&ei=9
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You can still photograph the few short minutes of totality without a filter.
If the camera aperture is small enough, you can cannibalize a pair of eclipse glasses for their filter material.
If you have a SLR/mirrorless, see if a local camera shop has solar filters for your lens size.
Best of luck. I'll be watching from my cousin's house in Stowe, VT.
I've got a high tech phone that I should be retiring in the next year or less that I can take good pictures of the moon with, and if I stop it down a lot, a good sunset. If there's hazy clouds that the sun hides behind, it will be easier to get a regular photo. I think I've tried this before with a partial solar eclipse at sunrise with a bit of dangerousness that didn't hurt me or my phone.
I believe shade #12 (or higher) is adequate for solar viewing.
Quote: ChumpChange
Niagara Falls declares state of emergency ahead of expected one million Solar Eclipse tourists
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/niagara-falls-declares-state-of-emergency-ahead-of-expected-one-million-solar-eclipse-tourists/ar-BB1l9Kdr?ocid=winp1taskbar&cvid=5fdf70fe89fd48c9c0f8f52a4a05be15&ei=9
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Yes there have been several articles noting Niagara Falls declaring the state of emergency. When an area does that they can get additional funding from both the provincial and the federal governments. They're likely going to bring in additional police from other jurisdictions to help out with crowds.
I'm going to try to be in the Niagara Falls area for the eclipse, but the weather is looking iffy all over Southern Ontario and the path of totality so it'll be a gamble.
I'm sure tons of people want to be around the falls when totality happens, but I hope to get a spot at the community centre or the arena that the city designated for the eclipse.
--helpmespock
Alex Jones??????????????
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/solar-eclipse-conspiracy-theories-far-right-1234998475/
This latest onslaught of misinformation began, as it often does, with InfoWars host Alex Jones, who has spent the past few weeks ranting on X about the upcoming eclipse. Last week, he posted a clip with the caption: “Major Events Surrounding The April 8th Solar Eclipse[.] Masonic rituals planned worldwide to usher in New World Order.”
The post, which has more than 3,000 retweets and 1 million views, illustrates how the trajectory of the most recent solar eclipse viewable in the United States, as well as the trajectory of the upcoming eclipse, form an “Aleph” and “Tav,” which (as anyone who was forced to go to Hebrew school instead of staying home and using cheat codes to make your Sims woo-hoo naked knows) are the first and last letters in the Hebrew language, signaling the beginning and end times.
In another eclipse tweet posted on March 26, which has 3.8 million views, Jones included a video of a man speculating that various Texas and Oklahoma counties had declared a state of emergency in order to usher in a billionaire-led new world order.
Why this mad furor over something that happens every year and half?
It's the same phenomenon every time... a big shadow is cast.
You don't see a majority of the US go frenzy after Groundhog Phil sees his shadow?
Quote: 100xOddsI was today years old when i learned that a total eclipse happens once ever EIGHTEEN months.
Why this mad furor over something that happens every year and half?
It's the same phenomenon every time... a big shadow is cast.
You don't see a majority of the US go frenzy after Groundhog Phil sees his shadow?
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They happen all the time.
They happen here quite infrequently.
Letchworth State Park Traffic Alert
Alert: Traffic in and around Letchworth State Park will be extremely busy on Monday, April 8, 2024 Eclipse Event. All park areas will experience heavy traffic. When areas fill to vehicle capacity, they will be closed to additional traffic. No parking will be allowed on unpaved surfaces. Expect detours when arriving and have a backup plan for experiencing the event in a different location. If coming to the park, patrons are encouraged to view the eclipse at the Highbanks Recreation Area.
I've got a feeling being there at 9am won't be early enough.