The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Totally Off-Topic Discussions, Rants, Tire & Oil Threads, Etc. => Topic started by: Bob_Roller on August 20, 2017, 10:47:44 PM

Title: Solar Eclipse
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 20, 2017, 10:47:44 PM
From what I have seen, Ed Miller in Falls City, Or. is in the region of total eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017.

Anyone else plan on viewing this in other parts of the US ??

Here in Phoenix, about a 60% eclipse viewable here, around 10 AM local .
Title: Re: Solar Eclipse
Post by: marcmax on August 21, 2017, 07:29:31 AM
I had been planning on it. Got me camera gear serviced, bought a solar filter to fit my long lens and spent the week taking pictures of the sun getting exposures dialed in. Woke up this morning and the entire SE coast is under cloud cover from a low pressure area in the tropics.  :'(
Title: Re: Solar Eclipse
Post by: Bob_Roller on August 21, 2017, 05:04:54 PM
I was off of work today, so I watched the eclipse from home .

If you didn't know about this event, you probably wouldn't have noticed it here in Phoenix .

I did place a thermometer in direct sunlight and saw a 12 degree  F. reduction in temperature at the height of the eclipse, which was around 60%  .

Air temp went up 7 degrees F within 30 minutes after the maximum shadow passed us here .
Title: Re: Solar Eclipse
Post by: Ed Miller on August 21, 2017, 07:58:43 PM
I was at work here in Albany and went out to the parking lot to view it.  I had some glasses, darker than my welding helmet.  Totality lasted longer at my house than it did here, I think, but only by about 30 seconds or so.  I've read that we had one here in about 1979, when I was in high school, but I think I would have remembered that.  I liked it, though my eyes aren't good enough to see any flares or anything but a glowing ring around the moon that is parts of the sun you can't normally see (corona). 

Mel from Boxerworks camped in my back yard last night, he's a good guy.  I was a poor host though as I had to work 12 hour shifts yesterday and today so didn't get home until late, then had to go to bed to get up again this morning.  My wife fixed him steak so maybe he'll be all right.
Title: Re: Solar Eclipse
Post by: Justin B. on August 21, 2017, 08:07:49 PM
I peeked at it a few times through my welding helmet.  I'd seen partials before so no biggie.  I did notice, however, that my solar array output dropped about 75% at the "peak" of it...  I think Texas is supposed to get a "total" in 2024.  Gives me something to live for, maybe...
Title: Re: Solar Eclipse
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 24, 2017, 02:33:49 PM
I had scheduled Monday and Tuesday off work so I could relax and enjoy myself, as it was only about a 4-5 hour drive from me to southern Illinois.
When I scheduled the time, I was surprised that no one else was taking the time off.

Then, about 2 weeks before, I walk in, and boss calls me in his office: "Frank wants to know if you had anything planned for those two days off".  (Frank covers for me when I take off - I knew what he wanted).

I smiled, and said "no problem, Frank can have it".

Good thing, too, as that night my car [alternator] crapped out on me, and I had to take two days off emergency to get it fixed.  And my confidence still had not returned in time for the trip, so all for the best, I guess.

But yeah, the next one will start in Mazatlan, go near Durango and Torreon; leaving Mexico in Piedras Negras; cut through the heart of Texas headed NE; Arkansas; Carbondale, IL; Bloomington, IN (just south of me); Cleveland, OH; Buffalo, Rochester, NY; south of Montreal; bum-fk, Maine; New Brunswick; Newfoundland


Yeah, I got the app on my phone...
Title: Re: Solar Eclipse
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on August 24, 2017, 03:55:23 PM
Here is a great video of some guys that caught the International Space Station transit across the eclipse!

https://youtu.be/lepQoU4oek4