posted 08-07-2017 10:09 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Skythings:
Leave your camera at home or set it on a tripod filming the west horizon as the ominous shadow bears down on you and then with a flash rolls away to the east 3 minutes later.

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One set-up I'm using is a portable motorized equatorial mounting (Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer) on which I'm attaching a Hydrogen-alpha scope and a "white light" filtered spotting scope for visual use "by the crowd" while I'm off doing other things. It has a jack for driving a camera shutter too, so on a separate tripod next to it I'll be using an otherwise unused DSLR and a wide angle lens to capture time-lapse images of the approaching shadow.

I only have the one camera available for time-lapse video, so I've been debating on whether to point it westward, eastward, or at the sub-solar horizon point (~southward).

posted 08-07-2017 11:49 AM               

Today, a special-edition Eclipse Explorer Junior Ranger program booklet and badge were made available to the public. The program's motto is "Explore, Learn, and Protect," and the Eclipse Explorer booklet and badge are designed to inspire and empower kids and families while enhancing their learning experience.

In the booklet, Bill Nye joins Junior Ranger CaLisa to educate kids and families about eclipses. On the day of the eclipse, Aug. 21, Bill Nye will be on stage at Homestead National Monument to welcome kids and families and complete the educational activity booklet. They will be sworn in as new Junior Rangers after the eclipse. Anyone is welcome to participate in this program.

• Online: Junior Ranger Eclipse Explorer booklets are now available online, so kids, families and educators throughout and outside of the U.S. National Park Service region can access them.

• At U.S. National Parks & Monuments: Parks in the eclipse Path of Totality and others will offer Junior Ranger Eclipse Explorer badges and booklets. Contact your nearest park or monument for details.

posted 08-07-2017 11:56 AM               

Please everyone make sure you read the safety information out there on the solar eclipse share with family members. While one would think everybody knows that you should not stare at the sun during a partial eclipse it is easy to do as there is little irritation and you do not “feel” anything happening. In the end you end up with permanent damage to your retina that appears as a swirling disc that never goes away.

Our area will have a 97% solar coverage and thus will be as harmful as if the sun was fully exposed. As I child I was around for the 1972 eclipse and there was only about a 50% coverage of the sun. Unlike the fully exposed sun that “hurts” when you stare at it, during an eclipse that is not the case, so it makes you think you are fine staring at it. Understand that a glance will not leave any permanent damage (so I have been told) it is staring at the sun that is mostly covered by the moon that is an issue.

That is exactly what I did. As a curious young science minded type I wanted to see what this eclipse was all about. I stared at the sun and watched as the moon covered up so much of it. Later that evening when my brother and I went fishing I saw the damage I had done. I could no longer see the floating bobbin in the water, what I could see is that same swirly object you see after someone takes a flash picture. 45 years later and that “swirly“ is still there. While it has not stopped me from doing most things in life it did change my career path from Pilot/Astronaut to Engineer.

I applaud the our county initiative to keep the children out of school that day. The time in question would be at the time they are heading home and not as well supervised to be directed in not looking at the sun and what they may do to themselves unknowingly. Take it from one who has the scares the view is not worth the final damage.

posted 08-07-2017 01:09 PM               

Great recommendation to remind family and friends that the danger is real unless you understand and practice safe viewing with the proper equipment or techniques.

posted 08-07-2017 02:08 PM               

It took an intense knowledge of celestial bodies and an unrelenting love for bananas, but we did it. On August 21, Chiquita will move the moon in between the sun and the earth. For a fleeting moment before and after the totally overrated total solar eclipse, the sun will appear to be an enormous fiery banana. This phenomenon shall henceforth be known as the Chiquita banana sun. Please enjoy it. (And remember, wear eclipse-safe eyewear.)

Find out more at thebananasun.com.

posted 08-08-2017 12:23 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by jasonelam:
Might have to use some vacation time to see it.

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1. Do it!
   
2. Do it!!
   
3. Do it!!!

posted 08-08-2017 12:31 PM               

4. Do It
   
5. Do it
   
6. DO IT

posted 08-10-2017 05:41 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Blackarrow:
Although I knew of the risks, I certainly stared too much, and had the proverbial "spots in front of my eyes" for weeks afterwards.

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This is serious though, in my case I am allowed to drive but with uncorrectable vision flying an aircraft is out.

I do have a question about the areas that are in the 97%. Will there be any significant dimming?

posted 08-10-2017 04:47 PM            

Over many decades, the advice of all reputable astronomers has been never to view the sun directly (even if 98% eclipsed) through a telescope, but to use the telescope to project an image of the sun onto a white card or similar surface.

posted 08-11-2017 04:17 PM               

NASA Announces Television Coverage for Aug. 21 Solar Eclipse

On Monday, Aug. 21, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the Sun, and NASA Television will carry it live from coast to coast from unique vantage points on the ground and from aircraft and spacecraft, including the International Space Station. Coverage will be featured during the live four-hour broadcast Eclipse Across America: Through the Eyes of NASA.

Programming begins at noon EDT with a preview show hosted from Charleston, South Carolina. The main show begins at 1 p.m. and will cover the path of totality the eclipse will take across the United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. The program will feature views from NASA research aircraft, high-altitude balloons, satellites and specially-modified telescopes. It also will include live reports from Charleston, as well as from Salem, Oregon; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Beatrice, Nebraska; Jefferson City, Missouri; Carbondale, Illinois; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Toshiba Vision screen in New York’s Times Square will broadcast the program live in its entirety to give the public a big-screen view of the eclipse. Viewers in Times Square can listen to NASA coverage while observing it on the big screen by downloading the NASA app or going to nasa.gov/eclipselive.

posted 08-12-2017 02:32 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Blackarrow:
...the advice of all reputable astronomers has been never to view the sun directly (even if 98% eclipsed) through a telescope

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Otherwise, no. There are any number of dedicated solar telescopes and solar filters that are used extensively by amateur astronomers that are perfectly safe *if* used correctly by someone who knows what they are doing. (For example, you never use one applied at the eyepiece end, only a full aperture one at the point where the light enters the instrument.)

posted 08-13-2017 09:37 AM               

The filters in the image below for a pair of Fujinon 16x70 binoculars were made out of strips of cardboard from a sturdy gift box, scotch tape, black electrical tape and black polymer. They slip on with a snug fit, but not too snug that taking them off will jostle the optics so that the sun gets lost at the critical time when totality's fleeting moments arrive:

posted 08-13-2017 05:04 PM               

As for other people, that's what all of the *legitimate* safety warnings are for, to alert people without experience in this area of the dangers involved if one does not do it correctly — and to emphasize to them that if you do not have expertise with this, you need to only observe under the guidance of someone who *does* have such expertise.

Or we can go with the strategy of telling people blatant and intentional falsehoods, and falsely attributing these falsehoods to scientific experts, in a misguided effort to save people from themselves. You know how that will work out? Let's just imagine two people who are going to a publicly-sanctioned eclipse viewing event. One has been given information with accurate safety warnings. The other has been lied to and told there is no safe way to view the eclipse with any sort of instrument. Both of these people arrive at the event and see hundreds of people happily viewing the eclipse through telescopes set up by astronomers, both professional and amateur.

The first person remembers the safety warnings that he or she heard, gets in line, and upon reaching their turn hears the same warnings all over again as they get a wonderful view of the partially eclipsed sun with perhaps some sunspots or maybe a prominence or two. The second person sees all of this and says "Wow, that guy who lied to me is full of it," and decides that looking at the sun with optical aid must in fact be no big deal. Which scenario do you really think has more possible danger? In my book, the "madness" lies in deliberately deceiving people rather than providing accurate safety information.

And if that scenario doesn't give you pause at all, consider this. It is fairly well-known in the U.S. at least (don't know why it would be common knowledge outside of the country, but perhaps it is) that one of the "prime" locations visited by totality on this occasion is Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. If you follow this link, you'll find a description of the "designated Official Eclipse Viewing Areas where rangers and astronomers will provide telescopes and interpretive programs." Do you seriously think the U.S. National Park Service is going to do this if all "reputable astronomers" say there is no safe way to observe the sun?

Like I said before, I get the safety concerns. People who want to view the eclipse (at least in its partial stages) need to be very careful in how they do so, whether with their naked eyes or with optical aid, and if they don't have experience with that then they should follow the lead of someone who does. But flat-out making stuff up is just plain the wrong approach, if for no other reason than that it will be found out for what it is and then the legitimate safety advice may be ignored as well.

posted 08-14-2017 01:22 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by canyon42:
Or we can go with the strategy of telling people blatant and intentional falsehoods, and falsely attributing these falsehoods to scientific experts, in a misguided effort to save people from themselves...

But flat-out making stuff up is just plain the wrong approach, if for no other reason than that it will be found out for what it is...

...giving accurate warning information and advice vs. spreading information that isn't true...

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Instead of launching into a rant, you should examine what I actually said more closely. Much of what I posted amounted to opinion, which you are free to agree with or disagree with. The one statement of fact which I made ("Over many decades, the advice of all reputable astronomers has been never to view the sun directly through a telescope, but to use the telescope to project an image of the sun onto a white card or similar surface.") You have already indicated that you agree with this assertion. It is self-evidently true, so where are the "deliberate falsehoods"?

The late Sir Patrick Moore, general editor of "The Astronomy Encyclopaedia" (Mitchell Beazley: my edition 1987) wrote about solar eclipses as follows:

It is dangerous to look at the sun at any time, especially with optical aids. The only safe way to observe the partial phase is to project the image of the sun onto a white surface. Only during totality is it perfectly safe to look directly at the occulted sun and the corona.

As to the rest of my comments, these amounted to opinion. I am still of the opinion that the only fully safe way to observe the sun through a telescope (or binoculars) is not to. I acknowledge that many amateur astronomers choose to observe the sun through filters, (presumably accepting that any slight risk could have dire consequences). How many, in the excitement of the build-up to a total eclipse, properly check the filter for damage? What about the finder-scope? Has it been covered or removed? It is all very well for experts to use solar filters if they so wish, but a total eclipse (particularly in a heavily-populated country like the USA) will attract hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of casual viewers who will not know how to view the eclipse safely, in spite of all the warnings. How many of them, seeing "experts" using telescopes or binoculars to observe the partial eclipse, will point a cheap telescope at the sun while holding a few dark photographic negatives over either end of the instrument?

I note that one of the approved manufacturers of solar filter polymer gives the following explicit warnings:

• Check filter for any damage before each use;
  
• Avoid touching the surface of the film;
  
• Do not leave the instrument unattended where children or inexperienced adults could point it at the sun without the filter properly attached.

I stand by my OPINION (apparently shared by the late Sir Patrick Moore, whose lunar maps were used by NASA in preparation for Project Apollo) that it is a bad idea to use a telescope or binoculars to observe an eclipse, except by projection. You are free to disagree. You may think I am unnecessarily cautious, perhaps even out of date. But that does not give you the right to accuse me of telling "blatant and intentional falsehoods" and "flat out making stuff up." I do not expect to see such unacceptable and provocative language on collectSPACE.

posted 08-14-2017 02:35 PM               

That said, every major eclipse viewing site, from Oregon to South Carolina, is likely going to have telescopes set up for people to look through, many provided by professional astronomers, museums and NASA. So, there are safe ways to observe the sun through a telescope — that much is established.

In addition, Celestron (for example), Meade and other respected telescope manufactures have been selling telescopes specifically for the purpose of viewing the eclipse. They wouldn't be doing this if there was a significant risk to the public.

At the same time, those same groups — NASA, museums, astronomers and telescope manufactures — have been very forthcoming about the risks of looking at the eclipse without the proper protection. Journalists, teachers, parents, community leaders and enthusiasts have been doing the same. Even Chiquita devoted a portion of its viral ads to promoting safe viewing. The message is loud and clear.

posted 08-14-2017 02:44 PM               

Amazon has not received confirmation from the supplier of your order that they sourced the item from a recommended manufacturer. We recommend that you DO NOT use this product to view the sun or the eclipse.

posted 08-15-2017 03:40 PM               

Using just a mirror and a piece of paper with a small hole in it I projected the image of the eclipse onto the wall. All you need to do is place the paper and hole over the mirror and line it up to reflect the eclipse onto the wall. Usually the smaller the hole the sharper the image.

posted 08-16-2017 12:00 AM               

Total view: A brief history of solar eclipses seen from space

Don Pettit has never looked up to see a total solar eclipse. Twice, though, he has looked down.

As a past crew member on the International Space Station, Pettit is among the few astronauts and cosmonauts to have witnessed an eclipse from space. On Monday (Aug. 21), he will witness his first total solar eclipse from the ground.

"This is going to be a real pleasure, because I have seen two total solar eclipses from space and I haven't seen any from the Earth," Pettit said in an interview with collectSPACE. "This will be my first total solar eclipse seen from Earth."

posted 08-16-2017 07:52 PM               

NASA's LRO Team Wants You to Wave at the Moon

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) team invites the public to wave at the Moon on Aug. 21 as LRO turns its camera toward Earth.

Above: NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has observed solar eclipses from its vantage point at the moon before. The image LRO takes of Earth on Aug. 21, 2017, is expected to look similar to this view, which the satellite captured in May 2012. Australia is visible at the bottom left of this image, and the shadow cast on Earth's surface by the moon is the dark area just to the right of top-center. (NASA/GSFC/ASU)

The LRO Camera, which has captured gorgeous views of the lunar landscape and documented geologic activity still occurring today, will turn toward Earth during the solar eclipse on Aug. 21 at approximately 2:25 p.m. EDT (11:25 a.m. PDT) to capture an image of the Moon's shadow on Earth.

"I'm really excited about this campaign because it is something so many people can be a part of," said Andrea Jones, LRO public engagement lead at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "So much attention has been focused on the lucky folks who will get to experience eclipse totality, but everyone in an entire hemisphere of the Earth can wave at the Moon as LRO takes our picture!"

During the eclipse the Moon will be far enough from Earth that the resolution of the images are 2.5 miles per pixel. While the LRO Camera won't be able to see people or buildings, it will be able to see the continents, clouds and large surface features.

"While people should not expect to see themselves in the images, this campaign is a great way to personalize the eclipse experience," said Noah Petro, LRO deputy project scientist at Goddard.

A note of caution: the only time it's safe to look at the Sun without eye protection is if you're in the 70-mile-wide path of totality and only during the minutes of totality. Do not look directly at the Sun at any other time without certified eclipse glasses. For more information on eclipse eye safety.

posted 08-17-2017 03:16 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by GACspaceguy:
I stared at the sun and watched as the moon covered up so much of it. Later that evening when my brother and I went fishing I saw the damage I had done.

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"Both eyes, eclipse burns. So, basically, what is that? It's like in flash photography, you see that little swirly thing after the flash. I see it all the time. It never goes away. A little worse on the right side than the left side, but it's always there. And that's really from staring at the sun," he said.

posted 08-19-2017 06:40 AM               

Friday morning our local weather girl mentioned that the eclipse of 2045 has been predicted to have up to six minutes of totality. She did not quote her source for this information. I would be 88 years old if I am still around (doubtful), but would be cool.

posted 08-19-2017 09:11 PM               

• Idaho: Alvin Drew
  
• Illinois: Ellen Ochoa
  
• Kentucky: Stephen Bowen, Terry Wilcutt
  
• Missouri: Michael Hopkins, Janet Kavandi
  
• Nebraska: Clay Anderson, Mike Fincke
  
• Oregon: Donald Pettit, Jim Wetherbee
  
• South Carolina: Charles Duke, Doug Wheelock
  
• Tennessee: Roger Crouch, Soichi Noguchi, Rhea Seddon
  
• Wyoming: Scott Altman, Steven Hawley, Jim Reilly, Harrison Schmitt

posted 08-21-2017 05:30 AM               

Astronauts on space station to watch solar eclipse on three orbits of Earth

Three Americans are in a position to get a truly unique view of the "Great American Eclipse."

Randy Bresnik from Kentucky, Jack Fischer from Colorado and Peggy Whitson from Iowa won't be in the path of the totality, where, from the vantage point of Earth, the moon aligns with the sun, but with their three Italian and Russian crewmates, they will witness the solar eclipse from orbit on board the International Space Station.

posted 08-21-2017 01:12 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
...you can order solar filter film

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Unfortunately, the filter is really difficult to use on my telescope, but works great with my camera!