View Full Version : The Solar Eclipse & Why We Should All Have Taken Tomorrow Off
GoDadGo
08-20-2017, 01:41 PM
Hey Gents,
Like most of you, I'll be working when the lights dim during mid-day.
What bugs me most about not taking tomorrow off is that I missed a great opportunity to cut my grass in the middle of the day with only 25% of the sun showing.
Uggg, because I'll be on the ZERO turn shortly and there are very few clouds in the sky.
Steve
https://amp.timeinc.net/time/4882923/total-solar-eclipse-map-places-view/?source=dam
What the eclipse will look like by zip code
Ray
wareaglescott
08-20-2017, 02:59 PM
I'll be flying during the eclipse. That should be interesting.
KDubU
08-20-2017, 04:01 PM
I work from home so will be out in the front yard getting a good view, albeit only 60-70% coverage. I'm already plan in the 2024 one which has the path of totality coming across Northen Maine.
GoDadGo
08-20-2017, 04:49 PM
I'll be flying during the eclipse. That should be interesting.
Now That Would Be Totally Worth The Cost Of A Ticket!
Better For You Since You Truly Get A Front Row Seat!
Sooooo Jealous & Be Safe Up There In The Wild Blue Yonder!
KDubU
08-21-2017, 06:31 AM
Actually most people in planes will not get a good view. It's all to do with angle and speed the plane is traveling at. There is one flight by Alaskan Airlines that will purposely fly in a direction, speed and altitude to give passengers the best view. I think it flys out of Seattle at around 9am PST.
adubbelde
08-21-2017, 06:43 AM
I'm retired and this is my wife's day off. We live in an area where it's 97% coverage. Since we have the day off, we're going to drive south into Nebraska or Wyoming based on cloud forecasts. It's only 100 miles to reach the path of totality. Snacks and lunch are packed as well as lawn chairs. Probably pull off the highway somewhere and sit back and enjoy.
Misterfubar
08-21-2017, 06:47 AM
I'm at work but it looks like my work plate will be a little light today. I should be able to get up on the roof and watch it, or hop on a training flight and catch it from a helicopter. We're over 99% totality here, but the forecast is calling for clouds.
wareaglescott
08-21-2017, 07:17 AM
Actually most people in planes will not get a good view. It's all to do with angle and speed the plane is traveling at. There is one flight by Alaskan Airlines that will purposely fly in a direction, speed and altitude to give passengers the best view. I think it flys out of Seattle at around 9am PST.
I push back from Atlanta at 150 and taxi for about 15 minutes. Should take off about 205-210. The eclipse peaks in Atlanta at 235 with like 97% coverage. At 215 it is about 80% coverage.
As my eyes are my livelihood I am hoping the sun is not in my field of view particularly at liftoff when we have the nose pointed up 20 degrees. I cant exactly operate the jet with eclipse glasses on. Guess I will just close my eyes and hope for the best! lol
OK, it's come and gone. Peak time here in the Chicago suburbs was right around 1:20 PM CDT. It was close to 90%. It was too cloudy to see much. Watched broadcast from southern IL online. They had a good view!
adubbelde
08-21-2017, 05:00 PM
So we watched the weather and satellite images and chose Lusk Wyoming as our destination. Who'd a thought there would be traffic jams around Mule Creek Junction, Wy. I would be only a few hundred cars pass through there in a normal day. We were backed up for miles. Once we made it onto US85S we moved along fairly well with a few slowdowns. Made it to Lusk in plenty of time and found a nice park to set up our chairs and watch. It must have been a Minnesota homecoming as the majority of the cars were from there. Rather than fight the traffic on US18 we went east on US20 to Crawford NE where we had lunch and then headed north towards home. We still ran into a lot of traffic but nothing that slowed us down much. The viewing in Lusk was perfect. Temperature was in the low 70's until totality where it got quite cool.
AC Bill
08-21-2017, 05:37 PM
It seemed so odd how the birds all stopped singing, and everything seemed very quiet just as it happened. We still had lots of light, but it was definitely a weird light, almost as if it was filtered through a blue lens. Risked a welding helmet view of it for a few seconds at a time. Pretty cool to see.
GoDadGo
08-21-2017, 10:57 PM
Can't wait to hear WarEagleScott's "Flying Like An Eclipsian" account of today's lunacy.
wareaglescott
08-22-2017, 05:35 AM
Can't wait to hear WarEagleScott's "Flying Like An Eclipsian" account of today's lunacy.
Total bust. Haha
I sit in the left seat. Was heading South. Sun was off to right and above. Didn't even notice any darkness at altitude. Most overhyped event since New Years 2000!
GoDadGo
08-22-2017, 08:08 AM
Total bust. Haha
I sit in the left seat. Was heading South. Sun was off to right and above. Didn't even notice any darkness at altitude. Most overhyped event since New Years 2000!
You Should Stretched The Truth Or Maybe Expanded On Something Interesting Viewed From The Cockpit!
Heck, A Big Old Fib Would Have Worked Too!!!