Big Blue Huddle

  Mark this date, Apr 8, 2024 where there will be a total eclipse of the sun thru a good part of the country especially NY.

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

Easy to remember the date, it's our daughter's birthday. Unfortunately California's central coast, where I am, will only see a mid-40's percent eclipse. I still may play Pink Floyd's song Eclipse, from their Dark Side of the Moon album when I go outside to experience it. 

If I drive about an hour or so I can be in the 100 mile "Path of totality" 

Bill

Getting closer. Heard many libraries are giving away free glasses to watch.

Lenn. How close are you to the path of totality?

Bill

I bought a dozen glasses and handed them out to my kids and grandkids. I'm taking a load of grandkids about 75 miles straight north to be in the dead center of the path...depending on the weather. If it's cloudy east of Lake Ontario, I'll just go straight up to Oswego, or head towards Rochester if it's the only way to get a clear sky. Either way, it's going to be totally dark, but I'd like to see the ring of fire around the black moon. I have to leave a couple of hours early because of the traffic expected on Route 81. Newspapers are saying the highways are going to be packed. Really hope there are no accidents that make me sit on the highway for long periods of time...that would suck! Been there, done that. Schools are closing (because they know kids aren't coming to school anyway) and people will be traveling north in droves. Even the hotel rooms are all booked (which I don't need one)

Funny thing that I read a few days ago. "Beware of wild animals", they get all out of sync with their body when it's totally black when it's unexpected and act strangely. They are known to attack people...LOL...go figure. At least we don't have lions and other dangerous animals around here

First time Upstate New York will get a full eclipse in a hundred years. Pretty sure I won't be around the next time there's a full blackout eclipse. I'll take photos and share here

https://www.syracuse.com/news/2024/03/12-hour-traffic-jams-ny-officials-warn-of-gridlock-before-eclipse.html

Quote from: Bill Brown on March 27, 2024, 02:20:45 PMLenn. How close are you to the path of totality?

Bill

 NYC is supposed to be able to view the eclipse at about 90%.

Next one is in about 50 years from this one.

With all this prep and posturing, I sure hope we have a nice day.

I will be in Indianapolis with my wife and one of my children and his girlfriend. I have a daughter (Meteorologist - North Dakota University) who will be coming to Tyler College in Indiana for some weather balloon launching during the eclipse. Thinking of JimV.

Think sunny thoughts! 

Quote from: bamagiantfan on March 28, 2024, 01:24:34 PMI will be in Indianapolis with my wife and one of my children and his girlfriend. I have a daughter (Meteorologist - North Dakota University) who will be coming to Tyler College in Indiana for some weather balloon launching during the eclipse. Thinking of JimV.

Think sunny thoughts! 

Quote from: bamagiantfan on March 28, 2024, 01:24:34 PMI will be in Indianapolis with my wife and one of my children and his girlfriend. I have a daughter (Meteorologist - North Dakota University) who will be coming to Tyler College in Indiana for some weather balloon launching during the eclipse. Thinking of JimV.

Think sunny thoughts! 

You are so right about Jim. Gosh he would be in seventh heaven over this (no pun intended). I'm sure he will be watching with a good seat, right up front.

In the news:

- Route 81 (the North-South "main artery" through Upstate NY), could get log jams that could cause up to 12-hour delays...oh, what fun 

- Buffalo, NY has already declared a "state of emergency" in the expectation more than a million people will inundate the streets and overall area 

As for me, I'm staying off Route 81 and taking back roads north, but probably not as far as originally planned. Probably just go to Syracuse, a typical 45-minute drive. I'll still get the 100% blackout, but it will only last one minute, vs. 3 minutes if I went up to Watertown or Oswego. I don't think the next 50 miles for an extra 2 minutes of darkness is worth it. Even so, I'm still worried about traffic, even on the back roads as I'm sure I am not the only one to figure that out

Syracuse is predicting a million vehicles traveling to or through Onondaga County. Because of it, they are closing schools, courthouses, even Wegmans is closing for an hour.

"...the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office to predict 1 million people will pass through the county over the weekend and Monday to get to and from their eclipse destinations.

That estimate is based on what other areas have seen during recent total eclipses, especially a part of Kentucky was in the path of totality in 2017, said Tom Newton, spokesman for the department.

County officials said Tuesday that given the high number of hotel rooms booked in Central New York on Sunday night, and the colossal traffic jams experienced by cities along the 2017 solar eclipse path, local residents should be prepared for heavy traffic. "

Warning of severe traffic jams...yay 

Something tells me it's going to take up my whole day just to drive 60 or so miles north 

A little anti-climactic given the cloudy day, but still fascinating. An astronomical wonder that causes pause to a thinking person

Used my glasses for the beginning, but went against all warnings and just looked at it for a few seconds at a time. I can still see today, so that's a positive. A couple of pics

Indianapolis was great. A few thin high clouds but sunny overall with no obstruction whatsoever. It was my son's girlfriend's first view of an eclipse, and she was completely in awe and giddy. Good time all around and the "Lunacy in Indy" put on by the city was terrific for all ages.

Next Eclipse is the US is in 2044. If anyone needs a pair of glasses, I'm, selling six pairs......cheap.