Stargazing U.S. Solar Eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017

[jim hardy]

Check Tractor Supply stores. My local one had a huge display of welding helmets with #10 shades on sale . And a good assortment of lenses to get upward of #15.

 

[hsdrop]

Hi guys what kind of equipment and quality of said equipment would one have to have to do a "do it yourself relativity test"??
I'm going to be viewing the event with my 16 son. We were wondering how difficult it would be to run the test like they did in Einstein's day??

 

[scottdave]

Hi guys what kind of equipment and quality of said equipment would one have to have to do a "do it yourself relativity test"??
I'm going to be viewing the event with my 16 son. We were wondering how difficult it would be to run the test like they did in Einstein's day??

I almost forgot about that experiment. Have you researched it? I am on my phone right now. But here is what came up on a search.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/2017-solar-eclipse-einstein-general-relativity

 

[hsdrop]

From what I have read about the experiment it's just taking sets of photos at 2 different times of the year. Then comparing the stars places with and without the sun in the sky to see if the stars moved. I'm just wondering if I can get away with using the telescope and the camera I have "which are the only tools I have to work with" and still make it work??

 

[nsaspook]

ps. Ok. It's a bunch(30,000!) of stupid hippies that caused this, and is only slightly connected to the eclipse.

It's going to get very strange over the weekend there.

 

[russ_watters]

I'll be watching it via the internet, either from here (PF), or on-line, live streaming, etc. . So I will have to rely on you guys for cool videos and pictures, comments, etc.

Last rehearsal before packing the equipment up:



I will of course be busy during, so I'm not sure how much live streaming or posting I will be able to do, but I'll try.

 

[mfb]

Hi guys what kind of equipment and quality of said equipment would one have to have to do a "do it yourself relativity test"??
I'm going to be viewing the event with my 16 son. We were wondering how difficult it would be to run the test like they did in Einstein's day??

The deflection is about 2 seconds of arc for stars directly at the edge of the Sun. I would be surprised if you can get such a good angular resolution without a very good telescope.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

Last rehearsal before packing the equipment up:



I will of course be busy during, so I'm not sure how much live streaming or posting I will be able to do, but I'll try.

Wow! Eclipse videos are starting! ...
Not necessary to be live. I like them anyway, even later, pictures too. I would say go ahead and focus on your important work during ...

I already found a live streaming link (at least one). I will post it later (before the eclipse).

 

[dlgoff]

Have glasses, will travel.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

Have glasses, will travel.

View attachment 209255

If you're traveling wearing them ... you won't get very far! ...

 

[OmCheeto]

Weird. I wonder if this is what they call the "quiet before the storm".
The roads are basically clear to all "eclipse destination" points in Oregon.

Live road conditions in Oregon

Spent the day disassembling my telescope, trying to determine if I could fix it.
After determining that the 9 volt supply was making it to the "guts", I saw the printed circuit board was all surface mount, and said; [Expletives deleted]
I do plan on taking it though, in the hopes that those stupid stinkin' hippies, with all their "LASER" lights, don't cause too much light pollution the night before.
And their "LASER" lights might make for an interesting composition against the backdrop of the milky way.
They are only 13 miles away, and due south of my intended position.

 

[Blank_Stare]

If you're traveling wearing them ... you won't get very far! ...

Depends on who's steering, methinks...

 

[Stavros Kiri]

Depends on who's steering, methinks...

... and whether he/she is wearing it too or not

 

[Blank_Stare]

... and whether he/she is wearing it too or not

..Hands @Stavros Kiri a tissue for that Anal-Retentiveness...

 

[Stavros Kiri]

..Hands @Stavros Kiri a tissue for that Anal-Retentiveness...

I hope you're still joking

 

[Blank_Stare]

I hope you're still joking

Well, aren't we both?

(I thought it was obvious that it "depending on who was steering" implied that wearing/not wearing the glasses was part of the concept... Trust me, I am as AR as the next guy - more so than many - I'd like to think I included you in good company. Anyway, just having fun, no harm intended.)

 

[Stavros Kiri]

Well, aren't we both?

Of course. Your replies were smart and funny. (I just had to make sure about the previous one.)
We're all getting cheered up, fired up and excited about the eclipse ...

 

[MidgetDwarf]

I do not watch any tv, so I do not keep up with current events. I only found about the solar eclipse from my boss that is taking a trip to Idaho to go see it.

My question is the following:

I will start school on Monday. I live in Southern California. I will be at school from 8am to 5pm. Should I go buy some protection? I do not plan to look at the eclipse (not that interested). I will be walking on campus, and my campus is located on a hill.

 

[Janus]

I do not watch any tv, so I do not keep up with current events. I only found about the solar eclipse from my boss that is taking a trip to Idaho to go see it.

My question is the following:

I will start school on Monday. I live in Southern California. I will be at school from 8am to 5pm. Should I go buy some protection? I do not plan to look at the eclipse (not that interested). I will be walking on campus, and my campus is located on a hill.

Unless you are planning at looking at the Sun, no. The protective glasses are just so that you can directly watch the eclipse during its partial phase without damaging your eyes. There is no more danger from an eclipse that there is at any other time. (other than the fact that it impels the curious to stare at the Sun.)

 

[Tom.G]

In case it hasn't been mentioned before (I didn't read ALL those previous posts!)

https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/safety

About half way down the page under "Additional Safety information":

"Viewing with Protection -- Experts suggests that one widely available filter for safe solar viewing is welders glass of sufficiently high number. The only ones that are safe for direct viewing of the Sun with your eyes are those of Shade 12 or higher[/color]"

 

[anorlunda]

I will start school on Monday. I live in Southern California. I will be at school from 8am to 5pm. Should I go buy some protection? I do not plan to look at the eclipse (not that interested). I will be walking on campus, and my campus is located on a hill.

See post #201 in this thread for a safe alternative to glasses for you and your classmates.

 

[jim hardy]

See post #201 in this thread for a safe alternative to glasses for you and your classmates.

Worth repeating here for newcomers
from post 201 , https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-11#post-5821619

 

[jtbell]

Eclipse mania has even affected the cheesy TV commercials of car dealers in the area.

 

[OmCheeto]

Still eerily quiet here, traffic-wise:

(about an hour ago)

Guessing either the carpocalypse scared everyone away, or there aren't as many "campers" in Oregon as I thought.

On a sad note, 400 homes were ordered to evacuate yesterday from a small town on the edge of totality, due to a fire:

http://www.opb.org/news/article/sisters-milli-fire-evacuation-level-3-leave-now/

Residents of more than 400 homes in a prime eclipse-viewing location in Oregon were ordered to evacuate Friday because of a rapidly growing wildfire that had already closed access to a portion of a wilderness area and a regional highway.​

Stupid fires...

Not sure if the smoke is going to be a problem:

Images courtesy of earth.nullschool.net

 

[dlgoff]

I'm going to be wearing one of my PF tee-shirts.

 

[Borg]

I'm going to be wearing one of my PF tee-shirts.
View attachment 209322

I was planning on doing the same.

 

[jtbell]

More eclipse mania. I went to a stamp show in Columbia today:

After holding my thumb on the stamp to warm it up a bit:

 

[jtbell]

See post #201 in this thread for a safe alternative to glasses for you and your classmates.

Another alternative is to use a pair of binoculars as a projector, as I did with the transit of Venus five years ago:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/see-the-transit-of-venus-live-here.611663/#post-3944420

 

[Stavros Kiri]

I was planning on doing the same.

Just planning? ...

 

[Stavros Kiri]

Time again to see the current sun's activity (while everyone is getting ready and preparing for the eclipse tomorrow). Currently there is still a spot group, region 2671 (significant) and (coincidence or no) there was a new big solar flare last night [today is Sun Aug 20, 2017], from a new spot group, rotating now into view, which will get the name 2672 by tomorrow (eclipse day! - now that's coincidence!). More details for all coming up on my next post.

Here is why looking at the activity (together with the eclipse) is important:
1. Watch this short and concise NASA's eclipse history review video:

2. See
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-10#post-5817925
(and useful links there)
3. As @russ_watters pointed out

Oh, awesome - this will help with focus and give something else to look at during partial.

https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...17-nice-spot-group.919696/page-2#post-5823041

So in focussing your instruments for the eclipse (cameras, telescopes, binoculars ... with sun filters of course), first take your chance with focussing on the current sun spot group (region 2671). It will be sectacular and useful.

Imagine if there was another big solar flare tomorrow during the eclipse [totality ]?
There is actually a new promising spot group (getting the name 2672) rotating into view to the Earth by tomorrow! (See next post) Wow! May be we are lucky after all! ...