Solar Eclipse

I think it’s great that people are interested in the wonders of God’s universe. Where it is over rated (IMO) or at least over covered is in the media, which is turned off. I too miss the stars since my camping days are over.

 

It was amazing! Perfect! The sky went totally dark and the sky filled with stars. We seen the little diamond burst at the end also, just seconds before the sun started to come out.

 

There are still places you can get to with some effort and see spectacular evening vistas. In parts of even the US people still take these for granted, but the rest of us with local light pollution do have options.

I'd like to find a group in Michigan the keeps an eye out for night events and stretches of clear night. Ideally we'd structure getaways for short notice and keep them "in the magazine."

Places in the Upper Peninsula like Brimley State Park offer camping and showers but also still have some good low light pollution views of the skies including out over Whitefish Bay. Parts of the Keweenaw Peninsula offer such things as well as even better views of the Aurora Borealis - though the drive is considerably longer. I believe there is even a "night skies park" in the northern Lower Peninsula.

I guess the idea would be to have camping/motels and eateries lined up, allowing those who want to camp and eat instant oatmeal as well as those wanting a bed and some breakfast to partake. There might be carpooling options among friends and families or just let the Wacky Races begin at the starting gun. Some might go for a single night, others for 2 or even 3.

Sort of a loose and fun Gumball Rally sort of a deal.

Planning required is minimal. Pick some meetup locations for sky events, put together sleep and eat options for each one, then watch for sky events and/or stretches of clear weather and maybe low bugs (skeeters, black flies, etc.) and announce "runs" with like a week's notice: be there or be square.

Nicer with a small group to share experience and expertise, not to mention comradery.

Probably just as feasible in other States too. Does this already exist?

 

Well, I did see the 'full eclipse' with the moon in front on the sun without glasses just by an unattempted glance as I was trying to take a picture of it. The pictures just show the sun's rays and not the ring around the moon as I had hoped. In the backyard I saw the solar lights come on and stood there as the sunlight gradually returned. Was it awesome, no. Just a moment in time that I can say I seen an eclipse in my lifetime. I thought about really being dramatic with my experience but I would be lying.

 

I thought the eclipse had already gone. Went out to feed the birds by accident around peak time (3 pm here) and things looked odd. Not a cloud in the sky, but it was like you were looking through lightly tinted blue glass. I checked THIS MAP. It says we experienced 80% coverage even here at 300 miles away. So it takes only 20% of the sun to show to brighten things up almost to normal. That's amazing.

@Von Jones must have been right near the center too. Hope she had clear skies. (oops, posting at the same time)

Correction. Checked another map. It was 12 miles to the edge of the path of totality, not the center.

I remember the eclipse of 1984. Path maybe 30 miles north of here. We all went outside at work when it arrived. The light between the leaves in the trees created little pin hole cameras. You could see hundreds of little partially covered suns on the sidewalk.

 

From N. Alabama

 

It was overcast so all you could see is it getting darker from the only partial eclipse here.