Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on September 14, 2023, 08:22:31 AM
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An annular solar eclipse is coming up on 14OCT. I think I might start looking for viewing spots and drive a couple of hours to watch this one. Most of the best viewing is in the Western US. I appear to be in an 80-ish% area, and around 2.5 hours of driving puts me just in the edge of the 100% zone. I'll just need to research a good and clear viewing location.
It won't be as cool and eerie as when I drove to the 2017 total eclipse, but it's also just a couple of hours of driving versus days of driving and planning, so I think it will be a worthwhile day trip if the weather (both clouds and snow) cooperate.
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses/2023/oct-14-annular/where-when/
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Only going to see about 30% occlusion here in Northern Virginia. Less than the last one a couple of years ago.
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I need to mark that down. I am in the 80% area. Might worth a short road trip to get over near 100%. Being on a Saturday makes it easier.
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Wow !
You Texas folks in San Antonio and nearby are going to get two (2, count 'em) total eclipses within 6 months of each other, October 2023 and April 8, 2024.
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005000/a005073/eclipse_map_full_print.jpg
Makes it look like San Antone is targeted for something...
Spoooooooky. Spooky spooky spooky. <cue twilight zone theme>
https://youtu.be/-b5aW08ivHU
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I'm just outside the 90% zone of the annular eclipse, but I'm just inside the path of next year's total eclipse. This one in October will be a good test for photography - I bought some solar filter material (transmits 1/1000 of 1%, making it, what, ND5?) but I still have to put together a holder to secure it over my camera lens.
Got a new Nikon Z7ii camera (not just for this event) but lenses are expen$ive. I bought an adapter that lets me use my old Contax lenses on my new camera - those old Zeiss and Yashica lenses are still sharp. Real sharp. (No autofocus, though.)
Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed for clear sky - it would be just my luck to have overcast skies for 200 miles around. =(
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Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed for clear sky - it would be just my luck to have overcast skies for 200 miles around. =(
The clouds got me on the most recent couple of events that I wanted to see. For this one, as long as the sky looks fairly clear, I'm just gonna start driving, and if things remain clear, I'll drive to the Nevada border for 100%. If things look iffy, I'll just stop somewhere in the 90ish% zone. The route I'm taking will have a clear view the entire way, so it will all depend on the cloud gods. =)
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It's all dependent on the density of the chem trails, Ben. Don't you know that? And the number of alien UAPs flying around at the time might have an affect because their interstellar gravity drive can bend light waves. Plus, the earth is flat, so that can screw up your observations if you are thinking it's round.
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I figure that would be a good reason to drive over to the San Antonio area. Less chance of overcast.
Also, I have heard of Drury's Guns there and never been. Just need to figure out a good place to park to watch the eclipse.
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If I remember I will step out and take a look. I saw one in San Diego in 1994 that happened right at sunset. I went up to Ft Rosecrans National Cemetery and set up my Olympus OM10 and just kind of winged it. I had a few pictures come out. It was kind of neat watching the sun ring sink behind the marine layer and into the ocean.
(https://i.imgur.com/nA5tfVb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A3vbUJT.jpg)
bob
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This is pretty much how it always seens to happen in Northern Virginia. A few years ago one of the meteor showers was supposed to be spectacular. Weather was forecast to be beautiful and clear.
I woke up and walked outside into one of the thickest fogs I have ever seen in my life.
Heard from a friend who lives about an hour west of me that yes, it was QUITE spectacular.
(https://s3.amazonaws.com/theoatmeal-img/comics/celestial_events/celestial_events.png)
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I just found a really cool eclipse simulator that lets you see animations of what it will look like in different areas:
https://sandbox.eclipse2024.org/2023eclipse/eclipse_cities/statemap.html
When you click an area on the map, you'll get a popup window. The popup is not intuitive. There are three links there. The first and third are the same, and show you a landscape timelapse animation of sun position and eclipse status. The second link shows a mini-animation of if you'll see the "ring of fire" or not, plus some other geographic info on that page.
It came in handy for me, because I didn't pay attention to just how early I have to be on the road to see the actual ring. I need to leave the house at 0530 and drive dark, windy, mountain roads, and my night vision is not the greatest anymore. Instead of driving to Nevada, I'm probably going to stop in Oregon, where the ring won't be perfect, but will be complete. I ordered a Celestron filter for my 150-600mm lens, so will try some photography. I've never shot sun shots or an eclipse before, so I guess it will be hit or miss.
Then the timing will be perfect for me to stop at Rome Station and get a burger at the diner on my way back to potatoho. =)
Of course all this is dependent on no clouds.
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Hum... Not really going to be much of anything in my area, from what I see on the simulator.
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Of course all this is dependent on no clouds.
Always a major consideration in the Pacific Northwest in the fall.
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Always a major consideration in the Pacific Northwest in the fall.
Yeah, with the usual "wait ten minutes" weather changes, I likely won't know until I get there. It won't be that big of a deal since I cut it down to a 2ish hour drive. If I can't see the eclipse, then it was just a sightseeing drive. =)
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So 10/14 is this coming weekend. I am waiting until the last minute, but what the best way to view the eclipse. Do you buy the "eclipse glasses" or just get some welding goggles of a right strength?
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Certified-EclipSmart-Observing-44405/dp/B01N17N0MO/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1VLEKRCYQTUT2&keywords=ISO+12312-2&qid=1696817420&sprefix=iso+12312-2%2Caps%2C692&sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Certified-EclipSmart-Observing-44413/dp/B01MUHBNZX/ref=sr_1_26?crid=1VLEKRCYQTUT2&keywords=ISO+12312-2&qid=1696817420&sprefix=iso+12312-2%2Caps%2C692&sr=8-26
And once I looked, some of the options won't deliver until after this coming weekend.
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So 10/14 is this coming weekend. I am waiting until the last minute, but what the best way to view the eclipse. Do you buy the "eclipse glasses" or just get some welding goggles of a right strength?
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Certified-EclipSmart-Observing-44405/dp/B01N17N0MO/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1VLEKRCYQTUT2&keywords=ISO+12312-2&qid=1696817420&sprefix=iso+12312-2%2Caps%2C692&sr=8-5
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Certified-EclipSmart-Observing-44413/dp/B01MUHBNZX/ref=sr_1_26?crid=1VLEKRCYQTUT2&keywords=ISO+12312-2&qid=1696817420&sprefix=iso+12312-2%2Caps%2C692&sr=8-26
And once I looked, some of the options won't deliver until after this coming weekend.
I just use TIG welding goggles. Shade 15 is good. 14 is probably adequate. (you don't really need the goggle part, just stack a #7 and a #8 lens, or a 12 and a 3, etc)
When an eclipse snuck up on me 20-something years ago and I found out about it just an hour before, I ran to the welding supply store and bought assorted 2x4.25" lenses and stacked them in different combos until I got something I liked. I expected a #12 to be enough but it was still uncomfortably bright. Get something where you can look at the sun unobstructed and that will be good for the eclipse.
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I only have an auto welding helmet, and from what I have read, while it might protect your eyes, it might not create the best darkness level for viewing an eclipse.
I ordered the cheapo Celestron glasses from B&H Photo (I was worried about counterfeits on Amazon). I also ordered their $20 DSLR/telescope lens filter. I've never done any eclipse photography, but am going to try this time with my D300 and 150-600 Sigma zoom. I need to gazoogle methods this week. I'm still hoping for a cloud free Saturday. =)
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I went ahead and ordered some inexpensive Helioclipse glasses. The others wouldn't ship quick enough since I waited until the last minute. I saw one or two tips to test them out beforehand.
I want to check at local store to see what they have for glasses as a backup. Thanks for the tip on the 14 shade.
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I bought a solar filter for my camera and used it with an old (mid-80s) Yashica 80-200 zoom to photograph the sun. The sun's image on the 24x36 frame was pretty small, but when I zoomed in on it I saw some unexpected details, including sunspots. It will do.
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I only have an auto welding helmet, and from what I have read, while it might protect your eyes, it might not create the best darkness level for viewing an eclipse.
I ordered the cheapo Celestron glasses from B&H Photo (I was worried about counterfeits on Amazon). I also ordered their $20 DSLR/telescope lens filter. I've never done any eclipse photography, but am going to try this time with my D300 and 150-600 Sigma zoom. I need to gazoogle methods this week. I'm still hoping for a cloud free Saturday. =)
Seeing how you won't get a lot of practice time you may want to try a few methods on the sun before hand. I shot through welding glass on the eclipse above and got a lot of pictures that are greyish like the one HankB posted. IIRC I used a small pinhole type setup in front of the lens to get the ones above. Then again that was long before the advent of digital cameras being in everyone's closet.
bob
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I took these in August 2017.
Canon EOS 70D
EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
I used a solar filter I got from B&H.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4438/36327182520_dfeb647961_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Xm7iK7)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4356/36327185590_d6782a1d29_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Xm7jE3)
I'm going to be just shy of 70% for this one. If the sky is clear I may get out the camera and get a few shots.
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Good idea on the practice Bob.
RKL - you don't by some chance recall your settings?
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Good idea on the practice Bob.
RKL - you don't by some chance recall your settings?
I don't, but the EXIF data shows on Flicker.
f/8.0, shutter 1/500, ISO 400, 400mm on lens for the first on I posted.
f/6.3, shutter 1/250, ISO 500, 400mm on lens for the second one.
There are several more from that day on my Flicker page, feel free to browse away.
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Calling for clouds here that day but the forecast could change. The girl has some eclipse glasses she got in science class. I have a stack of welding glass around here somewhere that I let her use for the last one.
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Gall dangit.
Warming trend into the weekend as another Pacific ridge
shifts inland. Clouds may hinder view of the annular solar
eclipse Saturday morning, especially on the Oregon side.
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I need to make sure I check that before Saturday. I just thought it would be cool to drive over toward San Antonio and find a park or something to sit and enjoy the eclipse.
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You might also check Corpus Christi. I think it's near the center of the eclipse path as well.
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Crap, the latest forecast is now guaranteeing clouds. I'll still wait till Friday for a go/no go. I really only want to do the pitch black mountain road drive if there is at least a chance at seeing it. Otherwise if the chances are very low, I might as well sleep in and setup at home and see if I can get a glance at the 80% eclipse.
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Ha! The forecast has changed to "mostly sunny" so I'm going to give it a go tomorrow morning and head down to Southern Oregon.
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You might also check Corpus Christi. I think it's near the center of the eclipse path as well.
Looking at the map, Goliad or Beeville are easier to get to for me and in the zone.
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Looks like it's going to be cloudy here today.
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It's raining here. I'm nowhere near the path for total occlusion, but with the rain I won't be able to see anything. It should be getting darker starting just about now.
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Was too cloudy to see anything here.
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All clear in the Austin area - just briefly had a few high cirrus about a half hour before maximum.
Been taking pix every 10 minutes - time to go and shoot the next batch.
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Taking pictures through the cheap solar glasses works just fine.
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It was full overcast here. Did notice a little darkening but not too much.
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The forecast completely changed from last night. When I got up at 0500 it was actually sprinkling here and the spot I had picked out in Oregon was listed as mostly cloudy. I went back and forth on it, but then said what the heck and me and the dog headed out.
It was cloudy and sprinkles for the whole trip, but when I got to my spot in the far Southeast of Oregon, while still cloudy, a few holes were opening up in the sky. I chased one of the holes down a 4x4 road and when I saw the sun peek out, took a chance and set up the tripod. Turns out I was able to see almost the whole thing, including the full 2.5 minutes of the ring.
I just now got back home, so this evening will plug the camera in to the confuser and see what I got. It looked good in the viewfinder, but my interneting told me that the $20 cardboard Celestron filter I got isn't the best for this. More so, I'm concerned about it being in focus, as with the glare, I couldn't really tell through the liveview viewfinder if I had good focus or not. I took a bajillion images with slight variation of the focus and a ton of different shutter speeds, f-stops, and ISOs, so hopefully at least one turned out. :laugh:
Regardless, I'm glad I took the chance and drove into the zone. Even if no images turned out, I got a good view through the glasses, and this is likely the last one that I will see in my lifetime.
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All clouds today.
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I
Of course all this is dependent on no clouds.
Full cloud cover all day here. Didn't even try.
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I drove over to Goliad, TX. Found a spot West of town at the remains of an old Spanish Mission.
When I got there, I saw cloud cover and I thought I was SOL for getting pictures. But as it turned out, the clouds weren't that thick, and I was able to get some decent pictures through the clouds.
(https://i.imgur.com/D0rlKnT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lBVBaVB.jpg)
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(https://i.imgur.com/b5ZDpx8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/v5gnvmv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/igZ5v7V.jpg)
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My phone would focus fine if I zoomed in. If I pulled back to no zoom, it wouldn't focus as well. It would look like that first picture above. Clouds with a bright spot.
Also, the sun would pass through thinner parts of the clouds and it was too bright for the camera, but then I could see it through the eclipse glasses. When it passed behind clouds again, it was too dim for the glasses, but the camera could see again. I could see it with the naked eye behind the clouds, but I figured I was better off not doing that much.
At the tail end of the eclipse the clouds got thicker and I couldn't see much as well. The cloud cover worked out. I think I got better photos with the light clouds acting as a filter.
This is the first time I took much time out to try and see an eclipse. It worked out well.
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Nice photos!
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Ugh. My photos didn't turn out as expected. I mean, I guess, based on images I saw at space.com, they match the images for this kind of filter, but I really wanted images more like Mech's. Everything I was reading though had all kinds of warnings about pointing the DSLR at the sun without this particular filter type. Oh well. =)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53262441083_544a7349e8_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53261268287_6d1e39a1d1_c.jpg)