General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhere will you be on Aug. 21, 2017 - U.S. Solar Eclipse
At the site below, an interactive map (Click on your location) to find out how you'll experience this rare event
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https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/interactive_map/index.html
cbreezen
(694 posts)sending out positive vibes for a clear day.
msongs
(67,544 posts)using science.
csziggy
(34,141 posts)At the John C. Campbell Folk School near Brasstown.
I'm spending the four days prior to the eclipse at a seminar in Asheville and we will drive down to Brasstown to meet with his family that morning. At the Folk School is a garden dedicated to my great aunt's friend, Dr. Gertrude Moulton. I haven't visited since we went to see the plaque my great aunt donated - at least fifty years ago.
Since Brasstown and the Folk School are in the totality, I figured that would be a great place to view the eclipse.
alfie
(522 posts)I love the Folk School! I will probably stay home since we are so close to the total eclipse zone.
xmas74
(29,688 posts)It's about an hour from me and one of the best spots in the U.S.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Stay in St. Louis , but drive "somewhere " in the path with a rental car
Haven't figured out where that will be .....
csziggy
(34,141 posts)And give the time, duration and amount of totality: http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/path_through_the_US.htm
Here is their page for Missouri: http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/states/MO.htm
lunasun
(21,646 posts)I do not know the area at all. Thanks again
csziggy
(34,141 posts)I bought three pair for the two of us and they arrived really fast.
The main site has lots of information and links to information - for instance articles about taking photos of an eclipse, tips for watching and more. I'm going to do as one of the articles about photography suggests and take pictures of the people watching and the area where we'll be watching. My husband and his brother will be taking eclipse photos so we'll have our own but I'd rather do more candid shots.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)I really like your idea of taking pictures of the human event occurring around the eclipse. We bought our tickets last winter just to have a place in the path . But better get planning it will be here soon now and the site will help.
ogsball
(356 posts)I live in Jefferson City and you can take the train right here. They've opened up some of the parks for camping, too.
The town really seems to be ramping up!
lunasun
(21,646 posts)xmas74
(29,688 posts)There are state parks in central Missouri and West central Missouri available. I live a few miles from Knob Mister State Park but I might go to Lexington. The battlefield should have an excellent view and they will be around two minutes in totality.
I wonder if Lawson will be in totality? If so,take the train to KC,bring camping equipment and rent a car. Lawson has a state park with an 1800's wool mill, a farm, camping and swimming. The park is Watkins Woolen Mill. It's also near plenty of Jesse James sites so have fun.
(Looked it up-2 minutes, 37 seconds of totality.)
Nearby Excelsior Springs should also be in totality. Don't want to camp? The town was a mineral springs resort town and still has a beautiful resort hotel called The Elms.
If you decide to come to the KC area msg me and I'll give you some places.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Enjoy the battlefield - excellent idea for a location
alphafemale
(18,497 posts)Booked for the two nights prior.
I figured there would be some parties and music in the weekend prior.
But I did need to start looking for glasses.
tonyt53
(5,737 posts)Rent a car in Fulton and drive 50 miles northeast and you will be very near the spot with the longest duration.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)and think all this through and check availability in places. It won't be that long and August will be here soon!
xmas74
(29,688 posts)Central Missouri is supposed to be fantastic.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,909 posts)will be in eastern Oregon!
I am very excited! I hope to get some decent photos.
wiggs
(7,831 posts)citood
(550 posts)Docreed2003
(16,916 posts)We live driving distance from the point of greatest eclipse, so we're thinking about making it a day trip
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,938 posts)some friends.
Make sure you stock up on viewing glasses well ahead of time.
Also, there are going to be massive road jams that day as people will be driving to get to a good viewing location if they are within a two or three hour drive of the path of totality. So if possible, get yourself situated well ahead of time.
There is probably not a hotel room available by now along that path. I got lucky with the Kearney location and booked back in January. By then most hotel rooms were gone, but people hadn't yet figured out Kearney was a good bet. In fact, the friends I'll be watching with live in Greeley, CO, and they'd first thought they'd just drive up into Wyoming that day, and then realized that I25 heading north would probably become a parking lot at some point, and did a bit of research and came up with Kearney. They told me about it, so I booked a room there also. As it is, there's a 200 and some mile stretch of I80 from a bit before North Platte all the way to Lincoln that is within the path of totality. I bet that will be a parking lot also.
Another total eclipse will be occur April 8, 2024. Another interesting path.
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2024Apr08Tgoogle.html
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)We're closing on a house later this month, and will have our own place to stay. I imagine that many will drive from other parts to get near the path of maximum totality, but I've been on the stretch of Highway 17 where I'd plan to go, and there's a lot of rural area out there. Plenty of roadside to park on the side of, and share a brew or two with the folks in the car next to us!
I had no idea this was coming until this post, and I'm totally psyched up for this, I've never seen one in my life, and this could be my last chance.
roamer65
(36,749 posts)Since I live close to the totality path of the 2024 eclipse, I am just going to sit back and enjoy the awe of this first one for me.
wiggs
(7,831 posts)Oregon that day...my daughters and I will try to find a hill, a rise, an overlook where we can dance and howl!
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)In two weeks, we're closing on a house south of Myrtle Beach, SC. It wouldn't be too hard to drive to the point of totality for the full 2+ minutes! I'll have to talk my lady into it, or just go myself.
LeftInTX
(25,921 posts)AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)I got the eclipse glasses yesterday. May get the kids welding goggles.
Tanuki
(14,933 posts)if I take the day off, or will step outside for a while if I work that day. I've also been invited to a viewing party already. I recently went to a fascinating lecture on eclipses in general and the upcoming one specifically by an astronomer from our local observatory, and I already have my eclipse viewing glasses. There has not been a total eclipse in my location for more than 500 years. It feels great to be in the right place at the right time.
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)And trying to figure out a make-up time and date. That's cool!
Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson are the ones I heard are closing.
pintobean
(18,101 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,558 posts)BumRushDaShow
(130,389 posts)or be overcast. So many "events" get spoiled by weather.
caraher
(6,279 posts)I plan to be mobile - if I can drive a few hundred miles for clear skies it's worth it!
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)Bettie
(16,163 posts)down to Missouri to see it.
xmas74
(29,688 posts)Nt
Bettie
(16,163 posts)that Mark Twain National Forest is right on the "line".
logosoco
(3,208 posts)I am lucky to live within the path of totality!!! Not sure if we will be at my house or my daughters who is 2 miles from mine.
Family is coming down from Madison! I told them they have to be here as soon as I heard. That was almost two years ago and I am SOOOO excited we are this close now!!!!
This will be the third day of school for my grandsons (we start early here!) but I asked my daughter to let them stay with the family. This is an experience we should have together.
California_Republic
(1,826 posts)See you there!
Bengus81
(6,944 posts)Foamfollower
(1,097 posts)It's about 15 miles from my home.
Nac Mac Feegle
(972 posts)Grand Island and Alliance, Nebraska.
I may just have to go visit some of the relatives.
I remember one a long time ago, viewing it with a camera obscura type setup: a good sized piece of thick paper with a pinhole in it, and another held below that one to see the projected image.
clu
(494 posts)I saw this one in elementary school
GreenEyedLefty
(2,073 posts)It's pretty cool.
clu
(494 posts)I'll probably be at home in north texas. I'm tempted to drive up to Missouri or wherever but I do a lot of driving to take meteor shower photos and I just don't know if I can swing it
GoCubsGo
(32,116 posts)I am in South Carolina. I might drive to where I can experience the full eclipse. But, probably not.
frogmarch
(12,163 posts)my hometown!
https://ne150.org/calendar/solar-eclipse/
Lucinda
(31,170 posts)wiggs
(7,831 posts)will be doing the same so we're staying a couple of nights on Mt Hood to get closer to Madras...will get up before dawn to be in place by 9 am. Not sure where we will be exactly for the event, but will try to avoid masses of folk and find a hill in nature. very excited.
spinbaby
(15,096 posts)Where I conveniently have a relative to stay with.
bdjhawk
(421 posts)Carbondale is having a festival with music, etc over the weekend.
For those who like camping, rock climbing, hiking, wine trails, fishing- Southern Illinois is absolutely fantastic.
Google or Trip Advisor:
Giant City State Park (WPA built lodge has great family style restaurant)
Shawnee National Forest (ShawneeForest.com)
Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area (within Shawnee National Forest)
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail (shawneewinetrail.com) 11 or 12 wineries- beautiful scenery
Southern Illinois also has awesome peaches. Not sure if there is a variety in season on those dates but there are several orchards south of Carbondale.
Amtrak's City of New Orleans, Saluki or Illini routes go from Chicago.
My folks grew up in the area and my family visits there periodically. It is really beautiful.
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