2024 Solar Eclipse - never too early to get ready

[Wally Fairway 5568]

Start making your plans - April 8, 2024

Texas is in the path of totality, don't miss it.

Austin stats -

 

My plans are to go somewhere closer, about 3.5 hours away in the middle of Ohio (almost 4 minutes of totality and I can drive around if it clouds up)

 

I have to wait for phd(FrankieMacDonald) to tell me the best weather for viewing

[HOOKEM4 5039]

My ranch is damn near dead center of the line of totality. If I am still roaming this earth I will he there with the family to experience the phenomenon. Pretty excited about it.

[Surly Bevo 25068]

April 8th eh?  I am guessing massive thunderstorms in Tejas that day

[HOOKEM4 5039]

Would be fitting. Go for eclipse, die from hail/tornado.

Edited March 26, 2018 by HOOKEM4

[WithoutAClue 15393]

Austin is in the path of totality near the eastern edge.

i also expect rain.

[Wally Fairway 5568]

bump - because it is less than 2 years away. You had better start to get you plans in order

Copy new map photos, as the old links have died

2024 Apr 8 — Great American Eclipse

[bluto 4932]

Flew to St. Louis for the last one to be in totality zone, so damn cool/spooky and worth the effort

[Pato del Muerto 52529]

I was at 98% obscuration for the last one or so and it was pretty neat. Those that were compelled to drive a couple hours south into totality reported some really interesting stuff. 

[Wulaw Horn 19124]

Looks like it's going to miss Houston.  Guess I will wait around for another crack it next decade.  

On a serious question- what's so cool about it?

[Surly Bevo 25068]

Looks like it's going to miss Houston.  Guess I will wait around for another crack it next decade.  
On a serious question- what's so cool about it?

Like a Texas football national title. There’s a football national title every year but the chances of you seeing it in Texas are…rare.

[Eljefeweizen 34]

Good info here:

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com

I'm told that damn near anywhere touristy in the paths are planning events. 

[Telegraph_it 3358]

I saw the solar eclipse a few years ago in Jackson Hole and it was awesome. Definitely looking forward to doing this again. I just hope the lights come back on. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13515]

From friends that have traveled to see previous eclipses, they advise to be prepared to move quickly based on the weather, if you want a view of it. You can plan a full day around it, but you can also experience it for a few minutes in the middle of nowhere and drive back home.

[Texas Jeff 1945]

Looks like it's going to miss Houston.  Guess I will wait around for another crack it next decade.  
On a serious question- what's so cool about it?

Imagine the sun, but it’s black with a ring of light around it. The horizon looks like late evening, but all around, not just in one direction.

[AUS-97HORN 11809]

on Oct 14 of 23 there is going to be an annual eclipse here in austin as well.     then 6 months later the full total

 

edit.. its actually going to hit San Antonio more than Austin

 

Edited April 29, 2022 by AUS-97HORN

[Texas Jeff 1945]

Prepare for biblical traffic jams starting five minutes after it is over. I saw the last one in Georgia, had four hours to make my flight out of ATL, made it by five minutes.

Without Waze I might still be there…

[Pato del Muerto 52529]

25 minutes ago, Texas Jeff said:

Imagine the sun, but it’s black with a ring of light around it. The horizon looks like late evening, but all around, not just in one direction.

Plus the temperature drop. 
 

so imagine going from day to night and back to day in 4 minutes. 
 

it fucks with the local fauna too. 

Edited April 29, 2022 by Pato del Muerto

[InkaUtexas 26006]

Took my kiddo to see the last one in Lincoln National Forest. Damn it was a great moment. Won't miss this one. 

[Hate 20117]

It looks like Lake Buchanan will be in the TZ. I’ll take my kid out of school for the day and go the lake house for it. Fingers already crossed for a clear day.

[Texas Jeff 1945]

This map lets you zoom in to any spot and determine when it starts and stops, and how long the sun will be gone:

http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html

If you are bothered by things like goalposts not lining up with letters, you really want to be on the middle blue line or it's going to drive you crazy.

[davidg 4038]

On a serious question- what's so cool about it?

Do you even pagan ritual bro?

[Hate 20117]

This map lets you zoom in to any spot and determine when it starts and stops, and how long the sun will be gone:
http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html
If you are bothered by things like goalposts not lining up with letters, you really want to be on the middle blue line or it's going to drive you crazy.

That’s damn near perfect for me. That line is maybe 1000 feet from being directly over the lake house with nearly 4 1/2 minutes of total eclipse. I can’t wait.

[Spaulding Smails 1554]

I've already thought about this.  Probably headed to the ranch (Kimble County) and going to Airbnb my house for a jillion dollars.  Not a huge astronomy nerd, but I am definitely looking forward to this.

[EuroHorn 3265]

I’ve got a great spot in Ohio. Been sitting here since the initial post 

[Wally Fairway 5568]

4 hours ago, EuroHorn said:

I’ve got a great spot in Ohio. Been sitting here since the initial post 

hey, me too - just south of Lima. Just over 4.5 minutes of total eclipse

[BehoId, The Underminer! 11669]

We made a family trip up to KS for the last one so you know I’m amped for this. 

[Sawbonz 27580]

[Rip76 4945]

On 3/26/2018 at 5:07 PM, HOOKEM4 said:

My ranch is damn near dead center of the line of totality. If I am still roaming this earth I will he there with the family to experience the phenomenon. Pretty excited about it.

This!  Is how you do it fellas.

[davidg 4038]

My ranch is damn near dead center of the line of totality. If I am still roaming this earth I will he there with the family to experience the phenomenon. Pretty excited about it.

We are similar. Already have a camping trip on the place that weekend and staying for the eclipse in the calendar.

[MrBig 5421]

11 hours ago, Pato del Muerto said:

I was at 98% obscuration for the last one or so and it was pretty neat. Those that were compelled to drive a couple hours south into totality reported some really interesting stuff. 

Is there a major difference from 98% to 100%? What about 99 to 100%? Serious question here. My father in law is near China Grove in SA and I don’t want to hear his bitching for the rest of his life if it’s going to be a noticeable difference. 

[Pato del Muerto 52529]

12 hours ago, MrBig said:

Is there a major difference from 98% to 100%? What about 99 to 100%? Serious question here. My father in law is near China Grove in SA and I don’t want to hear his bitching for the rest of his life if it’s going to be a noticeable difference. 

Yes. At 100 you can look right at the sun and it doesn’t get dark at less. 

Edited April 30, 2022 by Pato del Muerto

[Texas Jeff 1945]

12 hours ago, MrBig said:

Is there a major difference from 98% to 100%? What about 99 to 100%? Serious question here. My father in law is near China Grove in SA and I don’t want to hear his bitching for the rest of his life if it’s going to be a noticeable difference. 

What is your favorite way to enjoy a football game?

• Sit inside the stadium and watch the game.
• Hang out right outside the stadium and figure out how it's going by listening to crowd noise.

If you are "inside the stadium" person, you are going to want to have at least some time at 100%.  Prior to 100%, you mostly see a crescent sun through protective glasses or a pinhole camera.  Shadows look weird.  At 100%, you have some amount of time to take off your glasses and look right at it.  The closer you are to the middle of the ground track, the longer you have to look.

At the one I saw, I would have been really pissed off to be at the 99% mark and never got to see the real deal.  A rogue cloud can screw up the entire thing at the last minute, but you have to take your chances.

[Scheiss Meister 8408]

22 hours ago, Texas Jeff said:

This map lets you zoom in to any spot and determine when it starts and stops, and how long the sun will be gone:

http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html

If you are bothered by things like goalposts not lining up with letters, you really want to be on the middle blue line or it's going to drive you crazy.

According to that map, the center of totality runs very close to Garner, Lost Maples, and Enchanted Rock.  I bet the campsites in those three get reserved quickly, once they start taking reservations for that weekend.  I'm going to see if I can get reservations at one of them and make a long weekend of it.  I haven't been to Garner in ages.

[Pato del Muerto 52529]

9 minutes ago, Scheiss Meister said:

According to that map, the center of totality runs very close to Garner, Lost Maples, and Enchanted Rock.  I bet the campsites in those three get reserved quickly, once they start taking reservations for that weekend.  I'm going to see if I can get reservations at one of them and make a long weekend of it.  I haven't been to Garner in ages.

Will you bump this late next year for me?

[Scheiss Meister 8408]

3 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Will you bump this late next year for me?

After I have my reservation made, sure.  (Insert assholish grin here.)

[WhatTheBuck 28788]

Still seems like it’s too early.

[Bernard 879]

I drove to Nebraska for the last one. Watched it from the side of the road by a corn field. Well worth it.

One reason I picked Nebraska was the lack of people and good grid of rural highways. Came in handy, because about two hours before go-time, some clouds started rolling in. I drove 30-40 miles west and north to find sunny skies that were also right on the center line.

Get as close yo the center line as possible. I promise you that once it starts, you will want it to last MUCH longer.

I do not think Texas will be neatly prepared for the migration of people from Houston and CenTex regions towards the path of totality; or even Austinites moving toward the center line. Prepare for a shit show of epic proportion.

Bernard

Edited April 30, 2022 by Bernard

[MrBig 5421]

3 hours ago, Texas Jeff said:

What is your favorite way to enjoy a football game?

• Sit inside the stadium and watch the game.
• Hang out right outside the stadium and figure out how it's going by listening to crowd noise.

If you are "inside the stadium" person, you are going to want to have at least some time at 100%.  Prior to 100%, you mostly see a crescent sun through protective glasses or a pinhole camera.  Shadows look weird.  At 100%, you have some amount of time to take off your glasses and look right at it.  The closer you are to the middle of the ground track, the longer you have to look.

At the one I saw, I would have been really pissed off to be at the 99% mark and never got to see the real deal.  A rogue cloud can screw up the entire thing at the last minute, but you have to take your chances.

I’m in 99.999% totality. Right on the line for the totality border boundary. If I drove down to the community mailbox I would be in the 100% zone. Does it make a difference moving about 400 yards to see it? I know this question sounds so incredibly stupid but I’m preparing myself for all the stupid questions my family will be asking me because I mentioned this eclipse to them a decade ago and now they think I’m part of NASA. 

[Pato del Muerto 52529]

3 minutes ago, MrBig said:

I’m in 99.999% totality. Right on the line for the totality border boundary. If I drove down to the community mailbox I would be in the 100% zone. Does it make a difference moving about 400 yards to see it? I know this question sounds so incredibly stupid but I’m preparing myself for all the stupid questions my family will be asking me because I mentioned this eclipse to them a decade ago and now they think I’m part of NASA. 

Yes. 

[NotActuallyALonghorn 4976]

I set an alarm on my phone a couple of weeks ago to remind me to make reservations for this. Can only make them a year in advance, so hopefully it doesn't fill up too quickly.

[Hate 20117]

Wait, a thousand feet will really make that much of a difference?

[deter 314]

72 acres 10 miles south of waco(falls county). All are welcome.

[davidg 4038]

I set an alarm on my phone a couple of weeks ago to remind me to make reservations for this. Can only make them a year in advance, so hopefully it doesn't fill up too quickly.

State parks are 5 months in advance right now and and are available 8 am.

[VinyVango 694]

I drove to Nebraska for the last one. Watched it from the side of the road by a corn field. Well worth it.
One reason I picked Nebraska was the lack of people and good grid of rural highways. Came in handy, because about two hours before go-time, some clouds started rolling in. I drove 30-40 miles west and north to find sunny skies that were also right on the center line.
Get as close yo the center line as possible. I promise you that once it starts, you will want it to last MUCH longer.
I do not think Texas will be neatly prepared for the migration of people from Houston and CenTex regions towards the path of totality; or even Austinites moving toward the center line. Prepare for a shit show of epic proportion.
Bernard

I did Wyoming … up on a little plateau overlooking an Indian reservation … amazing viewing spot… highways sucked… the whole state was a traffic jam for at least a day after.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pato del Muerto 52529]

40 minutes ago, VinyVango said:

I did Wyoming … up on a little plateau overlooking an Indian reservation … amazing viewing spot… highways sucked… the whole state was a traffic jam for at least a day after.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Riverton?

[Bernard 879]

1 hour ago, VinyVango said:

I did Wyoming … up on a little plateau overlooking an Indian reservation … amazing viewing spot… highways sucked… the whole state was a traffic jam for at least a day after.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Buddy of mine and his daughter were high up on a mountain near Jackson. The had some cool video of the shade approaching from far away.

Bernard

[RPM 26326]

On 4/29/2022 at 2:15 PM, Texas Jeff said:

This map lets you zoom in to any spot and determine when it starts and stops, and how long the sun will be gone:

http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html

If you are bothered by things like goalposts not lining up with letters, you really want to be on the middle blue line or it's going to drive you crazy.

Looks like it's going to be about 100 miles south of The South 40.

[elfenix 34326]

I’ve got a great spot in Ohio.

Words that don't belong together in a sentence

[burntorangebongos 10747]

On 4/29/2022 at 2:41 PM, Hate said:

That’s damn near perfect for me. That line is maybe 1000 feet from being directly over the lake house with nearly 4 1/2 minutes of total eclipse. I can’t wait.

So, that is the longest total eclipse time, right? Good for you guys.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13515]

18 hours ago, Bernard said:

do not think Texas will be neatly prepared for the migration of people from Houston and CenTex regions towards the path of totality; or even Austinites moving toward the center line. Prepare for a shit show of epic proportion.

Bernard

so the perhaps the best idea to reserve a place to stay west of the center line and drive east the day of? I also figure that people will be lazy by going to a spot nearest to them. It might be good to go southwest. What's del rio like?