Solar Eclipse 2017 - August 21

[airboy]

^ Thank you real Doctor Buzzkill.    ;D

Actually I did want to write him a note. Can you imagine handing a note to your boss referencing someone named "MetalDog" and signed by Dr. Benton Quest? They would probably let you take a day for psychiatric evaluation.

I also write prescriptions for "medicinal alcohol."

[Nefaro]

I'm just inside the totality.  8)




Thinking of just buying $2 disposable 'Eclipse Glasses'.

http://www.highpointscientific.com/high-point-solar-eclipse-glasses-sgp1

[MetalDog]

^ Thank you real Doctor Buzzkill.    ;D

Actually I did want to write him a note. Can you imagine handing a note to your boss referencing someone named "MetalDog" and signed by Dr. Benton Quest? They would probably let you take a day for psychiatric evaluation.

That wouldn't be too much of a stretch.  They've known me this past decade. ;)

[SirAndrewD]

I just got myself a Solar Filter for my Orion XT 4.5, which I use as my primary portable telescope.   Planning on putting that baby to use with a 40mm lens.  We're at .9 totality where I'm at. 

Of course, my luck it'll be overcast that day.

[Pete Dero]

We're at .9 totality where I'm at. 

How far do you need to travel to get totality ?

90% eclipse only gives you 10% of the experience ...

[SirAndrewD]

We're at .9 totality where I'm at. 

How far do you need to travel to get totality ?

90% eclipse only gives you 10% of the experience ...

From here, Chattanooga.  That's about a four hour drive, and my wife has fybro.  We've thought about doing the trip, especially since my XT 4.5 is very mobile, but she'd probably not enjoy it. 

[bbmike]

I just got myself a Solar Filter for my Orion XT 4.5, which I use as my primary portable telescope.   Planning on putting that baby to use with a 40mm lens.  We're at .9 totality where I'm at. 

Of course, my luck it'll be overcast that day.

I've been thinking about getting a better telescope for the river cabin. How do you like the Orion XT?

[SirAndrewD]

I just got myself a Solar Filter for my Orion XT 4.5, which I use as my primary portable telescope.   Planning on putting that baby to use with a 40mm lens.  We're at .9 totality where I'm at. 

Of course, my luck it'll be overcast that day.

I've been thinking about getting a better telescope for the river cabin. How do you like the Orion XT?

It's a very good scope.  The 4.5 is very light and portable, and can be very easily moved around by car or repositioned outside for better viewing.   It's superb for lunar viewing and it can get surface details on Mars on close approaches.  Saturn's rings can be a bit tricky if there's any light pollution, but Jupiter's cloud bands and the moons are all easily visible.  It's not the best for deep space, but if you're going to be using it at a cabin with no nearby cities, you'll be happy with its results on neublas and galaxies. 

It's got very smooth and stable tracking as well, so you're not going to lose objects to shake or inability to keep it in the eyepiece.

The only knock I have on the 4.5 is that it's short.   You might want a good, stable, short table so you can stand up while you observe.  A short footstool might be ok too if you don't have bad knees like myself.

You'll obviously see things better with the larger scopes, but you lose the portability aspect when you get to the scopes where you're going to see a real difference.

So yeah, I wholeheartedly endorse all the Orion dobsonians.

[MetalDog]

Just placed the order for my solar eclipse glasses.  Took the day off from work and will head up the morning of the eclipse.

[DoctorQuest]

Just placed the order for my solar eclipse glasses.  Took the day off from work and will head up the morning of the eclipse.

My Jedi mind tricks DO work.  O0

[MetalDog]

I am the droid you're looking for.

[bayonetbrant]

key information in the US

http://alt1033.iheart.com/featured/mike-jones/content/2017-08-08-the-best-waffle-houses-to-watch-the-solar-eclipse-from/

[mirth]

[Sir Slash]

At Last! Something the Internet's actually good for.  :clap:

[Staggerwing]

At Last! Something the Internet's actually good for.  :clap:

Hey! What about OK Go! videos?