(OT) Eclipse?

[agate]

My son was here yesterday as I mentioned and supplied me with special glasses for viewing the solar eclipse that is supposed to be occurring on the 21st.

I can't recall ever seeing a solar eclipse. Is there anything I need to know? I realize that I should have these special sunglasses, and I have them. They even have the date on them. They were being given away by the local library.

Is anyone else gearing up for this event?

[renee]

My library has eclipse glasses. Don't know what time it will be here, I love the strange shadows on the ground. To get yourself psyched watch an apocalypse movies the night before. I found a real heavy from 2011 called Melancholia- Uncomfortable but interesting with a great cast. Top it off with another doozy about the appearance of earth's twin planet in, Another World, 2011. Or just go with zombies or post apocalyptic Mad Max. Pizza and drink of your choice.

[Sunshine]

The last one I saw was in college, sometime between 1968-1969. I did not look at the sun. But the eerie decrease in overall light was very eerie. Totally get why primitives were scared.

[Howie]

I've seen one when I was a kid. I used a "viewing box" but don't ask how it's made because I forget. I think I have a welding face shield in the garage. That would be perfect. Now if the weather cooperates.

[Virginia]

I have not seen one because I never had proper eye wear.

[Cat Dancer]

Yes, I remember the viewing boxes...but don't know how to make one.. I'm watching on television ... weather channel and nature channel plan to follow the eclipse across the country. We'll only get a partial eclipse here, about 1/3 of the sun covered. I don't have the special glasses, so won't look! My brother in Tennesee will have a total eclipse. I told him to film it for me. :)

[agate]

This tells how to make your own viewer with things you may already have on hand:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Cat Dancer]

Yeah, those are the boxes we built. I remember begging my mother for a shoe box -- she had dozens of shoes, all stored in boxes, and her reluctantly giving one up...

[agate]

This town is apparently expecting hordes of people to be streaming in just to see the eclipse.

[Howie]

If the eclipse happened today, I wouldn't be able to see it. It's dark and raining, and will be for the rest of the weekend. I hope it gets it done for awhile, and gives me a clear day, and moderate temps for the eclipse.

If all else fails, I have a site saved that will show the eclipse in real time. It's not the same, but it's better than not seeing it at all.

[agate]

Right here it will be 99% but apparently it will be even better in outlying areas, and so people are expected to swarm in and swarm out as well.

If it's cloudy and rainy, the whole thing won't be very exciting.

Maybe they should just cancel it?

[agate]

How to watch the solar eclipse without eye damage:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Howie]

My avatar is an eclipse shining through a tree, and projecting on the side of a house. It produces an image from anywhere in the tree leaves that let the sun shine through. It works exactly like a viewing box. but you see the image projected multiple times.

It would require so many variables to be just right! I wanted to post a larger image of my avatar, but don't know how. Duh! I did try!

[agate]

Howie, I'm not sure what I'm looking at here.

Your Profile image may be the eclipse?

[Howie]

No the profile image is a moon photo. I can't explain the other image better than I did. Just imagine you are sitting under a tree, looking at the side of your house, during an eclipse. It's hard to explain, but a larger image would show it.