So this is my plan: Reserved two free nights at Goldstrike Casino Hotel, April 7-9. Has free L2 charging. Make 'sack breakfast and lunch' using room microwave with fruit and canned coffee. Based on weather April 8, drive to eclipse path after midnight about ~200-300 mi path open. Park, cat nap, sunrise, and enjoy eclipse. Take a nap while the traffic clears. Leisure drive back to Goldstrike room. Bob Wilson
The one in 2017 came right through here. We got all kinds of traffic from Colorado that couldn't wait to go back home as soon as it was over. It snarled up the normally wide-open I-25 for 200 miles. Watch the eclipse, and duck in someplace to hide from the crowds until it's safe. Just getting a sit-down dinner should be long enough.
Will probably use my spotting scope on a tripod, reversed (i.e., eye piece toward Sun), and a screen. Ideally next to a shade tree so I can photo both the screen AND the pinhole effects of tree leaves. If it works, a YouTube video. Bob Wilson
Make sure its a long nap... The total eclipse I went to in 2017 was horrific traffic for many, many hours afterwards.
I'm biased towards nearby lakes and a fishing rod. Taking dogs too and they love to run in wild areas. Bob Wilson
Those places won't be wild, nor peaceful nor uncrowded on April 8th... You're gonna see huge crowds in random / unpredictable places with no one planning how they're gonna leave. I saw one farmer within a mile of a freeway exit fill his farm with near a thousand vehicles to make mass$$$'s. Think bama football tailgate parties before the big game around the stadium but in entirely unpredictable areas across the entire path of the eclipse... It creates mass gridlock everywhere... More importantly, when you see the eclipse in totality, it will be one of the most profound and unforgettable moment in your life. You'll never be able to repeat how you experience the moment, the the less movement you have to do on that day, the better!
I well remember my first total eclipse seen in Tennessee. That one ended in mid day and the traffic jams were a thing of wonder and horror. But once the sun sets, the crowd magically evaporates. Regardless, I'll have a motel room for a good price waiting for me that night. That first time, I had a cardboard box, pin hole 'sun scope' that worked OK. What I was not prepared for were the leaves of tree making a mass of pin hole lenses projected on the ground. I will be prepared this time. Hopefully, there will be enough leaves April 8. Bob Wilson
Any insight on the WX? I will be in my beloved home state of Indiana on that particular day. I will have a very short hop to totality from the home sod and I can lean left or right as clouds dictate. My traffic management plan is secondary roads and staying close to the barn - but I will also have a full bag of gas, with a reserve and all the things in case I have to wait for the throng of sun hopefully not-gazers to clear out. Careful aiming those cameras! You’ll need to use a solar filter to protect your camera, just as you’ll need a pair of eclipse glasses to protect your own eyes! I predict a surge in iPhone repairs......
The eclipse path is just southeast of Indianapolis at roughly 45 degree angle. Shebyville was my first choice but motel room rates over $400, not interested. So I switched to the Arkansas approach from Tunica. No eye or camera risks for me. I use projection onto a surface for indirect observations but I also want to catch the leaf effect. Done right, this will let me measure the leaf pin hole effect vs solar occlusion. Bob Wilson
Never doubted it for a moment. Weather permitting I'll probably be SW of Indy but if traffic permits I can shift E or W for clouds. Actually I've been meaning to re-re-visit the USAF museum in Dayton but historical data suggests that west and south are less likely to be scudded up - and I'd rather stay closer in on that Monday. Nearly 7/10 chances that I will have to deal with traffic and a >100 mile drive.but we should know more at D-7 to 10. In Western TX there would be a 7/10 chance for a CAVU day but that's a little far for a >5 minute event - even a 'life changing' one. I'm here for it - but I still have work and WAF to consider.
A big difference than previous total solar eclipse (US visible) is that now sun is near peak of solar cycle: Streamers and Loops: What the Sun's Hyperactive Phase Means for the Upcoming Solar Eclipse Meaning that during your 4 minutes, there may be some exciting things happening in the solar corona.
I had initially been planning to see that one from Oregon. But after seeing the news of mass congestion a couple days earlier around Prineville (and during a serious forest-fire season, with limited egress), then getting released from bicycle event support somewhat earlier than projected, I instead headed to Weiser Idaho, which still had plenty of reservable camping space available at a couple school athletic fields. It turned out that Weiser had over-prepared for a potentially large turnout, so had plenty of space and support, and everything went smoothly. ... except for those who wanted to get out ahead of the crowd. The exodus started about one minute after totality ended, and the route out of town south was backed up to the school field for a couple hours. Since that field was closing that day, with overnight campers needing to move to the other camp location, I just biked around other parts of town for a while, doing a bit of shopping and getting refreshments, until the road cleared and allowed a move of campsite. Pedaled some of the Weiser River Trail, spent the night. Next morning, picked up a friend who had vanpooled to a nearby camp location, but her driver had sudden family reason to head the other way for a few days, so she went rode home with me instead. And we explored more sections of the WRT on the way out, camping an additional night near McCall. Traffic maps did reveal that in the hours immediately after the eclipse, the direct route back home on I-84 through NE Oregon did have two significant backups at ongoing construction zones where traffic was reduced to a single lane, but appeared that combined they would have added less than an hour to the usual travel time, and cleared by late afternoon. Less bad than the routes out of my original central Oregon plan. Nothing left the next day, but we still took a more scenic route off-Interstate. Other friends were backpacking to the east inside Idaho's Sawtooth Wilderness, and extended their stay to include the eclipse. They had an even better experience, much quieter and uncrowded.
Close enough now that mesoscale models are worth a flip Windy: Wind map & weather forecast This is GFS, toggle other options in lower right corner. MO/IL/IN looks cloud free (or cloud less) at present.
We're getting close enough to see cloud cover predictions: This will be a hoot. Northeastern Arkansas and Southeaster Missouri looks optimal. That area is easy to reach from Tunica (aka., Memphis TN). Jonesboro AR has a SuperCharger and only 100 miles, ~2 hrs, from Tunica. Once there, scout around for good viewing site(s). Check with Mr Google if there are any recommended. Take some ready cash and problem solved. Bob Wilson
Update: McDonald's, 400 US-63,, Hardy, AR 72542, USA Many lakes, parks and dams for public parking Alternate: Walmart Supercenter 219 US-412, Ash Flat, AR 72513, USA Local Chevy dealer has 60 kW, CCS-1 chargers 20-40% chance of cloud cover 165 mi, 3 hrs with charging stop at Jonesboro, secondary
heres a link to the map I've been using Eclipse Map - April 8, 2024 - NSO - National Solar Observatory I don't have to travel at all, but if the weather is better or I feel like beating the crowds I've tracked the green line of 100% to some boony places I suspect no one else might choose for about 50 miles W of me. The line goes out over Lake Ontario bout 7 miles from home and doesn't come back over land until Mexico, NY bout 70 - 80 miles E of home. But Syracuse crowds will most likely fill those places up quick. The green line goes out over Lake Erie in W Cleveland area and doesn't make landfall again until Small Boat Harbor in Buffalo. It's still chilly for most boaters out on the Lakes this time of year, but there's not telling how much of a zoo that'll turn into for an event like this one.
