Eclipse watchers in America on April 8th. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 03:22:26 am
content: Eclipse watchers in America on April 8th.Anyone here lucky enough to be able to go see it?Apparently, I have been told, where I'm located, near Montreal in Quebec, Canada, we're supposed to get 1 full minute of totality.I like how most of the online maps have the path through the US, then suddenly as the border crosses over into Canada, the eclipse data vanishes...Gotta find some protective glasses. It's going to be my first time.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 04:21:40 am
content: Quote from: BrianHG on April 07, 2024, 03:22:26 amI'm going to miss it, but a bunch of people along or near the path have already or will deploy radio gear I've built, in order to make ionosphere measurements. FWIW, *all* the eclipse maps that pop up when I google it show the entire path over North America. I've only seen partial ones, sorry to be missing a total.

author: pqass
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 05:15:03 am
content: Quote from: BrianHG on April 07, 2024, 03:22:26 amI'm just out of totality so I won't be seeing the halo.Seethis zoomable mapwith lots of stats.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 09:49:20 am
content: Quote from: BrianHG on April 07, 2024, 03:22:26 amMy home is in Lorain County, OH. It's pretty close to the center path of totality. I'll have to walk out my front door, and past a large Tulip tree get a good view SW at about 3PM, EDT. This will be the first time I have experienced totality in 80+ years.I have a couple of welding helmets, one is auto-dimming. I will try to photograph through the non-auto-dimming lens. I believe it's 11 shade (12 is being recommended for eye protection). My camera is a Nikon Z30 I got early last year. Will autofocus work? Is there danger to the sensor turing totality? I also have a much older CoolPix 900 that still works and could b sacrificed.EDIT: Added snippet of my location . Very slightly SE of Lorain and West of Obelin.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 12:07:21 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 07, 2024, 09:49:20 amGet one of those special eclipse glasses. A welding helmet is too dark. Back when we had a total eclipse, we used a CD to look through but good luck finding those nowadays. The eclipse itself is a bit weird. It gets dark during the day... The camera on my Samsung S-series mobile seems to have no problems with taking pictures when aimed into the sun. My strong advise is to enjoy the moment though and not get caught up in taking pictures. Lots of other people will take pretty pictures for you to watch.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 12:27:03 pm
content: In the US, our "experts" have warned that welding helmets should be avoided, because they are often "not dark enough." Mine happen to be shade 11 for small electrodes and less than 250A; the experts say at least a 12 is needed. My store-bought eclipse glasses are a little darker than my helmets are.My home is in the woods, and I do want to experience reactions of wildlife. I experienced a near total eclipse in Baltimore city in the late 60's, birds and dogs responded with silence then barking.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 12:29:40 pm
content: Having tried eclipse glasses in the past, the view is kind of underwhelming. What worked a lot better is to use a small mirror to project the sun onto a wall.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 04:38:02 pm
content: I lived in Missouri during the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse so got to see it from my backyard.This time I am in New Hampshire and will be driving a little more than an hour to stay at a friend's the day before to avoid the expected massive traffic from Massachusetts and New York eclipse viewers.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 06:51:16 pm
content: Looks like I'll be in good luck. Since I am on the top floor of my apartment, the sun will be almost directly above my front porch, un-obstructed. Also, the weather forecast says there wont be a cloud in the sky tomorrow. According to the eclipse map, I supposed to see 1min 40 sec of totality at my coordinates.

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 08:24:43 pm
content: I was chasing the Eclipse in 1999 (mid Hungary), I tried to find midpoint by driving my car across the central Hungary and I was happy to find the cloud-less point exactly in the middle of the "shadow". I would highly recommend this event to everybody - it is a pretty strong experience you will certainly remember for your entire life..

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 08:32:09 pm
content: If I'd realized the next total eclipse in the UK is 2090, I'd have made more effort to join the rush to Cornwall in 1999.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 09:41:31 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 07, 2024, 12:27:03 pmYeah, I'd say 12-14 based on some halfass testing I did with an auto darkening helmet today. On a clear dry sunny day near noon #11 was blown out and would have you seeing a spot if you stared, 12 was marginal, 13 (max) was dim enough I could see some irregularity on the surface, probably about right.

author: jbeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 04:09:40 am
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 07, 2024, 12:27:03 pmI have a #12 filter plate, which I find works pretty well; it makes the sun appear a monochrome gray. I also have a piece of the standard solar film which makes the sun appear orange, as the viewer glasses do. I don't really like using the orange filter though, as I've never been able to get a sharp image. The edge of the solar disk always has a fuzzy appearance regardless of settings.My setup is a Canon 7D body, a 250mm lens + 2x converter and the filter plate. The settings I've used for a reasonably sharp image are: 1000 ISO, f25, 1/400th sec, manual focus. I can easily see sunspots on the solar disk with those settings.For the 2017 total eclipse in southern Illinois USA, I removed the filter during totality and was able to see red solar prominences embedded in the corona. I'm hoping to see/shoot comet 12P/Pons-Brooks during totality as well; it should appear near Jupiter.

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 09:41:45 am
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 07, 2024, 12:27:03 pmHow did we ever survive without the phrase “experts say.”

author: PwrElectronics
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 02:35:41 pm
content: A person in my office that sits near in the cube farm took a couple vacation days and went to I think Arkansas to see it. Will find out later this week how it was.I don't even expect to see a partial here as its cloudy and rainy. The last partial in 2017 it was clear skies so some effect could be seen.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 03:04:02 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 07, 2024, 12:27:03 pmInteresting. Because the sun gets covered during an eclipse, most of the bright light is also gone.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 03:10:52 pm
content: I made this pinhole telescope contraption out of a 3 feet plumbing pipe and couple juice cups, tested it yesterday in sunny weather hiding behind the patio umbrella and sticking this thing out, LoL. the sun image projected onto the screen made of piece of milky plastic was about 3/8 in diameter and quite sharp. But today it is heavily cloudy in Toronto, likely cant use it which is a shame.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 03:41:38 pm
content: I am in the Dallas area and will get it quite nicely at around 1:40PM today. Unfortunately the sky is overcast with a very thin layer of clouds, which I hope it will dissipate or at least have a break by the time of the Eclipse.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 03:44:31 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on April 07, 2024, 12:27:03 pmHalf the time "experts" are self appointed and know little or nothing. Then whatever they say is reported by some reporter who knows and understands nothing on the topic. Then the school principal reads it and tells the teachers to get the kids ready. And with this exercise of telegram the teachers end up telling the students something which makes no sense. "Tomorrow an unusual event will take place. If it is overcast you will form in the gym where the PE teacher will eclipse the Principal."I have seen eclipses with welding glasses or lenses or shades and they were perfect. But, of course, they come in different grades and some may be too light and some may be too dark which makes such a general statement meaningless. If a bit too light it is easy enough to wear sunglasses.My relatives in Dallas bought the shades from Amazon and report they find them a bit too dark and they liked the welding lens better.On the other hand they just reported it is overcast there so the entire exercise might be moot if it does not clear up soon.My 13 year old nephew needed his parents to sign an authorization to see the eclipse at school (!) and it seems some parents do not want their kids to view the eclipse in the yard and they will get to watch it on TV.Being overcast it seems they will ALL get to see it on TV and without need for special shades or authorization.

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 03:46:30 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on April 08, 2024, 03:04:02 pmIt is extremely dangerous to look at the sun even if partially covered.

author: mag_therm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 05:37:39 pm
content: Ham HF txcvrs (2) are running here for the HamSci eclipse data collection.One is measuring the doppler shift of the signal from time signal CHU Ottawa 7850 kHz. Measurement is by FLDIGI in FMT mode.Receiver is GPSDO clocked and set USB mode 1000Hz below CHU, so the base signal to FLDIGI is 1000Hz.The path CHU to here is almost parallel with and ~ 80 km north of totality edge.Distance to here in mid Michigan is 687 km, so 1 hop.After the sunrise transients the signal so far today is steady with no offset and occasional transients of about 200 milliHertz.If there is a good trace as the shadow passes, I will put it up in this thread.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 06:54:13 pm
content: Noooooooooooo...... The clouds are rolling in. It's become hazy and thick overcast, though you can still see the sun through it, it will completely ruin the eclipse.~35min to totality where I'm located...

author: sleepy2000
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 06:57:22 pm
content: A few minutes ago

author: schmitt trigger
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 07:27:00 pm
content: No words required, it was quite a spectacle.Joking aside, I am in Dallas and it was spectacular, even though there were some scattered clouds.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 07:31:57 pm
content: Our sky (Cleveland, OH) was just a little high haze and clear. The ring of fire was easily seen. My eclipse glasses did not show the ring during totality. It was simply dark. Switched to my welder's helmet at 11 to 12 (I didn't realize it went to shade 13) with better glass, and it was quite distinct. Spurs extended more than the apparent width of the moon.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 09:07:00 pm
content: Though there were a few hazy clouds, it was still a spectacular show.There was a perfect ring for over a minute and a half, then the 'diamond ring' came through.I used 2 professional sets of photographic quality polarizers when rotated at their darkest cut light at over 1million:1.I was able to adjust the contrast through rotation throughout the eclipse and had the best possible view albeit the loss by the overcast clouds...

author: mag_therm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 09:40:36 pm
content: Further to my #21, here are images of data as the eclipse passed over.I quickly edited some explanatory text boxes over the imagesThe first one is from the power datalogger for my solar battery powered ham station.It is as expected, the solar panels shut down completely and sharply at UTC19:15 confirming the estimated alignment time in local media here.https://app.box.com/s/az1x7kabj5ckf5869q2426rkc0ewom5iThe second is for the doppler shifts of the signal from CHU on 7850 kHz.The re-combination and re-ionization are clearly shown, I think.https://app.box.com/s/9h748ohj6w3g0ixvo7jvjrcxgfk5pgvwBut this coincided in time with the max occultation AT my QTH,at about UTC19:15.Queries ??-If the signal was a symmetrical hop, the doppler shifts would have been at a position halfway between my QTH and CHU,which is a bit North of Toronto and later in time.-If the signal was a Pederson mechanism, there would have been two doppler shifts at different times.-So maybe this signal was an asymmetrical NVIS ( near vertical incident skywave.) ??There are about 60 hams contributing data , so the researchers report will be interesting.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 09:45:50 pm
content: I had perfect weather here, but since I didn't travel, I was way off the path of totality and only 30% of the sun was obscured. Fun to watch anyway.

author: johansen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 09:49:03 pm
content: Clouds parted just in time for us to see the entire 3 minute long eclipse in dripping springs tx.The image attached is from my fther in laws seestar telescope.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 10:54:21 pm
content: Excellent shot!

author: soldar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 11:17:53 pm
content: My relative who works in a large corporation in Dallas reports they all went out to the huge parking lot to see it.And as the eclipse was taking place the parking lot lights all turned on automatically.

author: Circlotron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 12:19:50 am
content: I wonder of anyone reported seeing a star that is slightly behind the sun, but visible because of space time curvature caused by the sun's mass / gravity.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 12:40:25 am
content: Quote from: soldar on April 08, 2024, 11:17:53 pmTalk about luck. Especially if it were LED lights which illuminate instantly unlike the old HPS lights which take a good 5 to 10 minutes before they get bright enough to see.In my neighborhood, I have 3 schools, grade and high school, all sharing a small community football / baseball park within walking distance. I'm around 3 blocks away and you could hear the screaming and cheers. It must have been packed...

author: Altair8800
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:13:22 am
content: Best pics of the 8 Apr 2024 Total EclipseLast pic infrared (space is very very cold, sun is very very hot)...

author: BillyO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 01:36:08 am
content: Nice photos!It was just very cloudy where I am. We were supposed to get a 96.5% eclipse, but all we got was a moderately darkened cloudy sky. It's amazing how much light 3.5% of the sun's area still casts.

author: vad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 04:44:29 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on April 09, 2024, 12:19:50 amI noticed that, but I thought it was a solar flare. Was it really a star? If so, which star was it?

author: vad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 04:48:13 am
content: Quote from: BillyO on April 09, 2024, 01:36:08 amWe drove from Boston to Jackman, ME, which was almost on the centerline. The skies were clear, and the totality was absolutely worth the 4+7 hours in traffic.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 10:09:17 am
content: Quote from: Circlotron on April 09, 2024, 12:19:50 amI saw a bright spot in pictures taken over the Cleveland skyline and toward lake Erie. It seemed too bright to be a star. My impression was Venus. Here's what Google says:Quote

author: vad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 02:27:51 pm
content: So it wasn't a star or a planet; rather, it was a prominence - a massive ejection of plasma, forming a rainbow-like shape, tethered by powerful magnetic fields.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/red-dots-around-total-solar-eclipse-explained/

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 09, 2024, 09:13:03 pm
content: Quote from: BrianHG on April 08, 2024, 09:07:00 pmI wondered if that would work. I will have to check it out for next time.Ended up in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. My point and shoot camera could not focus through a dark filter, but worked for the total eclipse.

author: jbeng
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 01:48:08 am
content: I viewed the event from my friend's farm in southern Illinois. The weather was great - we had high clouds which were essentially transparent, with a temperature of about 75F (24C) and light winds.Here are a couple shots:

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 02:13:09 am
content: Anyone watching the eclipse get the sensation as totality approached; This must be the appearance of daylight from our sun if we were living on one of Jupiter's or Saturn's moons?

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 04:33:08 am
content: Quote from: BrianHG on April 10, 2024, 02:13:09 amI haven't done the math, but I don't think any of Jupiter's or Saturn's moons has the correct size-distance ratios to have the same effect.Or in other words, the effect would be no different to living aboard the international space station and passing through Earth's shadow, and experiencing the sun emerge through the edge of the earth every 90 minutes or so.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 05:34:54 am
content: Quote from: Andy Chee on April 10, 2024, 04:33:08 amThat isn't what I meant. You cannot live on Jupiter or Saturn itself as they are gas giants without a surface. I was talking about if you built a colony dome city on one of those moons, or in a space suit on one of those moons, just having a dim sun as you maximum day light level because you are far away from the sum. I was not talking about an eclipse on the planets Jupiter or Saturn.

author: Andy Chee
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 06:07:40 am
content: Quote from: BrianHG on April 10, 2024, 05:34:54 amMy analogy still applies. Just imagine the ISS being Titan or Ganymede, and the Earth being Jupiter/Saturn. The effect seen in the video will be the same.