# Great American Solar Eclipse of 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 22, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657 "2016-08-22T18:56:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/21 "2016-08-23T01:50:51Z")
I’m already booked with a tour group I’ve traveled with before. The organizers are associated with NASA and have all kinds of neat technical stuff to help find the best site. We will be in Nebraska. This will be my 5th total solar eclipse. 1. Australia, Flinders Range, 2. Libya, 3. China 4. South Pacific out of Tahiti. I hope to still be around for the 2024 one! ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/22 "2016-08-23T03:52:08Z")
People, please make every effort to get to the _center line_ of the path! You really don’t want to be near the outer edge because the\* total\* part of the eclipse there will only last a matter of _seconds_ and be hardly worth the time and effort you made to see it. Southern Illinois is ground zero and people there will see the\* total \* part of the eclipse for only around 2 and a half minutes. This is where you want to be or as close as you can to this location. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/23 "2016-08-23T05:15:28Z")
Current plans have me in Indianapolis the night before the eclipse, and my route home leads through southern Illinois. All I should have to do is time my departure right, which is well worth it. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/24 "2016-08-23T06:23:36Z")
I’ve been thinking about this and I predict it’s going to be a real zoo here in western Oregon. At least I-5 and other highways in the area will be. The centerline of totality goes by just south of Salem, only 55 or 60 miles from the Portland area. A lot of people are going to see that and say “Hey, that’s only about an hour away.” Normally they would be right, but not if lots of other people have the same idea. I imagine similar traffic jams will happen near other large cities near the path of totality. I think I’ll avoid the crush and bicycle down via back roads. I’ll have to get up real early to make it on time, but I’d have to do that anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/25 "2016-08-23T07:46:13Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The centerline of totality goes by just south of Salem, only 55 or 60 miles from the Portland area. A lot of people are going to see that and say “Hey, that’s only about an hour away.” Normally they would be right, but not if lots of other people have the same idea. I imagine similar traffic jams will happen near other large cities near the path of totality. Well, that was _my_ assumption, yes. That’s why I’ll be driving down to Silverton the day _before_ the main event. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/26 "2016-08-23T16:53:13Z")
Hmmm… any recommendations on things to do in eastern Oregon? With the eclipse being a Monday, I’m thinking my wife and I might take a nice Friday-Monday vacation if we can find things to do out there. Crater lake has been on our to-do list for a while, and it’s not too far from the eclipse path. Of course, a million other people are likely to have the same idea… ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/27 "2016-08-23T18:21:29Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I’ve been thinking about this and I predict it’s going to be a real zoo here in western Oregon. At least I-5 and other highways in the area will be. > > The centerline of totality goes by just south of Salem, only 55 or 60 miles from the Portland area. A lot of people are going to see that and say “Hey, that’s only about an hour away.” Normally they would be right, but not if lots of other people have the same idea. I imagine similar traffic jams will happen near other large cities near the path of totality. > > I think I’ll avoid the crush and bicycle down via back roads. I’ll have to get up real early to make it on time, but I’d have to do that anyway. Oh jeez. Now I’m worried. I was able to book a room in the Willamette Valley (rain/cloudy plans: wine tasting). But we aren’t in the path of totality. We will need to drive somewhere to see the total eclipse. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/28 "2016-08-23T20:40:17Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > Luckily we live in Wyoming… We were told by one hotel owner that various astronomy tour groups have blocked out most rooms. Funnily enough, I’m going to be travelling to America to see the eclipse with an astronomy tour group, and we’ll be based out of… Cody, Wyoming. The list for the tour group was full a week or so after the Indonesia eclipse. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/29 "2016-08-23T21:21:06Z")
Nashville is already gearing up. > **[Gallatin making plans for total solar eclipse on August 21](https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/gallatin/2016/08/23/gallatin-making-plans-total-solar-eclipse-party/89205616/)** > > Triple Creek Park pegged as prime viewing spot; city expecting thousands for Aug. 21, 2017 event > **[Tennessee will see something it hasn’t in over 500 years: A total solar eclipse](https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-will-see-something-it-hasnt-in-over-500-years-a-total-solar-eclipse/)** > > “It’s essentially unlike anything anyone has ever seen,” said Derrick Rhol at the Adventure Science Center. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/30 "2016-08-23T21:30:06Z")
I notice the path of max totality grazes the top of Malheur county in Oregon. Most of Malheur is Mountain time. The rest of Oregon is Pacific. I wonder how many people traveling to see the eclipse in that area will not know about this issue and miss it. I noticed some maps list towns along I-84 near there like Lime (defunct) and Dixie (incredibly defunct). (Pop. 2 before the freeway was built. They “moved it” out of the way and it never came back. There is literally no there there.) ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/31 "2016-08-23T22:28:22Z")
We are planning a short flight up to Oregon to see it or perhaps to just to fly along the path of totality for a bit to see it from 11,500’. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/32 "2016-08-23T22:39:03Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > Oh jeez. Now I’m worried. I was able to book a room in the Willamette Valley (rain/cloudy plans: wine tasting). But we aren’t in the path of totality. We will need to drive somewhere to see the total eclipse. This may depend on where the rooms are. If south of the path, the traffic won’t be as bad, because the bulk of Oregon’s population is in the Portland area. But planning is the key. Get out a map and plan some routes, perhaps trying some back roads. Also, allow for plenty of time to get to a viewing site, just because of potential traffic problems. As far as weather, August is usually a very dry time in this area. It’s not guaranteed it’ll be clear, but chances are very good. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/33 "2016-08-24T00:09:28Z")
Haha! Got everything booked up. Stop in Portland on the way down, then a couple of days in Crater Lake. See the eclipse around Madras OR, and a night near Mt Hood on the way home. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/34 "2016-08-24T08:45:26Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > I live within the 90%-plus zone, and the totality zone would be a length day trip for me. Make the trip. An eclipse is spectacular. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/35 "2016-08-24T16:11:33Z")
The more I look into this, the more I appreciate being 30 minutes from totality. ---
**Author:** ![TheStake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@TheStake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheStake)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/36 "2016-08-24T16:37:56Z")
I have tried to look on my own about these special glasses you need. The internet would have me believe it is totally necessary, so i figured someone here would know better. Do i need to buy these special glasses or no? ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/37 "2016-08-24T16:50:10Z")
> [@TheStake](#): > > Do i need to buy these special glasses or no? For enjoying the total phase of the eclipse, you need nothing except your eyes. If you want to look at the Sun during the partial phase you need eye protection, or you need to be somewhere where somebody has set up a projection telescope. There is some risk when totality ends, because people can become mesmerized and keep staring at the Sun as it very quickly becomes blindingly bright. That’s a risk even if you have glasses, because you have to remember to put them on as totality is ending. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/38 "2016-08-24T16:52:50Z")
Yes, you need the glasses. This is what the link in the OP says: > [@](#): > > The ONLY safe time to look at an eclipse with the naked eye is during the TOTAL phase of a TOTAL eclipse. And even then, you must ALWAYS use eye protection any time any piece of the sun’s bright disk is visible. It is NEVER safe to look at the partial phases of an eclipse without proper protection. Seeing a total eclipse can in fact be done quite safely with proper eye protection. But if you choose to stare at the sun, outside of the window of time that it is being covered completely by the moon, and/or without proper equipment and techniques to ensure your safety, then you will likely do damage to your eyes. So don’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![TheStake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@TheStake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheStake)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/39 "2016-08-24T16:58:03Z")
Ok, thank you, I just didn’t want the wife or I to come into any harm! Hope they aren’t too expensive! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657/40 "2016-08-24T17:30:43Z")
[They’re actually pretty cheap](http://www.eclipse2017.org/glasses_order.htm). You can find them on Amazon as well. I already ordered mine (I didn’t want to wait until the last minute)! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-american-solar-eclipse-of-2017/763657.md?page=3)