# The Eclipse Day Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 21, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277 "2017-08-21T14:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/21 "2017-08-21T16:24:31Z")
There are some high, thin clouds, but the unobstructed sun is clearly visible. The weather folks are still hedging their bets with totality just two hours away. There’s heavier clouds coming, but no one knows how fast they’ll get here. Kansas City and St. Joseph were having thunderstorms in mid-morning, and hoping there’d be a break in the weather by 1:00. Traffic during morning rush hour in St. Louis was remarkably light, especially considering that schools are back in session and it normally takes a week or so for the morning driving patterns to get all sorted out. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/22 "2017-08-21T16:25:44Z")
[https://www.nasa.gov/eclipse2017](https://www.nasa.gov/eclipse2017) Watch live, thanks to NASA. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/23 "2017-08-21T16:29:09Z")
Typical Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/24 "2017-08-21T16:32:51Z")
Quick question: If I use a magnifying glass on an piece of paper during the eclipse will it burn a hole faster, or slower? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/25 "2017-08-21T16:36:55Z")
\*Supernatural \*on in the background right now. Castiel just said “The next solar eclipse in North America is years away.” Nuh-uh. (I see that episode [originally aired](http://sweatpantsandcoffee.com/10-great-moments-supernatural-season-11-episode-4-baby/) on October 29th 2015, so it wasn’t exactly accurate then, either.) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/26 "2017-08-21T16:46:43Z")
30 minutes from (near) totality and as I look around, it looks like I’m wearing a light shade of sun glasses. I’m not. ---
**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 21, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/27 "2017-08-21T16:54:02Z")
It has gotten a bit gloomy. And about half the sun is missing. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/28 "2017-08-21T16:57:09Z")
I’m seeing the first stars… ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/29 "2017-08-21T16:57:38Z")
It’s just about to begin here in Indiana, and the day, surprisingly, is bright and clear. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/30 "2017-08-21T17:00:29Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > Unfortunately, the day started yesterday with a little tickle in my throat, and by last night, it was full blown\*\* strep throat\*\*. I feel like crap, and instead of pushing up the road as I had planned, I’ll be fighting traffic (such as it is) to the Urgent Care right after totality occurs at my home. > > Can’t remember the last time I was sick, but this sure wasn’t the day for it. Well I was supposed to be at work today but, thanks to our friend **strep throat** , I’m home to watch the show. Decided at the last minute to make a shoe-box eclipse viewer for the first time in my life and it works! 🙂 Being sick worked well for me today and I’m on the tail-end of it so I don’t feel as wretched as I did. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/31 "2017-08-21T17:02:14Z")
We’re about 15 minutes from maximum eclipse here in the SF Bay area. That will be 75% coverage of the sun. The sky is clear where I am and it’s definitely getting darker. Looks like it normally would about 1/2 hour before sunset. ---
**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 21, 2017, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/32 "2017-08-21T17:02:58Z")
My cat seems upset by the fact that it’s getting dark(ish) again. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/33 "2017-08-21T17:03:56Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Quick question: If I use a magnifying glass on an piece of paper during the eclipse will it burn a hole faster, or slower? If you’re serious… slower. Less total light (few photons, if you will) on the paper. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/34 "2017-08-21T17:05:34Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > If you’re serious… slower. Less total light (few photons, if you will) on the paper. Totally serious, and thank you. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/35 "2017-08-21T17:10:41Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Totally serious, and thank you. That was supposed to be “fewer photons”, btw. T mines 5 minutes and counting. Not really much darker than I noticed about 10 minutes ago. ---
**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 21, 2017, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/36 "2017-08-21T17:13:02Z")
Just a few minutes away from maximum eclipse here. Just a tiny wedge of sun left in the sky. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/37 "2017-08-21T17:16:59Z")
Well, my local news is streaming the eclipse, live on their Facebook feed. I tried accessing it. It brought me to the Google Play store for the Facebook app. I’m not installing that just for a one time use. I don’t have a Facebook account anyhow. So, I’ll watch the evening news for footage of the eclipse. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/38 "2017-08-21T17:24:11Z")
Beautiful corona … ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/39 "2017-08-21T17:24:49Z")
Just past max, and a sliver of the top is appearing. edited to add: There was a definite temperature drop. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-eclipse-day-thread/794277/40 "2017-08-21T17:26:46Z")
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