# USA TSE, total solar eclipse: April 2024 (was "three years away for USA" when started) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 27, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873 "2021-03-27T21:36:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/441 "2024-03-20T01:28:07Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > I’m seeing the eclipse at the festival in Burnet TX. Since it’s getting close, I’ve been starting to get mildly stressed about when the tickets are going to arrive in the mail. My eclipse glasses were supposed to be shipped out “the week of March 11”. They’re not here yet. I guess I’ll give it a while yet, since the week of the 11th might mean not shipped until Friday 15th; but I’ll be happier when they show up. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/442 "2024-03-20T12:42:14Z")
I’d suggest trying another company as a back-up. At least for serviceable cardboard kind. If nothing else, try plumbing/welding supply stores for at least #13 welding glass. Years ago I’d read “at least #14” yet I reckon it’s a bit darker than it needs to be and at least in the UK #13 is the highest. As it’s for special plasma cutting it’s not your usual, common glass so maybe phone first. It’ll be about 4x6" ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/443 "2024-03-20T16:18:19Z")
Oof. I got my festival tickets a week ago, but I was one of the first to order. The tracking number was completely correct about the location and delivery time, so I hope your tickets get sorted soon. As it turns out, I’m leaving Sunday to be in Boston for a week before spending a week in Austin before the eclipse, so I’m glad our tickets came early and quickly. One less thing to stress about. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/444 "2024-03-20T19:25:26Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > I’d suggest trying another company as a back-up. At least for serviceable cardboard kind. They showed up in today’s mail. [ETA: they are a pretty basic cardboard version; but then, they were free.] They’ve got the right ISO certification, and say they’re made by a company on a list of approved manufactures given at the site linked below (different page, same site. And discourse is telling me that Coriolanus also posted that page here.) > [@Coriolanus](#): > > If nothing else, try plumbing/welding supply stores for at least #13 welding glass. Years ago I’d read “at least #14” yet I reckon it’s a bit darker than it needs to be and at least in the UK #13 is the highest. As it’s for special plasma cutting it’s not your usual, common glass so maybe phone first. It’ll be about 4x6" [This site](https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety) (recommended by NPR) says to use at least #12 and that #13 or #14 is better. That site also says that if you wear glasses, use the eclipse glasses over your regular glasses. The eclipse glasses I now have leak a whole lot of light around all four sides if I do that, and leak some even if I take my glasses off (though I can’t see anything clearly without my glasses unless it’s between about maybe 4" and 8" from my face.) Anybody know whether that light coming in around the sides of the glasses is a problem, or whether the danger’s only from the direction you’re focusing on? (I would guess the latter, as I’m often outside on sunny days in ordinary glasses, and obviously see a great deal of sunlight though not looking at the sun itself; but I don’t want to trust my eyesight to my guesses.) ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/445 "2024-03-20T19:45:25Z")
Even asking for #12 welding glass will likely prompt the same curious/surprise I got years ago from what must have been a coffee-klatch of plumbers when I asked for #14. Whatever glasses/cover you get need to go over your eyes first. I dunno, perhaps tape them together yet the mylar/glass needs to be closest to your eyes. A thing about near totality of TSE’s is the intense light at 95-99% will not trigger the same reaction in your iris//pupils that just looking at the sun would. There’s a time after 99% where you might see Bailey’s Beads (sun getting through mountain peaks on the moon) where it’s safe to remove your protection yet keep your eclipse glasses as the first thing over your eyes. ETA: I’ll defer to eyeglass wearers here. If I do not have my driving glasses on stars are not sharp anymore. For totality I’d absolutely want nothing but my glasses on yet not sure how to work that out. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/446 "2024-03-20T19:50:46Z")
So put the eclipse glasses on and then my regular glasses over them?? (That didn’t seem to be what the web site was recommending.) I’d still get some light around the edges, though a lot less. > [@Coriolanus](#): > > There’s a time after 99% where you might see Bailey’s Beads (sun getting through mountain peaks on the moon) where it’s safe to remove your protection yet keep your eclipse glasses as the first thing over your eyes. Now I’m really confused. The eclipse glasses are the protection. How can I both remove them and keep them on? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/447 "2024-03-20T20:04:11Z")
Aye, my apologies (see my eta above). I’d have my scope with filter on which would be focused for me to look at without glasses. Then (before totality) I’d just put on the eclipse glasses and perhaps hover my eyeglasses over them. Yet do take some time to look around - shadow bands, the tiny crescents that shine through leaves. Only during totality should you only be using your regular eyewear. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/448 "2024-03-20T20:10:59Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Yet do take some time to look around - shadow bands, the tiny crescents that shine through leaves. Yeah, that’s why I’m going to be trying to get to at least a couple of minutes of totality – so there’ll be time both to look up and to look around. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/449 "2024-03-20T20:26:18Z")
When you use a solar filter with a telescope or binoculars, it’s important to put the filter at the objective end; that is, the sunlight should hit the filter before the telescope. The filter is designed for normal sunlight. If you put the filter at the eyepiece, it’s trying to filter the light that’s been concentrated by the telescope optics into a more intense light, and may fail to filter it sufficiently. (If it’s glass, it may even overheat and crack.) Now, eyeglasses don’t really concentrate light the way binoculars do, but they do change the focus of the light, and it seems to me that it’s prudent to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation to put the filter in front of your glasses. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/450 "2024-03-20T21:38:07Z")
Is it worth packing my binoculars to look through during totality? Just regular binoculars, not with eclipse lenses on them. I have good glasses for that. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/451 "2024-03-20T21:50:57Z")
I didn’t have binoculars in 2017 but I am bringing them this time. The corona was impressive but I definitely felt that I wished I could see it better. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/452 "2024-03-20T21:56:56Z")
Ok I’ll pack them. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/453 "2024-03-20T21:57:35Z")
Great idea. ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/454 "2024-03-20T22:03:15Z")
Yes, absolutely. You’ll see more detail in the corona and try to look for prominences - both of which come out better in photos but you can see them “live” as it were too. ---
**Author:** ![Eclipse\_Chaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Eclipse\_Chaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eclipse_Chaser)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/455 "2024-03-20T22:17:47Z")
I definitely wouldn’t recommend using binoculars even during totality. It is too easy to lose track of the time and as soon as totality comes to an end, even before the diamond ring, the light increases suddenly and dramatically. You could blind yourself. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2024, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/456 "2024-03-20T22:20:08Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Now, eyeglasses don’t really concentrate light the way binoculars do, but they do change the focus of the light, and it seems to me that it’s prudent to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation to put the filter in front of your glasses. That makes sense. Though it doesn’t seem to be the manufacturer’s recommendation specifically – the glasses didn’t come with any instructions about how to use them if you already wear glasses. It was the recommendation of the web site linked above. > [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Is it worth packing my binoculars to look through during totality? Just regular binoculars, not with eclipse lenses on them. I have good glasses for that. Apparently there might (or might not) simultaneously be a visible comet. > **[Comet Pons-Brooks: Will you see it during the eclipse?](https://earthsky.org/tonight/12-p-comet-pons-brooks-outburst-millennium-falcon-bright-2024-eclipse/)** – They don’t seem to be recommending looking for it with binoculars, though – apparently it’ll be close to the sun, and if you misjudge your timing and angle a bit your eyes will be screwed. I don’t think they know for sure whether it’ll be naked-eye visible during totality. (Though if so – wow!) ---
**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:** [March 20, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/457 "2024-03-20T22:22:37Z")
what about having a timer set for one minute? I definitely don’t want to blind myself but I would enjoy seeing as much detail as I can. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/458 "2024-03-21T04:11:41Z")
There’s an app for that. > > > "Talks" you through the eclipse! For 2024, an In-App purchase for just $1.99... You can try out the app for free. Getting the data for this eclipse costs $2. Worth it IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/459 "2024-03-21T05:12:52Z")
I’m looking forward to this myself! As in 2017, where I see it will depend on the weather report. I’m personally hoping for west-central Indiana. We’ll see! As for the National Guard being called up in some parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, some of those areas are very sparsely populated, and they’ll need extra people for traffic direction and the like. The kind of people who do eclipse chasing are unlikely to cause trouble, and would bring everything they need with them, and pack it out afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2024, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/460 "2024-03-21T07:04:17Z")
I’ll have to find out if my husband still has his binoculars. I haven’t seen them in 30+ years, but I know he owned a pair at one point. Likely we gave them away decades ago. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873.md?page=24)