# 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:** 35
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/681 "2024-04-05T05:38:28Z")
Actually Kerrville, but close enough. Thanks! ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/682 "2024-04-05T05:41:03Z")
Are you the one in Kerrville? (maybe your attempt to pin worked!). I moved your pin closer to Kerrville, anyway. Looking at the map - most are in Texas, with a few scattered through the midwest. Next biggest state is NY, though most of them are in the western part. We’re in northeastern NY - closer to the two people who will be in ON / QC. Article on population in the path of totality (32 million, versus 12 million in 2017). They think most travellers will go to TX, OH and IN - which doesn’t mesh with what people are saying here (except TX). And of course it’ll be affected by the weather patterns, as a few folks have said they are changing their destination. [Where will the most crowded places be for the total solar eclipse 2024? | Space](https://www.space.com/most-crowded-places-for-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024) ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/683 "2024-04-05T05:54:46Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > Are you the one in Kerrville? Actually, that was me. I tried to put things right by adding my DopeName, but no dice. Maybe I’ll try to delete it and give it another shot - tomorrow. But, as I said on that pin, SunWife and I could be just about anywhere along a 250-mile arc, depending on the weather report. We won’t go into Mexico and we won’t brave traffic in the DFW area. Fingers crossed! ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/684 "2024-04-05T06:00:03Z")
I edited it for you :). ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/685 "2024-04-05T06:02:11Z")
Indeed you did. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/686 "2024-04-05T06:19:43Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > They think most travellers will go to TX, OH and IN - which doesn’t mesh with what people are saying here I’m headed to Indiana, mid-state, just over the border from IL. Hopefully it’ll be a little less of a hassle than going down (and coming back from) Carbondale, IL. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/687 "2024-04-05T07:16:40Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Yes; fun. I’ll check back later to see how it grows. > > I do seem to have stuck my pin very near @Cheesesteak’s. Not sure if it’s possible to move it so it’s clear there are two there… @Ulf_the_Unwashed I managed to move your pin to NBT Stadium in Syracuse (it was originally in Rochester) ---
**Author:** ![Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slight_Off_Hand)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/688 "2024-04-05T10:54:37Z")
Looks like I’m the furthest north and east on the map. We are looking at snow and rain for the next few days but Monday is set to be partly cloudy. Let’s hope it’s the right part! ---
**Author:** ![Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Slight\_Off\_Hand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slight_Off_Hand)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/689 "2024-04-05T12:01:42Z")
This popped up on my Tik Tok. Fun with graphs! https://www.tiktok.com/embed/v2/7353984398498336006 (a look at Air Bnb bookings for the eclipse) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/690 "2024-04-05T13:10:38Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Woohoo!! The movement of the weather fronts has changed, and it looks like the shit weather expected later has been delayed – April 8 is no longer predicted overcast and back to “mix of sun and cloud”! Quoting myself just to add that there’s a dramatic temperature increase forecast for April 9, along with overcast and chance of rain, so there’s a warm front on the way and the outlook for April 8 could be ruined if that front speeds up. As it stands, this meteorological mess is currently predicted to arrive the night of April 8. It’s a nail-biter! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/691 "2024-04-05T13:38:35Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Wunderground is stating ‘partly cloudy’ while the gubmint is stating ‘partly sunny’ for western NY (≈ 1 hr SE of Buffalo). While both may be accurate (if it’s partly one then it’s partly the other), I’m going with the [NWS](https://www.weather.gov/) cause that just sound better. One day later Wunderground is now ‘mostly cloudy’ while NWS is still ‘partly sunny’. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/692 "2024-04-05T14:00:33Z")
Today here in Mazatlán dawned clear, not foggy like yesterday. Still a chilly 52/11 on the way to a more tolerable 79/26. Our forecast remains unchanged at “sun through high clouds” which is now supposed to be the case continuously on Sat-Mon. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/693 "2024-04-05T14:18:06Z")
Website that does ensemble forecasts: (go to "city dashboard) [http://arctic.som.ou.edu/tburg/products/realtime/eclipse/](http://arctic.som.ou.edu/tburg/products/realtime/eclipse/) Go to “city dashboard” – Russleville, AR is looking pretty good Ars Technica article: > **[Here are the winners and losers when it comes to clouds for Monday’s eclipse](https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/04/here-are-the-winners-and-losers-when-it-comes-to-clouds-for-mondays-eclipse/)** > > News you can use in regard to chasing cloud-free skies. Brian ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/694 "2024-04-05T15:00:06Z")
Woohoo - we’re still looking pretty good in northeastern NY! Weatherbug agrees, with “mostly sunny” and a high of 52F. Just looked at my map again - we’ve pretty much got the whole path covered, from Mazatlan to New Brunswick! Nobody between Arkansas and the IL/MO line though. I’m about to shut this computer down and start on the packing process. We pick up the rental car in a bit over an hour, then a little grocery shopping and we start loading things up. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/695 "2024-04-05T15:03:29Z")
A comment on eclipse planning as it relates to information, not lodging or driving. I would expect that on Sunday and especially on Monday the obvious popular eclipse information sites will get overwhelmed. I have copied down the key times of day so I have them offline in case the website I had been referring to is overwhelmed while the partial phase of the eclipse is going on. I’m not much worried about e.g. Google Maps getting swamped. But it’s the smaller sites or ones built just for this occasion that have some risk of failing under the load. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/696 "2024-04-05T15:39:02Z")
If I am forced to hit the road, my only option would be to go up I-90 along the Lake Erie coast, since going SW would just intercept that low coming that way. Traffic there would almost certainly be insane, and while I can handle stop and go even with my manual transmission, it won’t exactly be fun to sit in a jam for 2 hours less than 40 miles from home…[I am on the westside] ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/697 "2024-04-05T15:49:59Z")
Is it bad for my smartphone to take photos of the Sun? Although I’d only do it while the Sun is mostly darkened. Heard it could damage the old-fashioned cameras but not sure about the digital ones. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/698 "2024-04-05T15:54:11Z")
there are filters for phones. i just got some for my phone. or use a spare pair of eclips glasses. [How To Safely Photograph the Solar Eclipse with Your Phone (astrobackyard.com)](https://astrobackyard.com/solar-eclipse-with-phone/) ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/699 "2024-04-05T15:57:25Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Is it bad for my smartphone to take photos of the Sun? Although I’d only do it while the Sun is mostly darkened. Heard it could damage the old-fashioned cameras but not sure about the digital ones. To actually see anything before and after totality, you would need to place one side of a pair of eclipse glasses in front of the phone camera lens. Without the filter, it will just look like a bright spot. During totality, you should be able to remove the protective filter from the camera lens (and your eyes). In any event, I don’t think it will hurt your phone camera regardless. I catch the sun in my phone camera all the time when taking pictures and it’s no big deal. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2024, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-tse-total-solar-eclipse-april-2024-was-three-years-away-for-usa-when-started/938873/700 "2024-04-05T16:02:38Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m not much worried about e.g. Google Maps getting swamped. But it’s the smaller sites or ones built just for this occasion that have some risk of failing under the load. I’m worried about lack of cell service or the cell networks being overwhelmed while trying to navigate on the day of the eclipse. I just ordered a paper atlas for VT/NH (and wish I’d thought of this sooner). I hope it arrives before we leave town. Worst case I can try to use my less-detailed 20-year old road atlas. [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=34) [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=36)