Was poking around at the path of the solar eclipse on August 20 and saw Boiling green Ky, was in the path. They have a event scheduled for the drag strip at Beach bend that weekend so I'm thinking camp ground, drag race once in A lifetime astronomical event. Sounds like fun. Anyone else interested?
I'm already here, literally. Work is even planning a company wide event and giving out eclipse glasses to everyone. We are supposed to get just under 2 full minutes of total eclipse. Most of the rest of the US will get 90-70% eclipse. Just as a warning, the KY DOT sent out a notice saying they were expecting heavy traffic and delays should be expected. So, if you get into Beech Bend, plan on sitting it out until after dark at least. I'm taking my lunch to work that day.
Were going out to visit our kids in Oregon for it. Made reservations last year. Sounds like it will be jam packed. Saw an article yesterday that part of Idaho has delcared and emergency for that time, and told people to stock up and be sure their gas tanks are full. Sounds kind of crazy to me.
We will be getting a close to a min I believe, teacher workday thank goodness, if it happened while kids were there they would INSTANTLY go crazy and start climbing the walls, power went off for about 30mins last year and you'd thought it was the apocalypse
My sister told me that her daughter near Columbia SC says the local law enforcement has been told that there will be NO vacation/leaves allowed during that week , as they expect massive crowds and problems. Kindergardens and pre-schools are going to be closed to reduce their liability from kids looking at it. SHEESH!!!
To the original poster it's the 21st ( Monday ), not the 20th. Probably already know that but just JIC and FYI if you haven't ever experienced a "totality" it's completely different than a 99% eclipse -- if you're fortunate to experience it, the "diamond ring" is one of the most exciting and awe-inspiring moments in science! If you're close enough to get to the 70 mile wide band to experience it PLEASE try to make the drive. Experts compare the two ( a partial vs a totality ) to flying in a plane vs jumping out of one. The fam and I will be experiencing it in Metropolis, IL -- should get about 2.5 minutes of the totality -- to say we're excited is an understatement!
Would.t you REALLY like to be near Nashville TN and Bowling Green KY at this time? (1:15 til 1:30) https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2017Aug21T.GIF Look at the bottom center info! Those co-ordinates are for peak eclipse AND peak duration. Just outside BG! For BOTH! WOW! ****http://www.findlatitudeandlongitude.com/?loc=37+35+N89+7+W#.**** http://www.findlatitudeandlongitude.com/?loc=36+58+N+87+40+W#. I bet I-24 and I-65 out of Nashville will be at a standstill! *** When I posted this, that location was just West of Hopkinsville; Now its showing up as KANSAS? WTF? That was why I thought it SO cool; both peak duration and peak eclipse. I don't get it...
Having lived through Y2K and all the computer related nonsense that went along with it, I'm not expecting nearly the mess they are predicting. Sure, there will some nonsense but I'm betting it isn't near the turmoil they are predicting.
Actually Hopkinsville, KY is slated to get the longest duration ( 2:40 ) with Carbondale, IL being 2nd ( 2:37 ) for the Totality, but it's possible the "eclipse" duration could be longer elsewhere. Not sure where BG is compared to Hopkinsville but I know Nashville is a long ways away yet but they are in the path of "totality". Pretty neat interactive map here, gives you the path and the expected durations. http://www.americaneclipse2017.org/maps/interactive-map-of-totality/
As the line goes, my backyard will get 83 seconds of total. Nashville is only 1 hour from Bowling Green, they are at the southern & northern ends of the total eclipse at about the same time. There's a sweet spot about 30 miles south of Bowling Green that will get the best view. Or head out just past Hopkinsville toward Princeton, KY for the absolute best spot near the Land between the Lakes.
I'm going to go into an inside-the-house walk in closet for two minutes and simulate the effect. I'll take pictures.
my little town of 3500 is right in the middle of it and will have maximum totality for 3 or 4 minutes, the governor has activated the national guard for that weekend and probably a day or so after. they are predicting gridlock and the nearby airport is already booked for maximum amount of air traffic. i'm taking the day off because getting to and from work in Portland is going to be a huge headache and I don't want to be stuck in that mess.
I won't be making any travel plans since I experienced the February 1979 total solar eclipse in Winnipeg, MB. Didn't bother using any special glasses, but kept observation times to just a few seconds duration.
Minor update on this... The center is actually going to cross the school that my niece's daughter attends, and miss her son's school by a few hundred meters. Yeah, THE CENTER; 2 minutes 36 seconds of totality. Their house is only off center by about 450 meters; 1500 feet, a little over a quarter mile (something we can relate to). Yeah, I'll be there...
I'm just hoping for clear skies. They are providing eclipse glasses at work and having an event for totality viewing. I'm taking my lunch if it isn't stupid. They've already told use we could work from home. I'm only 2.5 miles away and could ride a bicycle but I'd rather not be in that mess of humanity with their attention elsewhere.
