Planning for the Eclipse · 5:06pm Jan 28th, 2017
The prospects for American science for 2017 are not looking good. Researchers across the US are getting nervous as the new administration in Washington appears to view empirical evidence and objective facts as irrelevant. In the new post-truth era, if scientific research yields a politically inconvenient result, it looks like it will simply by substituted for some ‘alternative facts’. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by gloom. History tells us that this can’t go on forever—in the long term attacking scientific reality only weakens those who try it—but we don’t know how long this new Dark Age will last.
In such times, we must take whatever good things come our way. Fortunately there is one astronomically awesome thing which will happen in the USA in 2017, which the president is totally powerless to block. That is, the solar eclipse on August 21st. Totality will be visible from a narrow band which will spread across the country. The shadow of the moon will first touch land just south of Portland, Oregon. Then traverse Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska and Missouri, while just clipping Kansas and Illinois, and moving on to Kentucky, Tennessee and North and South Carolina. It’s quite a geography lesson.
As I had been considering taking a trip to the US this year, this would seem to be the time to do it. But where is the best spot to go? While it would be very cool to view the eclipse while camping out in the wilds of Idaho or Wyoming—I wouldn’t know what to do and would probably get eaten by a grizzly or something. Just booking a hotel in one of the cities in the path seems a bit boring, although it would still be a fun trip. Heading the coast to watch the eclipse on the beach might be great, but no doubt crowded. The high profile viewing spots like Casper, Wyoming are probably fully booked up by now, but because America is such a huge country, there are an enormous number of other options in the interior. This could be a good opportunity to visit some random state which I may never have an excuse to visit again.
Any recommendations?
"I'm royal enough. I'm the best Royal. I've spoken to people and they say I'm the best. A lot of people. The best people. And I've got the best Darkness. All of it. Beautiful Darkness."
4400283
"We're gonna build a roof, it's gonna be a beautiful roof, and the auroras, all those mass ejections, they're gonna pay for it"
I have no recommendations, since the eclipse seems to be designed to perfectly avoid all the states I know people in or have any knowledge of. I think the moon is taunting me this year.
Nightmare Moon. Still a better leader than Trump.
Welcome to the new 'still a better love story than Twilight'.
The path of totality is going to pass right over my house. Very convenient.
I'm from SC, so I'm going there. The peak of the eclipse is near Knoxville, TN, but I don't have relatives there. Personally, my plan is to stay with relatives in Spartanburg, SC, and drive down to the eclipse path with a telescope (...I need to get one).
Both SC and TN have areas where there are no large towns around for miles, so they make ideal viewing. Actually, many of the areas are heavily forested, which can pose a problem, but I'm planning to head out to one of the places in SC on the edge of a farm. Some of those places, there's a public park or something where you can set up.
In TN, there might be a mountain in the path. That would make a good observation point, but you'd have to do some research.
If you do wind up going to one of those, let me know! I'd be happy to meet up with you at The Beacon in Spartanburg: it's a burger joint but it is a real experience. I don't want to spoil it. Or somewhere else with local color. I could swing by Knoxville the next day if you go out near there.
I'm excited about this.
Whoops, sorry, greatest extent is up in Kentucky. But it's still pretty long around SC, and TN does have some good isolated mountains that might be in the area.
The Willamette valley in Oregon is beautiful and there are lots of little towns and camping spots in the path of the totality.
Somewhere in the interior would probably be best. You might come for the solar eclipse, but you might stay for the night skies. I have seen some pretty fabulous nights just here in Indiana.
On a purely practical note, Nebraska has so much wide opens space you would almost certainly get a good look. On the other hand, oh my GOD that is a lot of freaking grass.
Portland, OR is a pretty safe bet; friendly ppl, they like tourists, and the Pacific Northwest is great for camping.
A week. He's been in office a week, people. Sheesh. Panic a little less.
Yeah, the wife intends on going up to KC to watch this one. I may go with her to keep her out of trouble.
The USA has quite a lot of cloudy weather -- if you are planning on traveling to the USA to watch it, make sure to have alternate plans in case your primary site is going to be overcast or rainy.
Well, if you're not bumming couch space from 4400401, Grand Teton National Park is right in the eclipse path, and that's a damn beautiful area.
On the other hand, who knows what new hijinks the cheeto is going to dump on international travelers by then.
The Great Plains of mid Nebraska and the sandhills of its western reaches serve as an excellent location for stargazing of any kind, as it is easy to escape o structions and the glowing light pollution of the cities. The only location which could be better for viewing would be atop a mountain peak in the Rockies in Colorado, above much of the atmosphere and weather. Of course, mountain climbing might be taking it a bit far...
I'm not much of a science type of guy but..... who wants to think this won't happen? :/
I'm from North Carolina btw
You could try Jackson, WY. It's just a few miles outside Grand Teton National Park, and within day trip distance of Yellowstone (Old Faithful is about a two-hour drive away, which is on the long side but doable).
4400684 I'm going to have to ask you to check your privilege.
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4478806 *checks* Yep, I got it. Feel free to borrow some if you need to. I've got extra.