The Eclipse, the Eclipse!!

[Anomalocaris]

Computing when historical eclipses have occurred is easy, computing precisely where they were visible gets harder the further back you go.

Even the 2011 Japan earthquake would change things, IIRC the distance between Japan and the US changed by 11 feet, and that is way bigger than the accuracy to which the position of the moon is known.

What is more, Japan didn't move as a rigid block. Different parts of Japan displaced by a different amount as a result of the stress release during the earthquake.

[drfuzzy]

I'm in Kansas City.  I'll be at work that day.  And the bosses are not letting anyone take off of work to see the eclipse.  (Slave-drivers!  Our office is about 5-miles south of the totality edge.  We would really need to drive North only a few minutes . . . ) The news folks are already telling people to avoid the highways.  Most hotels are already booked for the day.   I do have my glasses though, and they are going to be generous enough to allow us out of our cave and into the parking lot to see the eclipse.

[vorlon13]

I don't know if there are 30,000 foot mountains on the moon appropriately located to give your site a chance of seeing Bailey's Beads.

They would definitely be visible north of you.

[Whateverist]

I live in Cayce, SC.

So does that put you right on the path of the eclipse?  I'm going to S.C. but will be staying in Lyman, near Greenville.

[Jehanne]

Fucking Amazon.

Nebraska is serious about hiways that day.  Construction projects have been suspended, no lane closures, and oversize loads prohibited.  It will help a little, but maybe they should be stressing carpooling ??

Went to the leading retinal/glaucoma MD's office this morning. They were giving away glasses earlier but had run out. Suppose to get 3000 in this next week so I'm on their waiting list. Not going to hold my breath.

Menards has a $50 welding helmet that will do in a pinch. 

Gonna keep searching.

Make damn sure that it is density #14 glass, or at least #13.  Anything less could result in severe eye damage!!

[Mister Agenda]

I live in Cayce, SC.

So does that put you right on the path of the eclipse?  I'm going to S.C. but will be staying in Lyman, near Greenville.

Yeah, Cayce is right outside of Columbia.

[Whateverist]

So does that put you right on the path of the eclipse?  I'm going to S.C. but will be staying in Lyman, near Greenville.

Yeah, Cayce is right outside of Columbia.

As you can imagine my cousins are very churchy.  The aunt I'll be staying with reminds me of my mother in not wearing it on her sleeve but she goes along with it.  My youngest brother who will also be staying with her is an atheist.

I think of S.C. as being probably the most churchy state in the country.  Do you have any community of like minded folks there?  I'm not sure what opportunity I'd have for a meet up but I'd love to if only for a cup of coffee or a meal out.  Trouble is, I have a lot of cousins in the area so I won't have total control over my schedule in advance.  I do know we plan to get away on Sunday just to pre-empt any thought of dragging us to church.

[Mister Agenda]

Yeah, Cayce is right outside of Columbia.

As you can imagine my cousins are very churchy.  The aunt I'll be staying with reminds me of my mother in not wearing it on her sleeve but she goes along with it.  My youngest brother who will also be staying with her is an atheist.

I think of S.C. as being probably the most churchy state in the country.  Do you have any community of like minded folks there?  I'm not sure what opportunity I'd have for a meet up but I'd love to if only for a cup of coffee or a meal out.  Trouble is, I have a lot of cousins in the area so I won't have total control over my schedule in advance.  I do know we plan to get away on Sunday just to pre-empt any thought of dragging us to church.

There didn't used to be a community, so I started one.

Check out Freethought Society of the Midlands on Facebook, Meetup, or fsmidlands.org. We have an event every week and I'd love to meet you in person if you can make it to one.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'll be right at "GD" if the weather's good. 

[vorlon13]

Have finagled a field to stand in !!!

Yea!! I have a definite destination to head to.

Also, earliest hints of specific weather conditions that day indicate better (less) cloud chances the further west one goes (in Nebraska). I'm anticipating, if needed, going up to a hundred miles further west if need be.