Novice here…if you aren’t “in the zone” will you be able to see anything?
@tonymom - As I understand, if you are very near the zone, you will see a partial eclipse. If you are just barely in the zone, you will see a total eclipse for a few seconds. If you are in the center of the zone, you will see a total eclipse for a couple of minutes.
I could both visit Vanderbilt and see the eclipse! Now if only my parents will let me skip school for this…
We are in the path in SC and have ordered our glasses. As @scmom12 mentioned, lots of eclipse events here in Columbia. It is also my mom’s 80th birthday, so we will have a nice viewing celebration with family. Keep the clouds away!
From what i understand just reading online–a “partial eclipse” (which happens often) is NOTHING like the “total eclipse”.
For total eclipse…You have to be “in the zone”. Very thin band. Outside that and you get “partial eclipse” (and then wonder what the “big deal” was).
Gotta have glasses–an absolute must.
No clouds–weather will kill it totally. So it’s a crap shoot depending on weather.
In the totality area of zone, even with the clouds you get the darkness and the freaky silence of animals/birds. But hoping for clear day.
@Soccer1235, Vanderbilt is having a big campus wide event that day, but it’s geared towards current students, faculty, & staff. It is technically move in day for upperclassmen, though most will have already moved in to participate in pre-semester activities like Move Crew, band, sports practices, etc. Probably not the best day to absorb the Vandy experience.
So envious of all you going. But my D is recovering from a serious car accident so we’re going to miss it. Here in the DC area I think we get about 75 percent. At least you inspired me to order the glasses.
Here’s my question. People write about the experience in rapturous tones. How is it different than a very, very short night, plus spooked animals?
Our lake house is in the area of totality, so my 13 college friends are coming to visit and see the eclipse! We are going to be on a pontoon boat in the lake. It will be a ton of fun! Our theme is Moon Pies and Sun Drop. We are in KY. Moon pies are made in Chattanooga, and Sun Drop is soda made locally. We are even getting the t-shirts. Glasses are ready!
This poster gives a good view of the path, the %'s and what they look like. It’s also cool!
http://www.tylernordgren.com/2017-great-american-eclipse/national-parks-eclipse-2017
(click on the image once more to see the whole poster)
He has a whole series of eclipse posters and and also has wonderful posters about viewing the stars at night from within a national park.
I’ll be in Oregon too. The center line of totality is passing right through the northern edge of the small town in Oregon where I went to high school. So that’s where we are going. I’ve got my viewing glasses. We’ve rented a campsite.
Oregon is expecting a massive influx of visitors for the eclipse, creating possibly the worst traffic jam in Oregon history. One thing to keep in mind about viewing from Oregon - your odds of getting a clear, sunny day are much better on the east side of the Cascades. Over in the Willamette valley the risk of a cloudy day, even in August, is much greater.
“We said YES when they invited us along. Now with the news about the massive traffic jams expected in central OR (supposedly the best place in the country to watch),”
It is an excellent place place to watch, which is one reason why I’m going there, but I’m not sure it’s the best. Looking at the maps Rexburg, Idaho look like a pretty good place too. They are going to get more than 20 seconds longer totality than central Oregon will get.
Well, it’s not night, because you still have the sun in the sky, and you can see the enormous corona (outer parts of the sun’s atmosphere) with your naked eye. The horizon is ringed by sunsets/sunrises everywhere. The onset of the darkness is sudden; if you are watching the eclipse and have a clear horizon to the west, you’ll see the moon’s shadow bearing down on you at tremendous speed.
It is like nothing else you’ve ever seen in your life.
For anyone planning on making a day trip of this–be prepared for truly epic traffic, especially after the end of the eclipse. Full tank of gas, food/water/sunscreen, paper maps (in case cell towers are overloaded), cash (ditto for ATMs), possibly even a portable toilet if you’re going to an area with a lot of traffic. Keep an eye on weather forecasts.
I envy the lucky ones who will be able to see the eclipse and the grand Tetons in the same view.
Yes, it’s not like night although it is much darker and noticeably cooler. Agree with @SlitheyTove that it is like nothing else you have seen in your life. The eclipsed sun is magnificent, mighty, awesome, powerful.
“For anyone planning on making a day trip of this–be prepared for truly epic traffic, especially after the end of the eclipse. Full tank of gas, food/water/sunscreen, paper maps (in case cell towers are overloaded), cash (ditto for ATMs), possibly even a portable toilet if you’re going to an area with a lot of traffic. Keep an eye on weather forecasts.”
Sounds like an Armageddon to me. 
Only we’re running towards it rather than away!
I went to Hilo, HI to see the eclipse in 1991 and we just saw a lot of rain and cloudy skies. D who was under age 2 ended up getting hospitalized after we returned home–BIG damper on the non-event. 
We are very close to the 100% zone, so plan to stay home and hope for clear weather. H wanted to drive a bit north for “better view,” but I think there will be a lot of traffic. Has anyone seen the total eclipse postage stamps? I bought a sheet of them and plan to stick them on postcards from our area and mail those to relatives on eclipse day.
We were living in Eastern Washington during the '79 eclipse. It was February in Washington. The sun eventually came up, the cloudy skies brightened somewhat, the cloudy sky got dark again, then it gradually got light again. No sun to be seen, or missed.
We have plans and hotel reservations to see it in the middle of the continent. Glasses and camera filters ordered, camping gear will be packed even though we have hotel reservations less than 60 miles from the centerline.
Ok, we are nerds…