Thursday #694 ... does everyone have their eclipse glasses ready?

[mon]

My husband seems to be excited about the eclipse as well. I however am not. I expect it will appear to be a round speck in the sky, a whole bunch of people peering up at it with special glassholes and then seeing professional photos of the whole shebang on the telly a few hrs. later. How is that exciting? Any reason to celebrate works for me and maybe I'm simply a killjoy lotsa $ will be spent and it is a very lovely and harmless activity, am I missing something? Will cats care

[RICHARD]

My husband seems to be excited about the eclipse as well. I however am not. I expect it will appear to be a round speck in the sky, a whole bunch of people peering up at it with special glassholes and then seeing professional photos of the whole shebang on the telly a few hrs. later. How is that exciting? Any reason to celebrate works for me and maybe I'm simply a killjoy lotsa $ will be spent and it is a very lovely and harmless activity, am I missing something? Will cats care

Um, you aren't alone.

For some people - like me - It's a mix of science, geekery and a respite from the news of idiots battling it out in the streets lately.

It is a rare event, maybe something that will inspire some idiot kid into picking up a science book and looking at the sky, instead of looking at his feet. Maybe the next Neil Armstrong, John Glenn or Chuck Yeager will show up in a couple of years and say, "Hey, that eclipse in '17 inspired me to get into science, astronautics, astrophysics or aeronautics".

In history, eclipses weren't really understood - the Chinese thought it was a dragon that ate the sun - now? All the romance and boogeymen/monsters have been taken out of it so it's 'just' another reason for people to stand around and look up in the sky and go, 'ooohhhhhh'?

At the most? Someone is going to discover something unique and interesting about the event. At the least?
Maybe some of us will realize that there is something a lot larger in the world/universe than the petty stuff we are all sweating every day of our lives?

I kinda like to think that everyone will be united - even looking at a stupid eclipse - for a few minutes/hours, and that ain't necessarily a BAD thing?


"mamma always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun-
but mamma, that's where the fun is...."

-Blinded by the Light, Manfred Mann

[mon]

Um, you aren't alone.

For some people - like me - It's a mix of science, geekery and a respite from the news of idiots battling it out in the streets lately.

It is a rare event, maybe something that will inspire some idiot kid into picking up a science book and looking at the sky, instead of looking at his feet. Maybe the next Neil Armstrong, John Glenn or Chuck Yeager will show up in a couple of years and say, "Hey, that eclipse in '17 inspired me to get into science, astronautics, astrophysics or aeronautics".

In history, eclipses weren't really understood - the Chinese thought it was a dragon that ate the sun - now? All the romance and boogeymen/monsters have been taken out of it so it's 'just' another reason for people to stand around and look up in the sky and go, 'ooohhhhhh'?

At the most? Someone is going to discover something unique and interesting about the event. At the least?
Maybe some of us will realize that there is something a lot larger in the world/universe than the petty stuff we are all sweating every day of our lives?

I kinda like to think that everyone will be united - even looking at a stupid eclipse - for a few minutes/hours, and that ain't necessarily a BAD thing?


"mamma always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun-
but mamma, that's where the fun is...."

-Blinded by the Light, Manfred Mann

Hey! I like the way you are looking at it, I may warm up to the whole idea. Maybe. All the eye safe goggles or whatever are sold out so since my husband will be at work, he wants me to turn my back to the old eclipsaroonie then hold up the big I pad so I can see it and record it at the same time without going blind or burning out my retinas or corneas etc. Weather permitting, it does sound doable. Weird ,but doable . Maybe.

[catland]

I was fortunate to live just 30 miles from the totality zone so we drove down this morning. We were blessed with perfect weather- not a cloud in the sky.

We were not at the center, so we had just over a minute of totality, but it was worth every second. I wish I was a poet, so I could describe how amazing it was. The minutes leading up to it were surreal. Then the sudden dimming, as day turned to twilight.

This morning's experience truly made me feel connected to our solar system. I felt like I was on another world where the sun was dimmer than our own. This was a real bucket list moment and I'm so happy that I got to experience it.

drinks for everyone!

[Karen]

That's so cool! Maybe the next one I will find myself closer to totality!