{"id":17217,"date":"2024-04-05T19:35:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T11:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/your-nearly-last-minute-guide-to-getting-the-maximum-out-of-the-total-solar-eclipse\/"},"modified":"2024-04-05T19:35:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T11:35:26","slug":"your-nearly-last-minute-guide-to-getting-the-maximum-out-of-the-total-solar-eclipse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/your-nearly-last-minute-guide-to-getting-the-maximum-out-of-the-total-solar-eclipse\/","title":{"rendered":"Your (nearly) last-minute guide to getting the maximum out of the total solar eclipse"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full-width\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/L1020286-630x473.jpg\" alt=\"Eclipse Seattle\" class=\"wp-image-356898\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"wp-element-caption\">Eclipse watchers at Kerry Park in Seattle\u2019s Queen Anne neighborhood in 2017. (GeekWire File Photo \/ Kurt Schlosser)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s prime time for eclipse-chasers: A total solar eclipse will trace a line from coast to coast on Monday, and the anticipation is at its peak. So are the travel costs.<\/p>\n<p>Hard-core eclipse fans made their travel arrangements long ago. That was also the case back in 2017, when a similar all-American solar eclipse turned central Oregon into one of the nation\u2019s hottest hotspots (made even hotter by that summer\u2019s wildfires). Witnessing a total solar eclipse in person is something everyone ought to do at least once in their life, and if you want to get in on the experience this time around, it\u2019s still possible.<\/p>\n<p>I should know: That\u2019s exactly what I\u2019m doing.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, I caught a cold at exactly the wrong time to go ahead with my meticulously planned, 14-day road trip to a viewing spot near Austin, Texas. I was resigned to passing up totality. Then, on Thursday, I received a text from my brother in the Cincinnati area, inviting me to join him for an eclipse expedition to Indiana.<\/p>\n<p>Why not, I thought. After a couple of hours of online searching, I snagged the last room available at a resort near Nashville, Ind., at $300 for Sunday night \u2014 and I reserved a $1,030 flight from Seattle to Cincinnati, with my brother picking me up. If I needed a rental car, that would have been another $500 or so.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1775281707358335296&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2024%2Fyour-nearly-last-minute-guide-to-solar-eclipse%2F&amp;sessionId=cc4e25627c7fa44859441865b8fc708974e9e19c&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1775281707358335296\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i178279923876465237=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With the eclipse approaching in less than a week, over half of U.S. cities along the eclipse&#8217;s path are fully booked for the night of April 7th according to data from @airdna pic.twitter.com\/SLVpyKu2Oe<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jamie Lane (@Jamie_Lane) April 2, 2024<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>I\u2019m bracing myself for the hordes of visitors, the horrors of eclipse-day traffic and the hang-ups in wireless internet service that you have to expect in the zone of totality. And I\u2019m reminding myself that the experience of seeing day turn to night for a few minutes, with a black sun hanging over a cheering crowd, should be as magical as it was when I saw my first total solar eclipse 45 years ago.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you don\u2019t think it\u2019s worth making an expensive dash to the zone of totality, there are ways to get in on the fun online \u2014 or see the eclipse\u2019s partial phase in skies closer to home, provided you have the right equipment.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Seeing the partial eclipse<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re in the Pacific Northwest, you probably won\u2019t even notice Monday\u2019s eclipse unless you know in advance and have the proper viewing equipment at the ready. For example, in the skies over Seattle, only 20% of the sun\u2019s disk will be obscured, which barely makes a difference to the naked eye.<\/p>\n<p>The partial eclipse begins at 10:38 a.m. PT and ends at 12:21 p.m., with maximum eclipse at 11:29 a.m. Speaking of the naked eye, don\u2019t try to gaze directly at the sun during that time. The partially eclipsed sun is way too bright, and you can damage your eyes if you look too long. <\/p>\n<p>To stay safe, you can use eclipse glasses, which can still be ordered online with a chance of pre-eclipse delivery (but make sure the vendor is reputable). You can construct a pinhole camera over the weekend, following NASA\u2019s instructions. Or you can use a colander or your knitted-together fingers to try projecting crescent-shaped patterns onto a sidewalk.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1773476929854673118&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2024%2Fyour-nearly-last-minute-guide-to-solar-eclipse%2F&amp;sessionId=cc4e25627c7fa44859441865b8fc708974e9e19c&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1773476929854673118\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i178279923876465237=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Safety \ud83e\udd47\u2757<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what YOU need to know to enjoy the eclipse like a pro \u2b07\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p>More on eclipse safety: https:\/\/t.co\/ROD2fUbzfY pic.twitter.com\/5BfhH3YTa8<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 ARCHIVED \u2013 NASA Sun &amp; Space (@NASASun) March 28, 2024<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>To witness a partial eclipse, the sun has to be visible in the sky \u2014 which can be a problem for Seattleites in April. And sure enough, the forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies on Monday. <\/p>\n<p>Where can you go? The New York Times provides an interactive cloud-forecast map that reflects the outlook for the entire country on eclipse day.  You can also go to the National Weather Service\u2019s graphical forecast map, advance the time frame to April 8, and check the regional sky cover percentages.<\/p>\n<p>Based on current forecasts, your best bet in Washington state would be the Tri-Cities region. It may not be worth making the drive from Seattle for the eclipse alone, but I\u2019ll just note that the area abounds with wineries.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taking in totality online<\/h2>\n<p>Watching a total eclipse on a computer screen is nothing like experiencing it in person, but it might be the best you can do if you\u2019re stuck beneath Seattle\u2019s clouds. Fortunately, NASA is planning a big show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT on Monday, with live shots potentially coming from more than a dozen locations along the track of totality. There\u2019ll also be a telescope-only video feed tracking the eclipse. <\/p>\n<p>San Francisco\u2019s Exploratorium museum is planning its own array of live webcasts from locales in Texas and Mexico. Other webcasts will be available from TimeAndDate.com and the University of Maine. And just in case you prefer to get your video from television rather than the internet, TV networks are planning live coverage at midday Monday.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of NASA (Official Broadcast)\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2MJY_ptQW1o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for an online-only twist to Monday\u2019s eclipse coverage, check out Twitch.tv\/esportnealive from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT. Twitch has teamed up with NASA, Epic Games\/Microsoft and the National Esports Association to create eclipse-themed versions of Fortnite and Minecraft, and a livestream of the gameplay by a handful of streamers will appear alongside live eclipse footage from NASA.<\/p>\n<p>Eclipse coverage has come a long way since 1979, when I saw my first total solar eclipse at the Goldendale Observatory, near the banks of the Columbia River. I can only imagine what it\u2019ll be like when America\u2019s heartland has its next rendezvous with totality in 2045. If I\u2019m lucky, I\u2019ll be around to see it \u2014 perhaps via telepresence, or maybe as I\u2019m riding in my autonomously guided flying car.<\/p>\n<p><em>Next week, check back for recaps of the GeekWire team\u2019s experiences in Nashville, Ind., and other locales in the eclipse zone.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eclipse watchers at Kerry Park in Seattle\u2019s Queen Anne neighborhood in 2017. (GeekWire File Photo \/ Kurt Schlosser) It\u2019s prime time for eclipse-chasers: A total solar eclipse will trace a line from coast to coast on Monday, and the anticipation is at its peak. So are the travel costs. Hard-core eclipse fans made their travel [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1409,4378,1418],"class_list":["post-17217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-eclipse","tag-skywatching","tag-solar-eclipse"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17217"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17217\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}