Current Events > Total Solar Eclipse, August 21

(+) Yeah! (+)

On August 21, 2017, a total eclipse of the sun will cross the entire continental United States. The last time this happened in the U.S. was 99 years ago, on June 8, 1918.

That's pretty crazy to think about!
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I'll get my cardboard box with a pinhole punched in it ready
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_Schwarzlicht_ posted...

I'll get my cardboard box with a pinhole punched in it ready

I just look it.
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Are you supposed to buy sunglasses even if you dont plan to look at it? It seems like a nuclear fallout that everyone outdoors NEED to wear them whether or not you stare at it.... which doesnt make any sense. I thought the sunglasses were for staring at the eclipse for long periods of time.

I don't believe regular sunglasses help protect your eyes against it.
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D-Qwon posted...

I don't believe regular sunglasses help protect your eyes against it.

Yeah, but if you're outdoors and dont plan to stare it then you dont need sunglasses do you?

Well it's less bright than the noneclipsed sun and I don't normally wear glasses when I'm outside for that

Oh God I'm gonna die

Also eclipse glasses are only for directly looking at the sun. Look at anything else and it'd look completely black because they block so much light.

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It's fucking terrible. I'm in the zone of totality and they are closing schools and streets and shit because traffic is expected to be so crazy from out of towners coming in to see the full thing. It's gonna last like a minute and it'll likely be cloudy anyways and there's a live stream on NASA's website (and guess what there will be pics afterwards).

It's like watching sports. All the highlights are up the next day. Who gives af about the game. losers.
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A nearly total one just happened six years ago. And I remember another near total one when I was in grade school in the early 90s because we made little pinhole viewer things out of boxes to see it.
And this one is only a near total one again where I live so this isn't a big deal to me. If you live out in Kansas or wherever that it's total then that's great. To me it's like eh, I've seen this before.
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There's going to be a better one for SoCal in 2023. And then ones equal to this one in 2024 and 2029. The closest we'll get to complete totality in my lifetime will be one in August of 2044 and at that I would be 62 (if I even live that long). But there's one in 2071 that's like 95% coverage.
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Looks like I'm at about 95%. Neat. Looks like I'll be at work during that time, but my break is shortly after, so I can see it pretty well then.
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Why do you need those special glasses to look at it?

I've looked at the sun before without even sunglasses and while it hurt my eyes and made me a bit blind for like ten seconds I'm fine after. Why would the sun being darker be worse for me?

I guess I could Google it but fuck it
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D-Qwon posted...

On August 21, 2017, a total eclipse of the sun will cross the entire continental United States. The last time this happened in the U.S. was 99 years ago, on June 8, 1918.

That's pretty crazy to think about!

I thought it was in 1776?
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littlebro07 posted...

Why do you need those special glasses to look at it?

I've looked at the sun before without even sunglasses and while it hurt my eyes and made me a bit blind for like ten seconds I'm fine after. Why would the sun being darker be worse for me?

I guess I could Google it but fuck it

I think because you can easily look at it for an extended period (minutes) rather than the usual just quick glance where you would say "Fuck that's bright" and look away.

Also everything will be dark, so your pupils will dilate letting in even more light (especially if you happen to be looking when the sun "pops out")
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Trump literally causing the sun to go out across america.
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so many people are going to hurt themselves. it's going to be awful.
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local news won't shut up about it. I have my glasses!
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Medussa posted...

so many people are going to hurt themselves. it's going to be awful.

This. I was trying to explain to my co-worker that you can't look at it, especially when it's in totality. But she just didn't get it. It can cause permanent damage :/

I got my glasses and am in the path of totality for about 2 minutes!
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Where can i buy some glasses?
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You can safely look at it while it's in totality
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If you wear glasses during totality you're gonna miss it

Skywalker82 posted...

Where can i buy some glasses?

I got mine at the made in oregon store at the mall. I also saw some at a grocery store.
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MorbidFaithless posted...

Medussa posted...

so many people are going to hurt themselves. it's going to be awful.

This. I was trying to explain to my co-worker that you can't look at it, especially when it's in totality. But she just didn't get it. It can cause permanent damage :/

I got my glasses and am in the path of totality for about 2 minutes!

https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety2.html

"The only time that the Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye is during a total eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun. It is never safe to look at a partial or annular eclipse, or the partial phases of a total solar eclipse, without the proper equipment and techniques."

This is a total eclipse, not an annular eclipse. If you are in the band of the total eclipse you can look directly at the sun for that ~2 minutes. If you are outside the band, do not look directly at the sun without proper eclipse glasses.
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My mother got some glasses that are supposed to make the eclipse cooler or easier to see. We will see how that works out.

Sucky thing is, I need to get up early the next morning to make a train. Going to be hard lifting all those pieces by myself.
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No, you're eyes will be more dialated because the moon will block out most of the sunlight but there are still sun rays shining into your eyes and I'm sure millions of people wont even realize it because they can stare at it longer.

FFVII_REMAKE posted...

No, you're eyes will be more dialated because the moon will block out most of the sunlight but there are still sun rays shining into your eyes and I'm sure millions of people wont even realize it because they can stare at it longer.

Yeah this what I don't get it. Even if it's 100% covered there's still a ton of light...
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MorbidFaithless posted...

FFVII_REMAKE posted...

No, you're eyes will be more dialated because the moon will block out most of the sunlight but there are still sun rays shining into your eyes and I'm sure millions of people wont even realize it because they can stare at it longer.

Yeah this what I don't get it. Even if it's 100% covered there's still a ton of light...

No, it will be mostly dark. You can test this in a dark room with a night light and a mirror. Plug in your nightlight and put a mirror next to it and you'll see how the eye closest to the nightlight will be less dialated than your other eye.

FFVII_REMAKE posted...

No, you're eyes will be more dialated because the moon will block out most of the sunlight but there are still sun rays shining into your eyes and I'm sure millions of people wont even realize it because they can stare at it longer.

so you are saying the NASA website I cited is wrong?

If you are in the path of totality you can safely look at the sun and it is recommended since it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people. Just have to make sure you are in the path of totality. Probably 95% of the US won't get totality so most people will have to travel if they want to look directly at the sun.
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KILBOTz posted...

FFVII_REMAKE posted...

No, you're eyes will be more dialated because the moon will block out most of the sunlight but there are still sun rays shining into your eyes and I'm sure millions of people wont even realize it because they can stare at it longer.

so you are saying the NASA website I cited is wrong?

If you are in the path of totality you can safely look at the sun and it is recommended since it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people. Just have to make sure you are in the path of totality. Probably 95% of the US won't get totality so most people will have to travel if they want to look directly at the sun.

If i go blind I'm sending you my medical bills
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KILBOTz posted...

FFVII_REMAKE posted...

No, you're eyes will be more dialated because the moon will block out most of the sunlight but there are still sun rays shining into your eyes and I'm sure millions of people wont even realize it because they can stare at it longer.

so you are saying the NASA website I cited is wrong?

If you are in the path of totality you can safely look at the sun and it is recommended since it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people. Just have to make sure you are in the path of totality. Probably 95% of the US won't get totality so most people will have to travel if they want to look directly at the sun.

the path of totality is ~60 miles wide. if you aren't actively seeking it out, or in one of the small number of lucky areas, assume you aren't in it.

edit: that's not to you, more adding to your thought for everyone.
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