I don't get the Eclipse madness!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was nowhere near the Path of Totality in 2017, just like it wasn't yesterday (2024).

People don't seem to understand that being within the Path of Totality is a completely different experience from just being on the same continent as the Path of Totality.

I was on the edge of a lake in central Ohio yesterday under a clear blue sky. It was spectacular. Worth every minute of the 11-hour drive to get back home in traffic afterward. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Nope. Saw totality in SC in 2017 and it was cool, but absolutely NOT worth any sort of drive and had we not been in the area for a family event would never have done it. Definitely did not need to do it again. The hype is still just hype.

Really? It didn't impress you about the strength and importance of the sun? You didn't talk about how completely freaked out civilizations must have been thousands of years ago? You weren't awed by the cooler temps and darkness? Totality is amazing and worth the miserable traffic home yesterday.

Would it still have been worth it if it were cloudy? Or do you really need good conditions to appreciate the beauty and wonder of it?

You can’t have thick dense clouds.

There were high thin clouds in Vermont and it was not an issue.

Still spectacular.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was nowhere near the Path of Totality in 2017, just like it wasn't yesterday (2024).

People don't seem to understand that being within the Path of Totality is a completely different experience from just being on the same continent as the Path of Totality.

I was on the edge of a lake in central Ohio yesterday under a clear blue sky. It was spectacular. Worth every minute of the 11-hour drive to get back home in traffic afterward. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Nope. Saw totality in SC in 2017 and it was cool, but absolutely NOT worth any sort of drive and had we not been in the area for a family event would never have done it. Definitely did not need to do it again. The hype is still just hype.

Really? It didn't impress you about the strength and importance of the sun? You didn't talk about how completely freaked out civilizations must have been thousands of years ago? You weren't awed by the cooler temps and darkness? Totality is amazing and worth the miserable traffic home yesterday.

Would it still have been worth it if it were cloudy? Or do you really need good conditions to appreciate the beauty and wonder of it?

You can’t have thick dense clouds.

There were high thin clouds in Vermont and it was not an issue.

Still spectacular.

My family is in western NY and it ended up being pretty cloudy. I’m glad we ultimately didn’t travel to them based on their description (one of our kids is also too young to have properly worn the glasses, so we would have had to trade off keeping him inside anyway). Their take was that going from daytime clouds to nighttime clouds was still an interesting sight, but none of them were using the words “spectacular” or “amazing” like our friends that got reasonably clear skies are.

[Anonymous]

I flew from the DMV to northwest Vermont at a very inflated price to see totality. It was definitely worth it. Was it more wondrous than a sunset? Not sure, but we see sunsets every day so we're used to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC was nowhere near the Path of Totality in 2017, just like it wasn't yesterday (2024).

People don't seem to understand that being within the Path of Totality is a completely different experience from just being on the same continent as the Path of Totality.

I was on the edge of a lake in central Ohio yesterday under a clear blue sky. It was spectacular. Worth every minute of the 11-hour drive to get back home in traffic afterward. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Nope. Saw totality in SC in 2017 and it was cool, but absolutely NOT worth any sort of drive and had we not been in the area for a family event would never have done it. Definitely did not need to do it again. The hype is still just hype.

Really? It didn't impress you about the strength and importance of the sun? You didn't talk about how completely freaked out civilizations must have been thousands of years ago? You weren't awed by the cooler temps and darkness? Totality is amazing and worth the miserable traffic home yesterday.

The traffic was absolutely miserable. But I'm actually glad so many people made the journey to watch.

The traffic wasn't bad, at all. We drove for hours, but the traffic wasn't bad. The totality was not in this area, only certain areas.

You are truly stupid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll take a beach sunset over a total eclipse any day of the week.

But did you know that during an eclipse, there’s a 360 degree sunrise glow all around you? I saw that on several videos people posted and didn’t realize that was part of the totality experience. I think it would definitely be worth it to see. A sunrise, like a beach sunset, is amazing. To have it surrounding you in all directions would be spectacular.

Yes, I’ve been to totality for an eclipse. Awesome sunsets are way better.

[Anonymous]

We were about 45 minutes east of Cleveland and while I could have done without the 10 hour drive home, I am SO glad we did it. It is unlike anything I've ever witnessed, and I am so thankful to have had the experience. The videos and pictures don't do it justice. I was firmly in the "this makes no sense to drive so far and miss school/work and spend the money camp" and I'm really glad my husband convinced me otherwise. I'm a firm total eclipse believer now and would recommend 10/10. It's something you have to experience to really understand.

[Anonymous]

Thin clouds are nice because you can glance at the eclipse directly through the clouds as a filter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thin clouds are nice because you can glance at the eclipse directly through the clouds as a filter.

You can look at totality without glasses on.

Before and after totality thin clouds will not protect your eyes.

[Anonymous]

It's funny how the thread turned from "I don't understand the eclipse people" to "I finally understand the eclipse people." It's mostly those who experience the total eclipse who end up understanding. You are likely going to stay in the "Meh" camp if you don't experience it. FWIW, I drove to Tennessee to see the 2017 eclipse, then I drove to Indiana to see the 2024 eclipse. My DD will be old enough to drive to the next one and she promised that she would plan the trip.

[Anonymous]

We traveled to SC for totality in 2017, and OH this year. Both were awesome. It's OK if it's not your thing! But for us, it's a good excuse to take a few days off work/ school and get on the road for something different. Kids were young enough in 2017 that they don't really remember it, but this one made an impression. The moment of totality is totally different from even a 95% eclipse, it's literally like night vs day. Life changing? No, not really. But a super cool excursion? Hell ya! Same way we jump to go skiing when the east coast gets a good winter storm, or run to the beach on the shoulder season days with good weather before or after the crowds arrive for summer. Take the opportunities that life throws around. This one was great.

[Anonymous]

Did they play "total eclipse of the heart" at any of the events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids were young enough in 2017 that they don't really remember it, but this one made an impression.

Same here: my DD was almost 7 in 2017 and doesn't remember much. Now - as a teenager - she gets it. It also helped that she was talking about planets / solar system in her middle school science.

[Anonymous]

Saw the partial eclipse in DC on 2017 and it was fun and interesting. My twins were only 6 then and they enjoyed it and thought it was interesting, but not particularly memorable.

I wanted them to see the total eclipse this time, so we traveled to Texas (we have family there, so went to combine the trip with a family visit) and ended up in Waco and it was a truly astounding experience. All of us thought it was well worth the travel to see the eclipse and have that experience. And my kids are 12 now and they will definitely remember this experience. They will be 32 when the next one comes around and I expect that we'll go again, but next time, they'll plan it and take us along with them.

Completely different experiences. 82% in 2017 and totality in 2024.