Preparing for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse, Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- First in a new series on capturing a total solar eclipse leading up to the next one on April 8, 2024. Head to www.squarespac... to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code NEBULAPHOTOS Part 2 in this video series: • Preparing for the 2024...
==Resources Mentioned==
Camping along the path of totality: www.hipcamp.co... Thanks to @absorbingphotons for the tip!
Baader Astrosolar Safety Film for making your own custom filters (3 stores in case any sell out):
Agena - bit.ly/448ursS
B&H - bhpho.to/3r4RFBj
High Point Scientific - bit.ly/3PxkpNm
==Patreon==
I'm on patreon! Join me and over 900 other helpful astrophotographers as we endeavor to improve our craft together: / nebulaphotos
==Disclosures==
This video is sponsored by Squarespace.
I use affiliate programs. Links above are affiliated links meaning if you click them, I get a small commission. Your price does NOT go up!
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Part two in this series is now up: ruclips.net/video/t89dN92u39s/видео.html In part two, I cover eye safety, equipment, and making custom filters with the Baader film I recommended in this video. Check it out!
I Live in GUY, Arkansas 72061. I'm at Highest point in 3 Counties A Top a Mountain. Reach out if you come through
20-25 miles N-NE of Conway, AR. 72032
dude i gave you a thumbs down for telling people they can stare at the sun during a solar eclipse. i recommend you do some research before making a video.
@psilocybemusashi A lot of People are getting its OK to Stare at the Sun from hearing Sun Gazing opens your Third Eye-> Without Researching Sun Gazing its only at certain times ( Rise and Sets) Having worked in oilfield years Ago during Daytime we had to wear protection so many were having Retna Burnout and Eye problems from Clear Safety Glasses. So yes I'd do some serious Research before telling anyone ( Which I personally wouldn't recommend!) To stare at the Sun.
The comet is red has two tails behind it coming, that will let the world know what time it really is.
Or you can just be born with real melanin.
I witnessed the 2017 solar eclipse. It was one of the most significant and beautiful moments of my life. I was most surprised that the corona looked silver, and stretched out to either side in beautiful streamers. The 360 degree sunset was pretty cool too. I'll admit, I cried.
Same here. My uncle's house west of Knoxville was dead smack in the center of the path so we got insanely lucky. I can still clearly remember the moment. The sky began darkening rapidly, the crickets began to chirp under the false impression of dusk. And I can still clearly see the jet black hole in the sky with the sun flailing out behind it.
I'll be driving out to Little Rock to see it again next year 100%.
@@Pika915 we're going to Indianapolis because it's closer, but I am concerned about the weather in April.
Me too. Very significant.
Our area had cloudy skies sadly but we could still see it decently
I saw the silver bit in 2017 from Lake Erie side of New York. Used welding helmet and just eyeballed it for a few seconds after I felt it was safe, a good idea to prepare now for photos tho
I'm a travel photographer, and the 2017 eclipse was my first. I made the decision to just enjoy the event and not stress about photographing it. Great decision. I'll leave it to the experts. Seeing it, experiencing it, is incredible, and I wouldn't want to miss that for photos that other people are getting, and probably better than I could. I'll probably still set up my camera on a timer.
Why didn't you do that in the first place.....
Watching it goes way over picturing it, but you can prepare for minimum interaction with your equipment during totality but it might be so tempting to check on your camera so watch out!
I was in Missouri for the 2017 and the skies were very clear. I was on a rise overlooking a valleyish area and could see the shadow approaching. It was the most surreal thing I have ever experienced. It was like a dark laser cutting a swath through the Earth. When it got to where I was everything around seemed to shift into another reality. Every one, every animal, every plant went silent as if in awe of the majesty of a bigger, more real, nature.
Honestly hearing all of the birds in unison silence and the cicada start to sound while everything was almost sepia was completely surreal. I've witnessed all of odd things in my life, but that was something else.
We were in a field and heard crickets start to chirp
We were also in missouri in between Columbia and Jefferson City, we were down in a valleyish area when the shadow approched it looked like a storm coming in. Just like abada548 all the birds started roosting.
@@redbull5181 Looking forward to seeing the one later this year
Here is my tip, when its done hanker down and chill for a day before driving, last time it was dubbed the worlds longest traffic jam, expressways were like parking lots.
"h0nker" 😊
THIS time ...looks to be different. Many are expecting at least 3 days of darkness ... and more. Biblical confluence of events seems apparent.
For the 2017 eclipse, I drove from central Florida with my wife and two daughters to rural Tennessee just north of Nashville. I found a spot out in the middle of nowhere with 360 degree, unobstructed view of the horizon. Things could not have been more perfect. We had been looking forward to this trip for many years. I booked the hotel a year in advance.
I'm today a couple of month's past the age of 74. I've been an avid backyard astronomer since the age of 10. In my later 20 year's, I've switched from deep space observing to only that of the Moon. At 55 I started planning my retirement and researching any and all data, choose to retire and move to Mazatlan, Sinaloa, MX. Some 10 year's ago. There's but one thing left on my bucket list. And that's the viewing of a total solar eclipes. In or on April 8th next year. Assuming I'm able to stay alive, after which I'll not care. But I'm going to be smack dab in the exact center of one of the longest duration's of a total eclipse in the history of Earth. Mazatlan has some 340 day's of sunshine. And it's never ever been cloudy day in April. Reckon that my planning is sufficent?
Well if your still alive add becoming a Christian to your bucket list otherwise you will find out hell is not fun it knows your deepest fears basically hell is alive I saw how it reacted when I accidentally walked into a portal that brought me to hell I'm glad I got yanked back out but still your should if your not already a Christian!
@@faithdelucas1517how did that happen? Please share your story. I’m a Christian, saved by His grace. I would love to hear.
Ready for tomorrow?!
@@simonerowe3609 I've been waiting for this event some 50 plus year's. Started my retirement plan's to be here when it occure's, some 11 year's ago. Last night had a hard time going to sleep and worried that if I didn't, I end up sleeping right through it. Only seven hour's to go.
Thanks for the down to Earth inclusive approach. I hope this enables many who might not have tried photographing the eclipse otherwise.
my place is right inside the totality!! all I need is the BBQ and lawn chairs!! woohoo!! I got some good shots of the annular eclipse on Saturday. we had like 80% and some clouds. but every time a cloud went over, I could look right at it and see perfectly!! hot some AMAZING shots!!
Thanks for the tips!
The 2017 eclipse was absolutely amazing. A backpacking friend and I hiked to / camped at a bald in the Nantahalas (part of the Appalachian mountain chain in western NC) for several days. During that time, and on the day of the eclipse, thousands of people gathered in the area but we had found a fantastic, secluded spot with its own little spring so we could avoid the madding crowds until we walked up to the summit a couple of hours before the eclipse. Standing on the bald, we had an unobstructed horizontal view for probably 30-50 miles. The vertical view was dicey, with partly cloudy skies.
Just before totality, we could see the shadow of the umbra approaching us at hundreds of MPH. If you've never heard thousands of people simultaneously gasp, I can assure you it is an unforgettable experience. Fortunately, the sun was clear of clouds for the duration of totality. What a day!
I'm so stoked for this, the exact center line for 100% totality passes literally a few minutes away from me. If it's horribly cloudy/rainy that day I will be very upset, but it is what it is :p
If it's cloudy/rainy where I am that day, I plan on driving along the path until I find a place where it's clear.
Great series, Nico! I drove to Illinois in 2017 for the eclipse and all I had at the time was a Canon Powershot. That event started my journey into Astrophotography, and I bought my first DSLR a month later. It truly is an amazing thing to witness, and I hope people get to experience it at least once in their lifetime. Hoping for clear skies on April 8, 2024!
This is all so cool…I’m 61 & this will be my 1st total eclipse…the bonus is I live in the path of totality - Conway, AR. I’ll be able to watch it from my driveway.
As a community service project, I’m working with the Principal at the Elementary school in my neighborhood to provide NASA compliant glasses to all children at the school (approx 400). It’s an especially important issue b/c school has been dismissed on the 8th. The expected circus during school time & later dismissal would be potentially dangerous & unnecessary.
I want those kids to safely view the eclipse wherever they are & not risk injury b/c they looked without proper equipment.
I will be 62! Easter Monday, April 1, we can't predict nothing, we all have to pray, wait, be vigilant!!!!
For the 2017 eclipse, we traveled from Elko, Nevada to Casper, Wyoming and stayed with friends we hadn't seen for 17 years. I called and asked if they were having an eclipse party and they said, "Yes, come on over!" We were their only guests and one friend came over for a backyard BBQ. They were thrilled to have us. What a wonderful time to reconnect and view an amazing event. I was able to share views through a small telescope and get a few okay photos. Sometimes I think spending those few minutes futzing with cameras or scopes can detract as well as add to the experience. Certainly, planning and preparation is key to a good outcome. Thanks for the videos.
I talked my wife and kids into viewing the 2017 eclipse with me. They thought I was a nerd for wanting to do it, but we all agreed that it was one of the coolest things we've ever done. We were near you Nico. We booked a place in Bowling Green, KY and watched from Franklin, KY (just North of the TN/KY border).
Get to the path of totality. It's not the same even if you're just slightly outside of it. We ended up writing three blog posts on our Five Happy Campers site about it (one for planning, one for what it was like, and one for how to photograph it). There's no need for a telescope or expensive mount to get great shots, though that would be awesome too.
Great prep video. For anyone booking reservations for 2024, I suggest contacting the hotel or person you're making reservations with and ensuring they know the eclipse is happening. During 2017 I heard some stories about hotels and such cancelling reservations and relisting at much higher prices as the eclipse got closer. It ain't right, but you don't have much recourse if it happens to you.
They are well aware and price are 3-5x for anything where I’m going. I fortunately got a room 3 months ago, paid 3x normal at a chain hotel.
The most amazing thing about the 2017 eclipse was the cooling and cloud dissipation that occurred during the partial phase leading up to totality. I was in Columbia, SC and the sky was partly cloudy but by the time of totality the sky was completely clear
I was in Columbia SC too...i drove down from NC....i remember being worried about the clouds, but it was clear like you said.
We drove from Central Florida up to Clemson for it. The clouds disappearing was really cool. I was afraid that we weren't going to get to see anything and then the skies cleared up. I was absolutely amazing and by far the greatest thing i have seen (outside of my kids being born) in my 45 years.
@@kevinashley478
I was in ⃢ Columbia too from Charlotte. I was filming and remember that large cloud looming.
Seeing the corona was euphoric
@@SUGAR_XYLER yeah, my wife didnt see that one, so i am taking her to see this one. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate.
Outstanding idea having a series on the Eclipse. I look forward to watching all of them several times!!!!
Great video! One lesson learned from 2017 that I might include in the next one is traffic considerations. I had a campsite reserved in the Cades Cove area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I got there a few days early so I could chase some deer, bear, and turkeys with the telephoto before the crowds showed up, as well as scout out a specific location. On the day of the event, I got up at 5 AM to wait for the gate to the Cades Cove Loop to open at 7, and was told by a Ranger that the line of cars extended the entire 24 miles back to Gatlinburg, and that Tennessee DOT was barricading the interstate exits for the national park so no more cars could jam up the Highway and local roads. Driving home the next day, my normal 6-hour drive took 18 hours because s many other people were also trying to get home that same day. This year, I've padded my travel plans with a few days on either side, in order to avoid the traffic.
I definitely remember this issue as we had the same problem. This time we're leaving the day after haha
Yup, the traffic is astounding, especially when Google starts rerouting people around the interstates onto the back roads.
For 2017 We had a hotel in Asheville, NC. roughly 100 miles from our totality destination at Huckleberry Knob in the smokies near the TN border. The traffic was INSANE through the entire trip, but just prior and post eclipse it was apocalyptic. It was about 2.5 hours from Asheville to the knob in the morning. There were so many people at our destination that we had to walk 2 miles from our car to the knob, and then I had to make a trip back to get more camera gear so I had already walked 6 miles when totality finally happened, 8 miles walked total to get back to the car afterwards. We left shortly after totality and packing our things, and started the trek back to Asheville, which took a little over 7 hours resulting in us getting to the hotel at about midnight.
After our 7 hour gridlocked hell traffic jam on the way back to Asheville, the next morning (Tuesday) we had to wake up at 6AM to drive back to Connecticut. After being routed off the highway in Virginia for hundreds of miles we wound up having to stop and get a hotel in Pennsylvania at 2AM after being stuck in MORE countless traffic jams on the way home. What should have been a ~14 hour drive turned into a ~25 hour drive, and I had to be at work on Wednesday afternoon. Brutal.
Many lessons were learned about the value of planning ahead and about the influx of last minute plan-less people desperately trying to find a solution (no eclipse glasses, no water, no gas stations for tens of miles with an empty tank, etc). All that being said for 2024 I will have the Thursday before, through the entire week after the eclipse off of work this time, no rushing necessary. Our hotel is booked IN the path on the center-line, there's a great park throwing an eclipse event that's 10 miles from our hotel which we've already registered for. The nicest thing is we are only driving 4.5 hours to our destination in New York this time vs the ~15-25 to North Carolina. I will plan for sitting in traffic regardless and leave early enough to account for it, as well as planning on getting to our observing location EXTREMELY INCONVENIENTLY EARLY in the day so as to avoid the absolute mad rush later. Now to hope for clear skies
Thank You. I'm a native of Buffalo New York near Niagara falls right in the eclipse pathway! .I am planning and returning to visit during that time during the April 8th eclipse and I cannot wait. It will be spectacular!
I was blessed to see 2017 Eclipse from a family farm in Kentucky right at the greatest point of coverage. It was AWESOME. I immediately went online searching for the next time I could see it. I plan to be watching right here in Arkansas!
I drove thousand miles one way to witness and capture this. It was totally unplanned and I was totally new to astroimaging. Just got some pointers and tips and headed off. To say it was a once in a lifetime experience would be an understatement. I do hope I get to witness it once again. Thanks for this video. Will bookmark it for reference.
For me, the greatest motivator to actually go and watch totality has been the reported experiences of those who have seen one.
I'm sold, and I'm going!!!!
Good advice. Order your solar filters now if you don't have one. I arrived for the 2017 eclipse the day before. My plan was to check the weather in the morning and be ready to drive to clear skies if necessary. Even though the sun is the star of the show, take some time during totality to look at your surroundings and sky. Planets and bright stars will be clearly visible and a pink "sunrise/sunset" will be all around the horizon. Good luck & clear skies.
I can't wait. I've started purchasing equipment to attach to my astrophotography gear and have started solar photography to practice for the event. Thanks for the series.
All the planning is great, especially if you can drive hundreds of miles as a last resort to get good weather. In 2017, the traffic was incredibly heavy and the police were afraid people would stop in the middle of the highway to see the eclipse. I drove 200 miles to Johnston City, Illinois and camped in a tent for $15. Hotels were very expensive and full. It was miserably hot and humid, but the most amazing thing I ever saw.
Bruh, you got me totally feeling out over the eclipse! I live in Colorado and just has a passing interest in '17. Now --Thanks to you I'm planning on as remote /rural camping/ hiking trip for 2024!! I wish I saw your post post sooner!! Please post more info about set ups/ safety and getting the best visual recordings of the event, please! I love your enthusiasm!!
Here's a tip you didn't mention and I didn't see in several comments as I scrolled down. Plan your travel to and from your viewing location no later than the day before on the way to and no earlier than the day after for your return. Some of the most horrific, bumper-to-bumper traffic I've ever witnessed was traveling from my home near St. Louis to Carbondale, IL in 2017 on the day of the eclipse. It was like this both directions.
After watching the eclipse in Festus, we spent a few hours in and around St. Louis since we expected heavy traffic. (There was even a 30 minute wait at Ted Drewes, where every window was open.) Heading north on 55, no problems up to about milepost 30, when I got an alert from Google Maps of heavy traffic ahead, and it advised us to take Illinois 4 and 16 to get to Litchfield. As we crossed over 55 at Litchfield, around 9pm and 7 hours after the eclipse ended, we witnessed traffic “flowing” at maybe 15 miles per hour. Crazy stuff!
My biggest piece of advice is to make sure that you stop and spend time looking at the eclipse with your eyes. Even though we are all interested in photographing the eclipse, don't sacrifice just seeing it for the sake of the shot.
I live in Nashville and was fortunate to view the eclipse from my office. I could also view from my home but there would have been less than 30 seconds of totality. Parts of Nashville had about 2 minutes of totality, where I was I only had around 90 seconds. I do not have a telescope or astro camera so I shot it with my Olympus EM10 MkII camera. I did not have any computer automation, but I did have a plan and as many setting presets as my camera offered. Still, I spent most of totality shooting, and really only looked up for a very brief few seconds.
Also, I decided (somewhat stupidly) that I was going to photos for the entire sequence from beginning to end. A buddy and I sat in the the August sun for over 3 hours to take a picture every 5 minutes. I had a wireless release/intervalometer, but because I did not have a tracker, I still had to go out in the sun to adjust the camera before every shot. I did have a manfrotto geared tripod that made this easier than a typical ballhead, but still this got old very quickly. Unless you really, really, really, really want a lot of partial eclipse photos, I would limit the number greatly or almost entirely. Overall I was pretty pleased with my totality photos. For my first attempt, I was able to see solar flares, a good bit of corona, Bailey's Beads and the Diamong Ring.
As suggested in the video, I made my own filters after purchasing a sheet of Thousand Oaks. The film worked perfectly and provides an orange image. I believe that the Baader film provides a white image so you have choices depending on your preference.
I used a micro 4/3 sensor with a 100-400mm lens zoomed all the way out for an effective focal length of 800mm. Although this sounds like a lot, the sun is still only about half the height of the frame. Not sure if this will be useful to those a telescope, but if you're using a camera I'd say it would be difficult to go too long with your lens. You want to leave some room for corona, but you could probably get away with 1000mm equiv if you can find the glass, teleconverter or other adapter. I rented my lens for a week, for under $100 including shipping both ways. In addition to lodging, this is something you should take care of early. Whether renting or buying, suitable equipment could become scarce as the eclipse draws near.
Another tip is to practice. This a little harder if you're renting a lens since you may only it a couple days before but do what you can. In my case, i bought a used 300mm canon lens and a micro 4/3 adapter for cheap. This was my backup in case renting didn't work out, but it also allowed me to practice with a similar setup. Shooting the sun, which is the same as shooing the partial phases is easy and can be done any sunny day. In addition to dialing in my settings, I could practice aiming and tracking the sun with my geared mount.
The total eclipse is, of course, harder to replicate. I read somewhere in my research that exposing for the eclipse would be similar to a full moon. I don't know if that was correct, but it seemed a good starting point. A solar eclipse occurs at New Moon, or two weeks after the full moon. During the preceding full moon I tried different exposures that I might use for the eclipse. On the actual day I used a preset that took multiple exposure-bracketed photos each time I tripped the shutter. I then manually (remember no computer control) increased the shutter, waited a few seconds for movement to die down, hit the remote release, then repeated this several times with the goal getting more of the outer corona. Luckily it worked.
My last tip is to have some binoculars that are also prepared with solar filters. I had two pairs and I made filters for both. These were a huge hit with anyone that used them. It's a little tricky finding the sun through the binocs, but viewing the partial phase through them is MUUUUCH better than with the naked eye, protected by eclipse glasses of course. The larger image in the binocs make it so much easier to see the "bite" out of the sun, especially early just after first contact. I ended up with a good sized group of co-workers and even their friends and family who came to view from our office. The binocs were almost constantly in use, getting passed from one person to another. Young kids especially seemed to like the view thru the binocs.
Unfortunately I won't be able to view the 2024 eclipse form my backyard, but it will pass quite close to my childhood home, where my parents still live. They are right on the edge of totality - to the point that eclipse calculators say the sun will be 99.998% obscured so I guess stuck at the Diamond Ring or Bailey's Beads but for 2:31. I'm strongly encouraging them to travel a bit to view the eclipse. Just 10 minutes down the road at their favorite restaurant, they can see 90 seconds of totality. Unfortunately, my parents are 7 hours away in an area with 50% historical cloud cover so I'm not sure I want to go there. I might chance it if the family gets together and decides to view it together. Otherwise, I'm shooting for the southern tip of IL/southeastern MO, which is the closest part of the path to Nashville.
You lost me at “look at it with your eyes”! No.
I launched a weather balloon during the last eclipse from Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. It was very cool to see the shadow of the moon from a different perspective. I'm planning on it again next year if I can since the line of totality will only be about 50 miles from me.
Did you have to get any permission to launch a weather balloon or can we just do that
@@briansimon8969 .... There are rules before you just send something upward. Your payload as to be under a certain weight and you can't launch OR land near an airport. There is balloon calculation software that will let you enter what you think your accent rate will be, enter what you think your decent rate, enter your launch location and then it will pull data from NOAA about jet steam speed and direction and will give you a 5 mile radius of where your balloon MIGHT land.
If our balloon was going 75 miles east then we would drive 75 miles west and launch it so that it would land near our home town in case we couldn't find it. The balloon launch during that last eclipse was just winging it. We had to solely go on the radio signal that we were getting back from the balloon
@@briansimon8969 ...I have a couple of our launches on my channel. I'll have to get around to putting up the eclipse video. We did about 20 launches in total and got them all back
In 2017 I lived in Lincoln City, Oregon, which was the center of the path of totality. The Portland news stations kept predicting cloudy skies, so the millions of visitors we were preparing for all went to central Oregon. Half an hour before the eclipse, the clouds parted and it was PERFECT conditions! Experienced the eclipse from the comfort of my back deck.
Without forethought or planning, I now live in Texas in the path of totality and I expect to watch this eclipse, once again, from the comfort of my deck! How lucky is that?
First, I don't remember the year, it was between 1992-98. The totality was a little more than 6 min and the best view was at Kona-Kailua, HI. We flew in the night before and we were staying in Volcano, HI. Of course it was raining. It was raining overnight. We set out around 3am and drove east. Then we went north, west, south and it never stopped raining. We finally got to Kona-Kailua and the clouds broke apart. We had just enough time to set up my brothers 4 telescopes. It was unreal. It was indescribable. The most amazing thing I'll ever see in my life!
7-11-1991. You're lucky. Many on the Big Island got completely clouded out.
I remember that was how Einstein was proven right....
Scientists went to great lengths and hardships to get that series of photos.... Kudos to the group of people who risked everything on one shot... The weather had to cooperate.... Amazingly, they managed to get the shots....
I recommend a hill or mountain top location where you can see far into the distance. That way you can see a wall of light and dark flying across the landscape.
They say if you stay around the same area your whole life a total eclipse will occur over your head once in your lifetime. 2024 is that opportunity for me after 42 years in VT. I'll be able to watch this from my balcony and I don't even have to take the day off. Just praying for a clear day.
I experienced my first total solar eclipse this year in Exmouth, Australia. A truly magnificent thing to enjoy, only 60 seconds though. I definitely recommend backup everything. I had planned on using an Evostar80 with a ZWO 224mc cam on a Star Adventurer 2i mount as well as a Canon 60D on a manual tripod but with the camera being controlled by a laptop, the same laptop the 224mc was going to use. Even though I had brought a powerbank the laptop was chewing through the power so I abandoned the Evo80. I lent the solar filter from that telescope to a gentleman from Greece whose filter had got damaged on the way there. And then 4 minutes prior to first contact my Eos 60D died. Post trip analysis determined that at some stage the camera had got wet( im blaming two trips to Malaysia for this as humidity is a killer there) and corrosion had occurred on the circuit board for the sd card. That board also had a little microswitch that detected when the battery door was open. That switch decided to fall off 4 minutes before the start. I was using it right up to that time blissfully unaware that a problem existed. Next time two cameras. If I go to the USA or Mexico for 2024 I don't think I'll take more than just a camera(×2) and a telephoto.
I drove 3 hours after work to witness the 2017 total eclipse. It was indescribable.
Just got to watch this, glad you found the Hipcamp map helpful, Nico! This is such good info for anyone planning an eclipse. You reminded me I need to get some backup locations ready.
Was an assistant astronomy guide on a tour bus in Yellow Stone from Australia for the total eclipse and will be back in Texas in 24.
Yes I'm prepping now to go over, lots to think about!!!
I've been to a few solar eclipses and have always planned 1½ to 2 yrs ahead. I've traveled to Africa, Australia, and Germany to see and photograph eclipses. This eclipse is gonna be in my backyard in Canada, I ain't traveling anywhere. We would like to catch this one in Canada.... something I've never had the opportunity to do. I have two alternative sites. If they don't pan out, at least I tried. Good luck, everyone, and clear sky's for the 8th of April 2024....🤞
In 2017 I drove from Santa Fe, NM to Glendo State Park in Wyoming. It was clear blue skies that day.
We worried about where to camp, but on the day, the State Park opened up vast dispersed camping areas on grass by the lake, and they charged a nominal $20.
Because the State park is right on the I25 freeway, lots of people came up from Denver. Immediately after the eclipse, the freeway to Denver was bumper-to-bumper for 100 miles lasting over 14 hours. Luckily, we were able to just camp another day, and left the Park the next day, no traffic at all. We found that planning ahead to avoid traffic was key to a great event.
I'm glad I found your channel! I just started planning for 2024 and I also saw the eclipse in 2017. I agree with all of your tips. I'm going with my little teardrop camper so I can be mobile and boondock if need be. One place I'd suggest everyone look for camping spots is city/county websites that are on the path of totality. Many of them set up their own temporary campgrounds. I stayed at one near Madras, OR for the 2017 eclipse and they had cleared a huge field next to their airport and had nice-sized spots for a decent price, and plenty of facilities.
Looking forward to your videos to prep. I'm going to use the October annular eclipse as my test run for 2024!
I remember the 2017 one. So surreal. The trip up. The camping in the car cause there were no places to stay, the drive back (took a detour that turned out to be faster than the main way). Super fun and unforgettable experience. Am really trying to get to this one, too. Thanks for the tips
Pity that we can not see it in Europe. You will show it to us. Get ready to show the best. We stay tuned.
There will be a total solar eclipse in northern Spain on August 12, 2026.
I totally see you enthousiasm and you're absolutely right; a solar eclipse is unforgetable! I saw two, one in Zambia (Africa) and one in France. Very recomendable! Unfortunately I can't come to Texas/Mexico (💵💵💵) but I sure will follow your event. Clear Skies😊
Live in southern Illinois. Got some great pics of the 2017 eclipse which we had printed on canvas. The weirdest thing was when it was in totality our chickens suddenly all sat down and went quiet. 😃
in 2017, we chased clear weather from Charleston SC to Orangeburg SC....it was SPECTACULAR!
Buffalo is going to be ground zero but I live about 150 miles north, hoping for clear skies.
❤🎉❤ I'm on the top of the mountain in New Hampshire Woods, I can't wait 🎉🎉🎉
I live about 45 minutes west of Buffalo. It's going to be cloudy. I'm just hoping to catch a glimpse
I'm a map guy and really want to thank you for all the maps you show.... especially the hipcamp one, how unique. Lawson di ransom canyon
I was able to capture the 2017 eclipse. My first to take photos of. I lived in MD at the time but my sister lived in SC and in the direct path of totality. We could watch it in her yard with no worry about crowds. Loved it.
Though I was new to astrophotography at the time, I found a lot of advice online and followed it carefully, and 2017 turned out for me to be a 100% success. Idaho was the best place to see that eclipse. I only lived a few short hours drive away in Utah. I had multiple observing sites planned in eastern Idaho and Wyoming, but my primary site turned out to be perfect. Perfect weather, literally not a single cloud in the sky. I chose to camp. I did some research and found that there were many camping locations on government land (BLM, national forests, etc.) where there were a certain number of sites that DO NOT TAKE RESERVATIONS. They are first-come-first-serve on the day you want to occupy the site. I picked out about 4 of these locations and planned to arrive about 8 am at the first one, FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE ECLIPSE. The first one wound up not having any sites available but the second one did have 2 spots still available so I grabbed one of those. About 2 hours later the last one there was taken. I camped there for 5 days until the eclipse. During that time I visited several viewing sites in the area By the day of the eclipse I had narrowed it down to 3 sites and made my final decision the day of the eclipse. Throughout the entire 2 week period before the eclipse I closely watched the weather forecasts and used that as my guide for where to search for viewing locations. I rehearsed the imaging of the eclipse, practiced setting up the equipment and taking lots of test pics. I developed a detailed checklist that I followed the day of the eclipse. All the preparation paid off and I got some beautiful pics and video footage.
The 2017 eclipse was on my birthday, and we were almost in the path of totality. Pretty cool gift.
I remember in 2017 sitting underneath my mimose tree, and the many small leaves created hundreds of images of the eclipse on the ground around me. Looks like I'm also in line for this one too, since I've moved since then!
When I saw it in 2017 it was probably the coolest celestial event I’ve ever witnessed but at the time I didn’t realize how rare they are. I have family near Texas so I’ll definitely make a visit out to see them and witness this one in April. Thanks for the video.
Drove all the way from Houston to Nashville for the 2017 eclipse. Till this day I still have goosebumps when I recall the event.
I drove from Long Island when friends told me they had an extra room if I wanted it. I made it to Nashville just in time for the eclipse. We were in a fantastic location - HOWEVER - as the temperature dipped just before totality, a small cloud literally formed right over the sun before our eyes!!! It dissipated right afterwards. Damn! But we still got the sky darkening and Purkinje effect which happened all so quickly. So bizarre! It was my first one and it gave me goosebumps as well.
I'm trying again, this time in Texas and with a new camera and filter - fingers crossed!
We had a total eclipse here in the UK about 20 years ago. Because we live high we still able to see sun on the sea horizon whilst in total darkness. Also met a badger on the way home.
Awesome, been looking for this series, since there is not a lot of RUclips videos on this subject. Flying down to Austin for bbq and heading north to Killeen for the full 4 min 20 seconds of totality! Been to Canada in 1979, Aruba ‘98 and Nebraska in 2017, can’t wait to see this eclipse!!
If you haven't secured a hotel room in the path of the eclipse, it may be far too late. I booked my hotel room a couple of months ago, and even then many hotels were sold out, with most remaining rooms going for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
The nice part about this one is it center of totality will cross within 3 miles of where I live so all I have to do is wait and hope the weather is friendly
I almost forgot the eclipse was going to happen until I found this video. Thanks for reminding me. I remember there were people who thought the 2017 eclipse was going to be the end of the world. I remember getting weird vibes that day, hopefully the 2024 eclipse will be a better experience.
Don't miss it! The one in 2017 was one of the greatest experiences of my life
I knew I wanted to look into it, but was thinking I'd start planning later this year, or even after the New Year. Holy smokes am I glad I came across this video! I found a Motel 6 going for $899/night! Ridiculous! Just booked a spot for $250/night, still in the path of totality for over 4 minutes. I would've been SOL if not for you, so thanks!!
Very much looking forward to following this series. I am extremely fortunate to live in a part of Canada where I'll be getting almost 3 minutes of totality right from my house and have relatives who are also in the path 3 hours east, so I'm hoping I can come up with enough back up plans to not get clouded out.
Experienced the eclipse of '17 and it was so amazing! 4/8 is my husband's birthday too!
Living in Reno for the annular eclipse of 2012 we had the opposite experience you did in 2017. UNR gave out eclipse glasses (that was a zoo to get through) and our chosen location was perfect and uncrowded. Got some acceptable shots with my Sony HX before and after but a cloud came in just at the wrong time. Our friends just 2 miles north, saw (but weren't shooting) the whole thing. They kinda gave us a "Nelson Laugh."
In '17 my girlfriend's sister lived on the Oregon coast right in the path and so I sent my older Samsung point&shoot to her and she got a nice totality shot from her deck. While back down here, I just set up a little "partial party" that attracted a few passers-by. Long way of saying planning is key but like many things, the adventure is fun too.
doing a semester in college in the Fall 2023....I was lucky enough to get Fall Break on the week of the annular eclipse so im camping out in Colorado that week and (hopefully) travelling to the 4 corners for the totality of the eclipse!
Doing all this stuff now since it seems that itll be decades for upcoming ones around here and you never know when your last day on Earth is so wish everyone in comments section good health and go travel for a beautiful event :)
PS: I have never witnessed a solar eclipse ever so im excited for 2024 as well! Thankfully I only have to travel 100 miles from home for that one!
I only have to drive like a hour if weather is good im in the path but wan to be In the center just saw the ring 10 days ago
I was in Casper ,Wyoming in 2017 and plan to be in southern Texas near the Rio Grande next year . Wild Camp or car camp works for me, you don't really need a campground. I was in the national forest last time in Wyoming.
Thanks for this , I have been anticipating this event for 5years. I even bought a cheap RV so I can travel from southmost Ontario to Quebec. I reside in central Ontario (above the edge of totality). I will watch your videos and prepare accordingly. This eclipse will be my first (I'm 57) . Thanks again and all the best
Great video! Lots of information and food for thought. I'm planning on traveling to the adirondacks in New York for 2024, hopefully the weather holds out.
THanks Nico. We are travelling from the UK tonthe USA for the eclipse. I am an astrophotographer but have never done solar. Have been slow on planning but now is the time! Cheers.
I was so excited about the 2017 eclipse…was in the line of the travel…except the 1 day in 2 weeks that it was cloudy and rained…was that day! I felt so bad for the people who drove here from other states. It was hit or miss because I knew a few people within my area and even 30, 60, or so miles away…that had the clouds part at the right time. I was able to witness the extreme darkness. It was very fleeting, though.
I live in Kansas City, Ks. There were areas in the city where it was visible, including at my house…but my guy insisted we go to the airport…where it WASN’T!
Howdy from Greenville, TX. We traveled in 2017 but don't need to for 4/8/24. WOOHOO! Now I have to talk the boss into having a sun party.😊
Great video, I have loosely been talking about making the trip for months now, seems like its time to buckle down and make some plans.
In 2017, my buddy wasn't into the eclipse but asked if I wanted to go on a 5.5 day budget trip and end up wherever I wanted to view the eclipse.
We ended up doing exactly as you have discussed in this video!
He is a master of trip planning, and he had a ton of hotel points.
So we drove from Syracuse to Cleveland to catch a dirt cheap round trip flight to Denver. Rented a car off airport property. Drove to Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Moab, Pocatello, Jackson Hole, Casper, Deadwood, and back to Denver. We were able to hit Sandia Peak, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul set locations, Petro glyphs, Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, Newspaper Rock, Moab Arches, eclipse in Twin Falls Idaho and drove opposite of traffic jam to enjoy Jackson Hole, Yellowstone stone, Little Bighorn, Devils Tower, Deadwood, Mount Rushmore and back to Denver. I wasn't prepared to photograph the eclipse but handed my solar glasses and binoculars to a young family to use and soak in the experience.
Our trip ended up costing about $650 each total for everything. I really enjoyed the Cleveland A Christmas Story house with leg lamp in the window before driving home.
I have already checked the weather forecast for where I live near Dallas, Texas, for 4/8/2024 and I'm happy to report that it is predicted to be completely sunny with no clouds! :P
This video just made me so happy. Thank you.
I’m hoping you’ll cover how to photograph stars near the sun during the eclipse. I’d love to take photos replicating the Eddington Experiment.
I did the last full eclipse up in OR and a annular a few months earlier in NV. I learned being prepared and practice to make sure you have everything down and what do do. I used an eclipse software and it would talk to you to remove filters, etc and controlled the camera. One camera died about 15 minutes before full eclipse. The best advice I got was if you have problems, try for 10 seconds to fix it and then move on as it is over in less than 2 minutes. The software to do emulation helped me a lot to realize how quick it really is. It is fun to do with a group of people. And remember to look up and witness it in real time.
What was the software you used for the eclipse and will it work on iPhone or iPad?
It was called eclipse orchestrator for the PC.
I live in Oregon, so I was able to sit in my backyard for the 2017 eclipse. Already planning to visit my sister just outside of Indianapolis, and hoping for clear skies.
Nico, great information as always. We have a slightly different strategy for booking a place to stay. Since the eclipse is in the afternoon we plan to book a room outside the main eclipse path but within a 100 miles of our chosen location, a public park on the center line with open views to the sky, then drive there that morning. My only concern is traffic that might slow us down so we'll leave early that morning and have a couple of places picked out along the route as "plan Bs". Also, I hope you'll mention to have a second or third camera taking video of the event and recording sounds. My biggest regret from the 2017 eclipse (which passed directly over our house) was not recording the sounds of animals and people, and the shadows around us. Thanks for the reminder to check my supply of filter material.
Hi Jack. Where are you planning to spend the night prior to the eclipse? (I'm considering Cleveland, Ohio.)
@@jameygriesser2819 We are heading for southwest Texas, perhaps Junction, TX. Cleveland would be a good choice but it is too far for us (we are in Oregon). I have friends there as I actually grew up in Cleveland. Historical cloud cover data shows that Cleveland will be nearly as good as sw Texas in early April (and no tornado potential!). The big thing now is finding a place to stay w/in 100 miles of the center-line of totality! Good luck.
Good plan. We are coming over from the UK, holidaying in Florida then heading to Texas for the eclipse. With it in the late PM was figuring don't need to be stopping on the centre line, and tbf any ground should be a good enough spot for observing, side of road, park, field.
@@philleng480 Be cautious of where you are if you stop along a road. Some landowners can be very confrontational if they think you are on their land and I worry that especially on eclipse day some will be looking out for folks stopping on their property. Highway shoulders are public lands but some adjacent landowners will try to run you off regardless. I plan to have as many public parks, public government offices, university lands, etc. mapped out so I have a "public parking area" available if I need it Also, be aware that parking and traffic will be a problem so give yourself plenty of time.
I empathize with you. I found, just as interesting, was how the environment changed. The shadows got super crisp, the sounds changed and the light was a different tone. But the traffic in Wyoming was insane on exodus. One of my fears next year besides the weather is that I will have so much data capture, I will lose the immersive experience. This is where one has to plan and almost rehearse. Another thing I experienced that was a double edge sword is that I basically had a science demo last time and I had lots of people trying to socialize with me, distracting me from adjusting my cameras. So this time I am making trackers and such to be hands off.
I was in Cabo for 1991 and Jackson 2017 both times were the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!
I live right in the path of totality for 2024's eclipse, but am very amateur still when it comes to astrophotography. So I am looking forward to your continuing video series preparing for this. Thank you.
I saw the 2017 eclipse in Idaho. Holy cow was that a good choice. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Conditions were absolutely perfect. It was spectacular.
Great video! I'm so excited for 2024! My plan for the trip is to rent a nice cargo van that I can sleep in and drive to wherever I need to be to have the most cloudless view. No hotels, no campgrounds, just total freedom to be wherever I need to be to maximize a great eclipse experience!
The last one was the coolest thing I ever seen by far. I'm in TN
I saw it in 2017 Hopkinville, KY the longest time of totality. It was Awesome the Town went all out with festivals and great planned events
I went to Chile for the 2019 solar eclipse.
I was scheduled to arrive one day early… flight got delayed one day. Then my rental car was no longer available…
I did end up making it to the location for totality about 10 minutes before, mind you, I was driving about 100 mph for probably 3-4 hours when I got to Chile. I also probably ran from the cops, they were waving either me or another car down and I just blew right past them 😅
We kinda got clouded out in Oregon for the annular solar eclipse but we did get some good shots. Hoping our plans workout for this one :) thanks for the tips and advice. Looking forward to hearing the settings you used!
2017 was at a vineyard outside hopkinsville KY, was amazing. Plan early, have backups, and make reservations if possible.
Great video Nico. I've got plenty of time to prepare though, the next full eclipse in the UK is in 2090!
I have opened the piggybank for August 12, 2026 in Spain.
I live in Fort Worth, TX. I am so excited that it’s happening in my area!!!
Have my glasses, camera, and viewing device ready. Just need to walk out to my backyard on April 8th.
I'm looking forward to all of the videos in this series!!!
I was able to get images of the 2017 eclipse from Illinois.
I have a crop-sensor D500 that has been fully astro-modified by Spencer's Camera: no AA filter, no IR, no UV. Just bare sensor. Also had them add the heat sink and replace the shutter. I have 2 other D500 bodies that are not modified. I have a Sky-Watcher EQM-35 that I'm still working on getting set up with my laptop, the software, and all the cables, but it's kinda daunting.
I hope that one or more of your videos covers how to use a tracking mount, and maybe even how to tether or control multiple cameras (either with the laptop or using an external intervalometer, which I also have).
In 2017, I did not have the tracking mount. I was so excited that I forgot to move my camera as it reached totality, and as you can see from my avatar, I ended up with only half of the eclipse! But you're completely right, it was still a fantastic experience!
Thank you for taking the time to do these videos. It will be a wonderful service for so many, and I will never be able to thank you enough!
Just to be aware for your viewers and yourself. You mentioned in the video the Badder AstroSolar Film for viewing and photography, but didn’t mention that it was 5.0 OD or optical density for both viewing AND photography. You must mention this since, there is another optical density of 3.8 which is ONLY for photography and NOT for visual use. Very important to distinguish between the two. Otherwise great video. Cheers!
Ah, didn’t realize. I’ve only seen the 5.0 OD film for sale. Thanks for the warning!
You might want to mention this in your next videos since like you say, the film will be sold out soon and most likely it will be the 5.0 OD that sells first. It can’t be stressed enough on how important safety is when viewing the sun. If an unsuspecting person uses the 3.8 OD for viewing, it’s quite possible they could damage their eyes due to the UV light, without realizing it, since they will not feel it. And due to the attenuation of the light, they won’t have any other reaction to it.
Safe viewing! It’s an incredible time to be alive to be able to do what we can with Astrophotography and photography in general now with the digital revolution. I never take it for granted, or lose the wow factor from what we can do today. I’d suggest you mention this in your video on how lucky we are to have these kinds of opportunities. As Isaac Newton said, we are standing on the shoulders of giants!
Cheers!
I was in Jefferson City, Missouri at the time and all my telescope equipment set to really do some outstanding photos. Forget it, I just looked up during a cloud break at totally and was amazing. Tower lights light up, birds started singing, and l saw the stars shining. Never forget that moment. Yes l was using a PST at the time and just forget it and enjoy the show. Enjoy your videos. Keep it up.
I drove to Nashville from tx. And did miss it bc of the clouds. Can’t wait till next year. It’s right down the road this time!
It was incredible!!
I did rather well in 2017, I Drove to SC from GA and picked a very good spot on the edge of a farmers field.
I live in Nashville & it was great! I have my pics.still.it was amazing! It was clear where I was in Ashland city TN.i was in a wide open field.no clouds at that spot
I was driving semi in 2017 and the night before i realized i was in Salem, or. I found myself a parking space at a truck stop and didn't leave until after the eclipse went by. I had heard about it and thought it would be cool to see, but i had never made a plan to actually try to see it until the night before. You describe the darkening as like dusk, i don't think that really does it justice, it's like coming up on a really bright city that lights up the horizon at night, just all around you. It's an erie bright darkness that you don't see any other way
Like you I got a chance to see the 2017 eclipse, I didn't try to photograph it, but that is my goal for this next one. I've had a countdown going on my phone for 6+ months now but it didn't really occur to me to start preparing yet. Thanks for the eye-opening tips about backup plans and getting supplies early!