Question about the upcoming solar eclipse and the past eclipse (2017)

[Mreader]

Hi All,

I am curious about those of you who were not in the path of totality in 2017 but close. Did it still get dark/evening like? I missed the 2017 eclipse (and I am kicking myself because I could have been in Nashville but wasn't) and in TX 2017 we didn't have anywhere close to totality. This eclipse coming April 8 we will have almost 98 where I live%. I am probably going to drive 2 hours West to be in the actual path of totality, but I was just genuinely curious how dark it got in the 97-98% range. I cannot find videos of this online. I am also debating going the 2hrs the night before and staying the night because on some forums I was reading that those who were driving to the path were in bumper to bumper traffic for hours. Am also wondering if any PSers were also eclipse chasers who had any experience with this.

BTW this cannot be compared to the annular eclipse a few months back. With that even at 99% the moon is too far from the sun to cause darkness so even at 99% it won't look dark. That is why I am specifically asking about the 2017 one which was a total solar eclipse like the one in April is going to be.

 

[Calliecake]

Hi @Mreader, I‘m tagging @marcy because she is our resident expert on this. I’m interested to hear Marcy’s thoughts about this too.

Hi Marcy, Miss you!

 

[dk168]

I remember being outside to witness a partial eclipse and it went slightly darker than normal.

Can't remember when, however it was between 2010 to 2015 as I remember where I was working when it happened.

DK

 

[sweetpea&babycorn]

I am so excited to see this total eclipse. We are about a 4 hour drive from the closest path of totality so we’ll be making a long weekend out of it. Im so excited to share the experience with my 5 year old who is interested in space. I don’t think my 1 year old will remember it but for us to do this as a family is going to be awesome.

 

[VRBeauty]

I was near Nashville for the 2017 eclipse. On the path of totality but not in Nashville itself - which turned out to be a good thing, because it was overcast in Nashville. My recollection is that it didn’t get totally dark - it was more like dusk than it was like a moonless night. So… I don’t imagine there’s too much difference between 100% and 98%! And the coolest thing to me wasn’t the waning light, it was the lacy shadows that were cast, and the eerie quiet as birds and insects reacted as if it were night. So I’d suggest scouting out a spot out in nature where you can normally hear birds and insects during the day, and where trees etc to cast shadows, but not total shade cover.

 

[LilAlex]

...but I was just genuinely curious how dark it got in the 97-98% range

This is like asking how good is it to get 98% of the way home on a near-empty tank of gas or to get 98% of the way to orgasm. It is a complete world of difference. There is no comparison between 99% (say) and totality -- and I did not appreciate that until I saw my first in 2017.

I have been an amateur astronomer my whole life and even considered a career in it (and if I had gone that route I never would have had a need for this forum ). Being able to take those glasses off at the moment of totality and see the corona and that jet-black hole punched right into the sky -- it's an almost overwhelming sensation of "That ain't right!" You immediately understand why the ancients found it terrifying. It is so unlike every photo you have ever seen.

I can not emphasize this enough: if you can get to one, you must see one before you die. It's not experiencing the darkness or utter silence -- it's seeing that black void in the sky where the sun used to be. (Also, nothing at all like the slow-moving generally cool but not especially jaw-dropping lunar eclipses -- those are a dime a dozen in comparison.)

Recall that in 2017 we were warned of traffic Armageddon with folks trapped in their cars for weeks, etc. It was crowded on our 45 min drive out of town but it was no Donner Party and we made the return trip a little slower than regular traffic.

Even at totality, it was not dark like night -- more like dense twilight and the clear sky was the deepest GIA "royal blue."

 

[Mreader]

This is like asking how good is it to get 98% of the way home on a near-empty tank of gas or to get 98% of the way to orgasm. It is a complete world of difference. There is no comparison between 99% (say) and totality -- and I did not appreciate that until I saw my first in 2017.

I have been an amateur astronomer my whole life and even considered a career in it (and if I had gone that route I never would have had a need for this forum ). Being able to take those glasses off at the moment of totality and see the corona and that jet-black hole punched right into the sky -- it's an almost overwhelming sensation of "That ain't right!" You immediately understand why the ancients found it terrifying. It is so unlike every photo you have ever seen.

I can not emphasize this enough: if you can get to one, you must see one before you die. It's not experiencing the darkness or utter silence -- it's seeing that black void in the sky where the sun used to be. (Also, nothing at all like the slow-moving generally cool but not especially jaw-dropping lunar eclipses -- those are a dime a dozen in comparison.)

Recall that in 2017 we were warned of traffic Armageddon with folks trapped in their cars for weeks, etc. It was crowded on our 45 min drive out of town but it was no Donner Party and we made the return trip a little slower than regular traffic.

Even at totality, it was not dark like night -- more like dense twilight and the clear sky was the deepest GIA "royal blue."

Thank you @LilAlex ! My plan is definitely to get in the path especially since I’m so close. I was just wondering if in the 98% it still looks like twilight. Not because I’m planning on staying in the 98% range if it does, but just curious since it’s something I can’t find the answer to in an internet search. Where were you in 2017?

I am so excited about it in April!

 

[Mreader]

I was near Nashville for the 2017 eclipse. On the path of totality but not in Nashville itself - which turned out to be a good thing, because it was overcast in Nashville. My recollection is that it didn’t get totally dark - it was more like dusk than it was like a moonless night. So… I don’t imagine there’s too much difference between 100% and 98%! And the coolest thing to me wasn’t the waning light, it was the lacy shadows that were cast, and the eerie quiet as birds and insects reacted as if it were night. So I’d suggest scouting out a spot out in nature where you can normally hear birds and insects during the day, and where trees etc to cast shadows, but not total shade cover.

Ok so that answers my question! It does sound similar to what my Nashville friends experienced - they said crickets started chirping etc and it was like twilight. I also love those shadows (those are easily seen for partials). Anyway I’m still going to the path but interesting to hear your perspective!

 

[Mreader]

Ok so that answers my question! It does sound similar to what my Nashville friends experienced - they said crickets started chirping etc and it was like twilight. I also love those shadows (those are easily seen for partials). Anyway I’m still going to the path but interesting to hear your perspective!

Oh, and it was not overcast in Nashville at least not when it was happening. I got to see my friends’ photos and videos, and was very jealous.

 

[Gloria27]

Teeheeee, this brings up memories from 1999.
Twas awesome!