* The eclipse is almost upon us! Here’s an interesting factoid from the SJ-R…
By prioritizing certain shades, tones, and colors, one’s outfit could actually enhance the viewing experience on April 8, rather than take away from the rare sight.
According to experts at Solar Eyeglasses, it’s best to wear shades of red and green to enhance your viewing experience and avoid neutral tones. […]
“This Purkinje effect during the coming eclipse will turn the whole experience from just watching the sky go dark to a real-life science demo on your clothes! But to really see the changes in color saturation, lots of people need to wear these complimentary red and green colors. Two or five in a group of 100 wouldn’t help,” according to Solar Eyeglasses spokesperson.
As the eclipse nears totality, about five minutes prior, the human eye enters the mesopic vision zone, where surroundings begin to look less colorful, turning a gray and silvery color. As the sky darkens, colors, especially warmer ones like red and orange, start to lose vibrancy and saturation, mixing in with the grays. Meanwhile, green shades become brighter and more vibrant.
* I’m heading to my hometown of Carbondale where forecasts say skies will be clear. Tribune…
Early predictions indicate southern Missouri, southern Illinois and central Indiana will have clear skies and offer some of the country’s prime observing locations.
But many meteorological factors — such as water vapor and air temperature — that combine to produce cloud cover can complicate and change forecasts as eclipse day approaches.
“The sun is one of (the) main drivers of weather here on Earth,” Dolan said. “(It) is also responsible for convective-type clouds, meaning the sun heats the surface, the air rises, and then a cloud forms. So when you lose the sunlight, you can get a decrease in shallow convective clouds, which could increase chances of viewing the solar eclipse.”
With a sudden loss of sunlight, like what will happen during totality, humidity increases briefly, temperatures drop and winds die down, which could dissipate any puffy, cotton-like convective clouds that are low to the ground.
The eclipse experience at SIU starts on April 5 – the Friday before Eclipse Day – and runs all weekend. Science-based workshops, arts and crafts, live music, a fun run, a convention and much more span the three days leading up to the celestial event as well as Eclipse Day.
Most events are free and open to the public. Two events – Eclipse Day at Saluki Stadium and Saluki Eclipse Con – are ticketed, but low cost.
[Sarah Vanvooren, director of events and outreach for SIU] said SIU is pulling out the stops in its collaborative efforts with NASA and Adler Planetarium to offer visitors extraordinary opportunities that will heighten their enjoyment of the total solar eclipse. […]
Saluki Stadium is the epicenter of Eclipse Day events. SIU will team up with Adler Planetarium, NASA EDGE and others to offer a guided, fun-filled total solar eclipse experience.
The horseshoe-shaped facility has a seating capacity of 15,000, offering plenty of sky-filled views. Seating includes chairback seats as well as bleacher seating and spots on the grass berm enclosing the north end zone. Saluki Stadium is located at 1415 Arena Drive on campus. Doors open at 11 a.m. on Eclipse Day. Get tickets for the stadium and parking passes here.
* PK’s is a southern Illinois staple, I highly recommend seeing Taul Pawl …
- Give Us Barabbas - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 10:51 am:
Naw, the traffic there and especially coming back, is too much for me. Going to drive an hour south of Springfield and settle for what I can get. There’s a stretch of super tiny towns on the totally line between Effingham and Terre Haute in the totality band. My hope is to escape most of the crowds that concentrate around the larger towns.
My recommendation: aim to go to a general area versus a specific location for the eclipse. If you want to go watch in Carbondale, that’s fine, for example, but if you specifically lock in a spot as part of a party or an event, you limit your viewing potential in the event that said area just so happens to have a patch of cloud coverage for the wrong five minutes whereas if you aim for a general area you can afford yourself sometime to possibly drive a dozen or so miles in any direction to possibly avoid clouds.
== Naw, the traffic there and especially coming back, is too much for me. Going to drive an hour south of Springfield and settle for what I can get. There’s a stretch of super tiny towns on the totally line between Effingham and Terre Haute in the totality band. My hope is to escape most of the crowds that concentrate around the larger towns. ==
That’s a shame, because the difference between totality and even 99% coverage is staggeringly enormous, especially as you can’t take off eclipse glasses outside the path of totality.
I’m waiting for a certain candidate to proclaim he will bring the Sun back if his followers contribute to his bank account. After the eclipse he will be proclaimed Sun God by the faithful.
My wife will be at a conference in Columbus, OH (just outside the totality zone) and I’m tagging along. I have family over in Dayton though, and their house is supposed to get just over 2 minutes of totality. I plan on heading over fairly early in the morning, hanging out with them and watching it, then waiting a few hours before heading back to Columbus to let the traffic dissipate some.
While our entire family traveled from the western Chicago suburbs to just south of St. Louis to view the 2017 total eclipse (and it was breathtaking), I’m too old to drive that far this time. So we will instead drive to a town just north of Indianapolis. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate!
Going to Marion, IL (C-dale adjacent). I booked a hotel room a year ago; all the rooms in C-dale were already booked. Based on our experience in 2017, when we had to head north right after the eclipse (which was some crazy backroad driving), I got a room for Sunday and Monday nights. We have a telescope with sunshield, solar glasses, camera, and we’re bringing food and drink so we don’t have to go anywhere in the crazy traffic. Now, all we can do is hope for clear skies.
== waiting for a certain candidate to proclaim he will bring the Sun back if his followers contribute to his bank account. After the eclipse he will be proclaimed Sun God by the faithful.==
Either that or he will be taken up in the rapture.
Headed to Cdale too. Sorry to see PKs highlighted, because it will grow the crowds Perhaps if we tell them they don’t have pizza anymore they will stay away.
‘17 was blast. Our only advice was don’t try to rush home. Stay to Tuesday. Travel safe Isabel and tell Dad “hi”
Won’t be doing much related to the eclipse, will instead be bedside as my wife recovers from cancer surgery in Iowa City. Real life intrudes sometimes. But the rest of you enjoy the eclipse and attendant hoopla, then share your stories!
Looks like the planned route into Indiana will work out.
Additionally, I’ll be staying away from Interstates and major towns.
Remember when everyone was told to ‘take the train’ into the city for the Cubs WS celebrations? Well, it turns out *everybody* took the train, and there were hours of waiting in line just to get in. I ended up driving in to the city instead, and the traffic in and out was some of the lightest I’ve ever seen, especially for a large event.
Whatever the majority of people are being told to do, avoid that thing.
“it’s still a good idea to at least keep your pets indoors”
What?
In case this isn’t a joke - Animals don’t stare at the sun. There’s nothing ’special’ about the light during an eclipse making it any more dangerous than the full sun, which again animals don’t stare into.
We went to Carbondale in 2017. It took us 15 hours to drive home to Evanston. We visited Scratch Brewing in Ava, IL which almost made the ridiculous drive home worth it.
@TheInvisibleMan, then don’t keep you animals indoors on Monday. It’s not like I suggested anyone who doesn’t should be arrested. So you’re completely free and clear to not do so.
Conversely though, what actual harm does it cause if you choose to do so? It’s not as though I’m suggesting people don’t get vaccinated or something.
Some people would rather be safe then sorry. That’s their choice. Again, no one is forcing you to do so if you don’t want to.
With that in mind, what exactly was the point of your comment? To make me look stupid? To demonstrate your superior intellect? You don’t have to communicate your disagreement with every single thing you see that you disagree with. Especially when it doesn’t hurt anybody.
Can you walk me through the potential damage this “factual incorrect” statement could cause? Are you that scared a dog might pee on the carpet one extra day?
While it is true animals typically do not look directly at the sun, most experts are still recommending keeping animals indoors that day for other reasons.
@Demoralized, I have no idea what other comments you are talking about. Especially when you consider there are people who comment that think they need the right to carry a fully loaded AK-47 with them at all times. I fail to see how any past comment indicates I live “afraid of my shadow.”
Also, as the article I just posted shows, experts agree you should keep your pets indoors, even if for different reasons.
But assuming that was true: how is that any concern to you? How is the way I choose to live my life your business? Why are you worried about something you admit causes no harm?
As long as you do no harm, live your life the way you want and stay out of other people business. I’ll do the same.
Heading to Indiana–will look for a place out of the way. The coolest part of 2017 was the dusk dawn cycle of the insects and animals as the eclipse took place.
- Give Us Barabbas - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 10:51 am:
Naw, the traffic there and especially coming back, is too much for me. Going to drive an hour south of Springfield and settle for what I can get. There’s a stretch of super tiny towns on the totally line between Effingham and Terre Haute in the totality band. My hope is to escape most of the crowds that concentrate around the larger towns.
- TJ - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 10:52 am:
My recommendation: aim to go to a general area versus a specific location for the eclipse. If you want to go watch in Carbondale, that’s fine, for example, but if you specifically lock in a spot as part of a party or an event, you limit your viewing potential in the event that said area just so happens to have a patch of cloud coverage for the wrong five minutes whereas if you aim for a general area you can afford yourself sometime to possibly drive a dozen or so miles in any direction to possibly avoid clouds.
- TJ - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 10:53 am:
== Naw, the traffic there and especially coming back, is too much for me. Going to drive an hour south of Springfield and settle for what I can get. There’s a stretch of super tiny towns on the totally line between Effingham and Terre Haute in the totality band. My hope is to escape most of the crowds that concentrate around the larger towns. ==
That’s a shame, because the difference between totality and even 99% coverage is staggeringly enormous, especially as you can’t take off eclipse glasses outside the path of totality.
- Barnaby Wilde - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 10:54 am:
There’s also a free outdoor show Sunday evening on Washington Street, with the mighty Woodbox Gang and Aaron Kamm and the One Drops. BYO!
- Keyrock - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 10:55 am:
Heading to Terre Haute from Chicago. If it’s too crowded, may go east or west to a small town.
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 11:07 am:
Hoping to be able to enjoy some of it in SPI.
I’m waiting for a certain candidate to proclaim he will bring the Sun back if his followers contribute to his bank account. After the eclipse he will be proclaimed Sun God by the faithful.
- Scott - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 11:21 am:
My wife will be at a conference in Columbus, OH (just outside the totality zone) and I’m tagging along. I have family over in Dayton though, and their house is supposed to get just over 2 minutes of totality. I plan on heading over fairly early in the morning, hanging out with them and watching it, then waiting a few hours before heading back to Columbus to let the traffic dissipate some.
- Isbell - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 11:28 am:
Nearly every small town in Southern Illinois is doing something to welcome visitors. Here’s a link with a list: https://www.wsiltv.com/news/eclipse/viewing-locations-and-events-for-the-2024-total-solar-eclipse/article_b2ad0c02-cb62-11ee-a62d-6b481e6d1169.html
- Retired SURS Employee - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 11:32 am:
While our entire family traveled from the western Chicago suburbs to just south of St. Louis to view the 2017 total eclipse (and it was breathtaking), I’m too old to drive that far this time. So we will instead drive to a town just north of Indianapolis. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate!
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 11:35 am:
Going to Marion, IL (C-dale adjacent). I booked a hotel room a year ago; all the rooms in C-dale were already booked. Based on our experience in 2017, when we had to head north right after the eclipse (which was some crazy backroad driving), I got a room for Sunday and Monday nights. We have a telescope with sunshield, solar glasses, camera, and we’re bringing food and drink so we don’t have to go anywhere in the crazy traffic. Now, all we can do is hope for clear skies.
== waiting for a certain candidate to proclaim he will bring the Sun back if his followers contribute to his bank account. After the eclipse he will be proclaimed Sun God by the faithful.==
Either that or he will be taken up in the rapture.
- Annonin' - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 11:48 am:
Headed to Cdale too. Sorry to see PKs highlighted, because it will grow the crowds
Perhaps if we tell them they don’t have pizza anymore they will stay away.
‘17 was blast. Our only advice was don’t try to rush home. Stay to Tuesday. Travel safe Isabel and tell Dad “hi”
- Flapdoodle - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 12:30 pm:
Won’t be doing much related to the eclipse, will instead be bedside as my wife recovers from cancer surgery in Iowa City. Real life intrudes sometimes. But the rest of you enjoy the eclipse and attendant hoopla, then share your stories!
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 12:30 pm:
Looks like the planned route into Indiana will work out.
Additionally, I’ll be staying away from Interstates and major towns.
Remember when everyone was told to ‘take the train’ into the city for the Cubs WS celebrations? Well, it turns out *everybody* took the train, and there were hours of waiting in line just to get in. I ended up driving in to the city instead, and the traffic in and out was some of the lightest I’ve ever seen, especially for a large event.
Whatever the majority of people are being told to do, avoid that thing.
- Mamacita - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 12:40 pm:
We’re headed to Ozark, IL. I’m contemplating a trip to Cdale to see The Woodbox Gang, but we’ll probably stay put
- Former Downstater - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 12:54 pm:
I’ll be staying home making sure my cats don’t blind themselves from starring out the window.
This is perhaps an overreaction. But it’s still a good idea to at least keep your pets indoors that day.
- Deep South - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 1:00 pm:
I get a kick out of people asking for the best place to view the eclipse. How bout go outside and look up. That view is the same everywhere.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 1:02 pm:
===I’ll be staying away from Interstates and major towns===
Tried that in 2017. Didn’t work.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 1:02 pm:
“it’s still a good idea to at least keep your pets indoors”
What?
In case this isn’t a joke - Animals don’t stare at the sun. There’s nothing ’special’ about the light during an eclipse making it any more dangerous than the full sun, which again animals don’t stare into.
- rac1222 - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 1:03 pm:
We went to Carbondale in 2017. It took us 15 hours to drive home to Evanston. We visited Scratch Brewing in Ava, IL which almost made the ridiculous drive home worth it.
- Former Downstater - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 1:44 pm:
@TheInvisibleMan, then don’t keep you animals indoors on Monday. It’s not like I suggested anyone who doesn’t should be arrested. So you’re completely free and clear to not do so.
Conversely though, what actual harm does it cause if you choose to do so? It’s not as though I’m suggesting people don’t get vaccinated or something.
Some people would rather be safe then sorry. That’s their choice. Again, no one is forcing you to do so if you don’t want to.
With that in mind, what exactly was the point of your comment? To make me look stupid? To demonstrate your superior intellect? You don’t have to communicate your disagreement with every single thing you see that you disagree with. Especially when it doesn’t hurt anybody.
- Huh? - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 2:04 pm:
Staying home. Will see a partial eclipse. Good enough for me.
- TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 2:05 pm:
–what exactly was the point of your comment?–
It’s a response to disinformation being treated as factual.
It’s a response to superstition being treated as factual.
What’s the harm? Factually incorrect statements, often lead to incorrect or even damaging decisions.
If you prefer that for yourself, that’s perfectly fine. However, you chose to spread that message. Expect a challenge when you do so.
- Former Downstater - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 2:28 pm:
Can you walk me through the potential damage this “factual incorrect” statement could cause? Are you that scared a dog might pee on the carpet one extra day?
While it is true animals typically do not look directly at the sun, most experts are still recommending keeping animals indoors that day for other reasons.
Here is a NPR article on the subject:
https://www.npr.org/sections/solar-eclipse/2024/04/05/1243035831/solar-eclipse-pet-safety-tips-sunglasses#:~:text=Carlson%20says%20while%20certain%20dogs,at%20home%20to%20be%20safe.
- Demoralized - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 2:32 pm:
==what actual harm does it cause if you choose to do so==
Doesn’t do any harm. But this comment, along with others you have made in the past, does show that you appear to be afraid of your shadow sometimes.
- Former Downstater - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 2:44 pm:
@Demoralized, I have no idea what other comments you are talking about. Especially when you consider there are people who comment that think they need the right to carry a fully loaded AK-47 with them at all times. I fail to see how any past comment indicates I live “afraid of my shadow.”
Also, as the article I just posted shows, experts agree you should keep your pets indoors, even if for different reasons.
But assuming that was true: how is that any concern to you? How is the way I choose to live my life your business? Why are you worried about something you admit causes no harm?
As long as you do no harm, live your life the way you want and stay out of other people business. I’ll do the same.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Apr 5, 24 @ 3:31 pm:
Heading to Indiana–will look for a place out of the way. The coolest part of 2017 was the dusk dawn cycle of the insects and animals as the eclipse took place.