Here’s our comprehensive, in-depth guide to viewing the total solar eclipse

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IncorrigibleTroll

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Vermont emergency management is notifying folks of high visitor numbers and making sure people have backup communication options because our cell towers are likely to be overwhelmed.

Should be fun!

I'm a little more worried about our municipal sewer systems, myself.
 
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MTSkibum

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As a houston area resident this is the 2nd eclipse in the last year where the totality is close by but still a few hour drive away.

I don't want to stress the infrastructure of the local communities where this would be good to watch. I am sure much of those towns will be a mess around the eclipse.

It would be neat to see, but I will pass.
 
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KT421

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I wish this article stated exactly when the eclipse was set to occur.

It will be at different times based on where you are, so the article can't really be more specific than "Apr 8th in the afternoon." But you can look it up and get an exact time for your location
 
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Fabermetrics

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Saw the one in Colorado a few years back. Now in the north east and will be watching this one. Wont be making the drive up to see the 100% totality again like I did in Wyoming but will hopefully be enjoying it all the same where I am. Highly recommend everyone make an effort to see the sun and moon kiss!
 
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"Look up" is not really enough advice.

There are some safety issues with eclipse glasses that I saw people break last time, and they ended up dazzled or even with possible eye damage. First off, you put your glasses on BEFORE looking up, and take them off AFTER looking away from the sun. It can be tempting to take them off when you're done looking for a moment, and if you're looking at the sun when you do, you will instantly have a huge dead spot in your vision that will take minutes to go away (if you didn't hurt yourself). Get in the habit of looking at the ground when messing with your glasses.

Of course there's one exception to that, and that's totality, the few moments you can, and want to, look at the sun without glasses (though I still suggest looking away first so you don't mess up later). The best way to know when it's safe is to use an eclipse app with an audible alarm when to take your glasses off, and when to put them back on. I haven't looked at apps for this year yet, but the one I used last time was extremely precise on timing, using your GPS location to figure out just how long you could look at the corona before the sun started peeking out again. The exact duration varies depending on where you are!

If you haven't done all this before, it's most definitely an experience worth having. And make sure you check in with the sun for quite a while (at least an hour or two) before and after totality - it's fun to watch the moon's position change, and the sunlight, while still bright, slowly washing out of the world as the eclipse approaches.

Lastly - resist the temptation to take casual photos. They probably won't come out, and it takes away from the time you can spend looking with your real eyes. If you want to do the solar photography thing, fine, but set up way in advance and put the photos on automatic if you can.

As for where to be - Parking lots in a state or national park are usually ideal, with trees cleared in the area and a good view of the sky. Though I broke that rule in 2017 and ended up watching the eclipse on the top of a little incline behind of a macdonalds, because it gave me a 360 degree view of the entire area, which was ideal for watching the sunlight level affect the ground, and a few squirrels that freaked the fuck out.
 
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Worth noting: I know of at least one town in the center of the path of totality that has been preparing for literally years. New parking, built hotels for the purpose, set up grandstands, &c&c. No one is going to be in the office Monday, cuz everyone plans to drive an hour to get to the path of totality. But i'm banking on not being able to drive back for Tuesday morning either.
 
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Unfortunately in my province our clown of an education minister recommend that schools keep children inside and take appropriate measures to make sure no one can see it by accident (i.e. close the curtains...). I'm so pissed at and ashamed of my politicians.

Newspaper link (in French)

Edit : At least, me, my father, brother and his kids will go see it together, FTS!!! (fuck the schools!!!) :D
 
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wagnerrp

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You forgot a step that makes your assertion about how totes super easy this whole thing is totally not the case for almost everyone on the planet.
This is the last one in the US for a couple decades, but that doesn’t mean it’s the last one anywhere for a couple decades.
 
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psiu_glen

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Drove my then 7-year old through four states in 2017 so we could see it. Ended up in the parking lot of an Arby's for it.

It was hands down amazing. The only thing that really takes it down the all time list is how short it ends up being. But seeing the day turn to night (fooling all the automatic lights), a 360º sunset, and understanding why ancient cultures thought a dragon was eating the Sun? Priceless.

(Note: soundtrack for the drive better include A Total Eclipse of the Heart, but when the sun has been devoured it should be Black Hole Sun.)
 
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xPutNameHerex

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Step 2: Obtain solar eclipse glasses. These will be for sale everywhere, but don't forget them, and make sure they're ISO certified so your eyes don't get fried. A pair should cost about $2. You don't need to pay more than that.
Can anyone recommend a pair of actually confirmed ISO certified glasses with a link? There's so many scams on Amazon and the rest of the web out there that I haven't bought anything yet since I'm terrified of buying a knockoff and damaging my loved ones and my eyes.
 
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DrLeonidas

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Thanks for the article.
The linked map, however, is too US-centric.
I want to see the details for the UK.
I'm aware there is no totality in the UK.
But, it's strange - if I select any water around the whole UK, it will show me the partial eclipse details.
However, as soon as I click on any mainland that isn't North America - it says "no eclipse available".
Why build an eclipse map which is so US-centric?
Of course, I can Google for a non-US-centric map, but this is also a global publication and it would be nice to provide a link that isn't 100% focused on US readers.
I thought the sun will have set before it gets to the UK? The NASA map shows it ending out over the middle of the Atlantic.
 
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Boskone

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Vermont emergency management is notifying folks of high visitor numbers and making sure people have backup communication options because our cell towers are likely to be overwhelmed.

Should be fun!
A lot of counties here in Texas have already declared emergencies due to the expected influx of people viewing. Rural counties are anticipating more visitors than residents for several days.

Making sure food is stocked, etc because stores may well be overwhelmed...if you could get to one in the first place.

I'm south (or east) of the line of totality, but still anticipating some traffic issues around that time.
 
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1Zach1

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