8/21/2017 - The Great American Eclipse

[tentcamper]

I would like to be in the area that has the longest maximum eclipse or totality. This is the short period that the Moon completely covers the disc of the Sun. Only the Sun's corona is visible. What I'm seeing on the nasa link is at best location (nasa chart "GD"). Totality is 5 seconds at best and is quickly reduced left and right of GD along the path across the US.

The stages on each side of totality is the total eclipse and it seems to be around ~3 minutes along most of the path over the US. This is the time most of the sun is covered but not completely.

[Skyjim73]

Originally Posted by tentcamper

I would like to be in the area that has the longest maximum eclipse or totality. This is the short period that the Moon completely covers the disc of the Sun. Only the Sun's corona is visible. What I'm seeing on the nasa link is at best location (nasa chart "GD"). Totality is 5 seconds at best and is quickly reduced left and right of GD along the path across the US.

The stages on each side of totality is the total eclipse and it seems to be around ~3 minutes along most of the path over the US. This is the time most of the sun is covered but not completely.

Tentcamper, totality at the point of greatest duration will be about 2 minutes and 42 seconds, NOT 5 seconds. As was pointed out earlier, you get better than 2 minutes 30 seconds from Nebraska to the Carolinas. Your biggest factor in seeing the eclipse at totality or not is cloud cover - as a couple of posters have already pointed out, that means a wise eclipse chaser will be ready to MOVE in response to late weather reports in the final hours before the eclipse. Some areas are better with regard to highways running along the centerline area, an important factor is making a choice on where to base yourself. Ideally you would like a better statistical chance at clear skies, plus decent roads running roughly along the path. Duration of totality does not change much across the bulk of the lower 48. The partial phases will take about 3 hours from start to finish along the centerline for most of the states.

[Mr_funnypuns]

Try this website as a starting point: http://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/

There's a book as well on amazon

[johnpuppo]

I'm planning on driving up from Reno, NV to the Oregon section of the eclipse path; somewhere along highway 26 between Mitchell and Unity. I would appreciate any info about campgrounds in that part of Oregon, especially around John Day, OR.

Thanks.

[mecicon]

Originally Posted by johnpuppo

I'm planning on driving up from Reno, NV to the Oregon section of the eclipse path; somewhere along highway 26 between Mitchell and Unity. I would appreciate any info about campgrounds in that part of Oregon, especially around John Day, OR.

Thanks.

http://www.rvparkreviews.com/regions/oregon/john-day

[inghamm]

Originally Posted by johnpuppo

I'm planning on driving up from Reno, NV to the Oregon section of the eclipse path; somewhere along highway 26 between Mitchell and Unity. I would appreciate any info about campgrounds in that part of Oregon, especially around John Day, OR.

Thanks.

In 2014 we stayed at a vacation rental in Mitchell. That was pre-TM and being the wimps that we are, we wanted air conditioning. (Then we went on to the coast for tent camping) So I can't help you, except to say, while you are there make sure you see the painted hills. (But I'm guessing you already knew that) Civilization is pretty sparse in that part of the country, but the weather should be good (and hot)

[johnpuppo]

Thanks for the website,mecicon. It will come in handy when I'm in that area on other trips. Unfortunately I fear every site in the area will be taken by the time I get there because of the rarity of this event(they all seem to be first come/first serve). I would like to know I have someplace to park when I get there so I might have to expand my search area.

Thanks again for the reply.

John

[johnpuppo]

Thanks for your reply, inghamm. I didn't know about the Painted Hills, your pictures look interesting. I'll try to get them into my itinerary. I'm also thinking about the John Day Fossil Beds. It looks like I'll have to expand my search area.

John

[tentcamper]

I would like to stay a COE CG in KY. But I don't qualify for the 50% discount until July. There is no getting the discount after you make the reservations, kinda sucks. I think I just need to make the reservations at full price. Don't want to miss out on a CS in the path?

[johnpuppo]

I'll be staying in the Boise/Meridian KOA between Wednesday, August 16 and Tuesday, August 22. It's a little farther east than I had first planned but it is now reserved so I won't have to search for a spot when I get to that part of the country (I would guess that just about every available square inch of ground will be occupied by that time). And it is close to roads running east/west along the path of the eclipse.

John