Total Solar Eclipse coming to NY: April 8, 2024

[Sbob]

How far in advance do you know about northern lights?

SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids

Short term predictions.

 

[Benny Profane]

Booked a room in Saratoga Springs as a base, and I guess we'll drive into the Lake Placid area on Monday for viewing. Is Whiteface still open on the 8th? How about Gore? Otherwise, where's a good high spot to view? Hiking trails are mud, right? Whatever, good excuse to get away. It's only like five minutes at the most, right?

 

[Peter Minde]

Booked a room in Saratoga Springs as a base, and I guess we'll drive into the Lake Placid area on Monday for viewing. Is Whiteface still open on the 8th? How about Gore? Otherwise, where's a good high spot to view? Hiking trails are mud, right? Whatever, good excuse to get away. It's only like five minutes at the most, right?

Not high altitude like top of Whiteface, but stadium at Mt van Hoevenberg or parking lot at Dewey Mt might be good choices.

 

[TonyC]

Way better than an eclipse. Not even close.

Have you seen a total solar eclipse? If not, you are not qualified to make that statement, so please don't mislead other people. The same applies to those who think it's OK to view 99% from Gore or under the clouds.

 

[TonyC]

Is Whiteface still open on the 8th?

Yes, but they will not let you up the mountain after 2PM.

How about Gore?

Absolutely not as it's outside totality, which we have known since November when they first announced their atrocious plan to lure people who might otherwise drive a trivial 10 miles north to see the real thing.

Otherwise, where's a good high spot to view?

The eclipse shadow is moving at well over 3,000 mph. Thus you won't see anything different on a little bump somewhere than on flat ground. Top of Whiteface (not permitted) or Jay ($40 tram tickets likely sold out) would be what you would need for better evidence of advancing or receding shadow. Even there the shadow is moving so fast the main evidence is that white clouds on the SW horizon will turn black sometime within a minute of when your location goes total.

 

[TonyC]

Sorry I asked -- LoL

Don't be sorry about asking questions. Total solar eclipses across the continental US are so rare (1979, 2017, 2024, 2045) the vast majority of people only hear about them a few weeks in advance like now and need to ask basic questions. That is unfortunate because some people farther away could go with more time to plan ahead. But the people on this forum live close and do not need to shell out for air tickets, rental cars, etc and should make the effort to see it.

 

[Deez]

dude - you are like an eclipse groupie - you sell grilled cheeses at these bro ?

 

[Ripitz]

I couldn’t care less about the Super Bowl and skiing 280 ski areas sounds stressful TBH. I admire Tony’s passion though.

Maybe it’s a good time and I’m missing out. Saw the last eclipse and it was pretty cool. Didn’t see it in totality but it was close. Got dark enough that our chickens went in the coop. We had cheap glasses and welding goggles. Maybe there are better options. Looking through them was kinda like wearing a raincoat in the shower if you know what I mean.

Is it safe to look with the naked eye when it goes total? That would be tempting.

The rangers really don’t want anyone in the High Peaks. They have been asking people not to come. It’s not a good time to be up there. The trails and weather are super sketchy. Cascade is going to be a shit show.

The coolest natural phenomenon I ever saw was a massive meteor shower in Glacier National Park. We didn’t even know it was going to happen. We hiked 6 miles in to meet our friends at a backcountry site and they told us about it. We were like OK whatever. Then it got dark and holy shit I never saw so many stars. Someone brought a mini bong to enhance the viewing pleasure. It was a trip. We were seeing something like 100 a minute. Some had tails that went from one horizon to the other. Never saw anything like it. Totally cosmic. Good times, except for the huge Grizzlies everywhere.

 

[Deez]

I admire Tony’s passion though.

Ditto - no doubt !

 

[Ripitz]

The coolest natural phenomenon I ever saw was a massive meteor shower in Glacier National Park.

I had to look it up. I think it was the Perseid meteor shower in August of 1997. They say it was 150 per hour at its peak. We definitely saw way more than that. LOL