Umbraphiles?
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (160806)
Boise, Idaho
April 6, 2024 6:50pm CST
This is what eclipse enthusiasts are known as and --"shadow lovers" in Latin. I can't believe how into it some people are. They've booked hotel rooms months in advance, some even years, and are making quite a deal out of this upcoming eclipse. They are watching the weather reports very closely, hoping for clear skies.
The last eclipse was in 2017 and some real enthusiasts actually booked accommodations for this year directly after the last one. Birds may go silent, street lights might go on in the middle of the day, temps may even drop. These are a few of the things to expect on Monday, April 8th.
The average time you will be able to see the eclipse is about 4 minutes. It will mostly occur over the sea with a total length of 9,020 miles in total length. Of that, 6,634 miles will be over water and 3,375 will be over land. It will begin in the Cook Islands of the South Pacific and end in the Northern Atlantic.
There is an average of two solar eclipses happening every year but a certain spot on Earth is only in the path of totality about every 375 years.
If you are willing to travel you may see many in a lifetime but, if you stay in your hometown you may never spot one.
14 people like this
13 responses
@TheHorse (208401)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Apr
@celticeagle Eh, I can't remember...much of anything.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (158149)
• United States
7 Apr
I know we had at least one where I lived as a child. Not total, though, and I was pretty bored with the hype. They had people coloring their lenses by "smoking" them and did not have the eclipse glasses as we know them so mass produced.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Apr
Same here. Just like I don't have to go to the fireworks each year.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
10 Apr
@much2say ......When the kids were young we did it all.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7529)
• Canada
7 Apr
I remember viewing a partial eclipse when I was very young through a bundle of photo negatives. This one will be a lot closer to a full eclipse for me. I'll be at work and Moncton where I work will reach 99%. Home here will likely be greater than 95%. For me, it's interesting but not epically life-changing.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Apr
Interesting. I don't recall any before the one in 2017.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Apr
@koopharper .......I didn't see that one mentioned.
1 person likes this
@koopharper (7529)
• Canada
7 Apr
@celticeagle Did some research the only solar eclipse that I could have remembered would have been the partial eclipse for me March 7, 1970.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Apr
How interesting. I don't recall any but the one in 2017. See how I pay attention? Haha
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (461940)
• Switzerland
8 Apr
@celticeagle We will not witness this one, but our next total solar eclipse will be in three years.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45818)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
7 Apr
Apparently, the Niagara region (where I live) will be a prime viewing spot. BUT the forecast for tomorrow is rain, so who knows?
And, of course street lights will go on in the middle of the day: They're mostly solar activated these days, going on at 4pm in winter.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45818)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
8 Apr
@celticeagle Well, I'm not going anywhere, especially if it starts raining.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Apr
Be ready for a lot of idiots out then.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (59767)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Apr
I remember the last one I saw. It wasn't anything that interesting.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Apr
I think it is rather interesting if you catch it before they eclipse. After that it's dullsville.
@RebeccasFarm (87035)
• United States
7 Apr
Wow you learn something new every day..thanks for sharing this.
Yeah big deal about the eclipse lol
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Apr
Oh, yes. Something to keep our mind busy and away from the idiots on Capitol Hill.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74633)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Apr
Sitting this one out at my PC and waiting for the video of the happening on YouTube,
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (160320)
• United States
7 Apr
Interesting statistics. We are in the path of totality; but I may watch it on TV. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (160806)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Apr
I'm in Idaho so I don't think it comes anywhere near here this time. It did last time and was interesting to see.
1 person likes this
@Scarred4Lyfe (291)
•
7 Apr
Actually, saying 'the last eclipse was in 2017' isn't entirely accurate - the last total eclipse visible in the US was in 2017, but a total (vs a partial) solar eclipse happens somewhere on the earth an average of every 18 months or so. Wiki has a neat list telling when they occur and where they are visible from.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_eclipses_in_the_21st_century
1 person likes this
@Scarred4Lyfe (291)
•
7 Apr
Odd, too, that 'a certain spot on Earth is only in the path of totality about every 375 years' which is generally true, but it was only 7 years for Carbondale Illinois.
1 person likes this
