April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

[oscar]

Side note: The 2023 annular eclipse is the same day as election day in Louisiana. People living there will have to choose whether to vote or to see the eclipse in Texas.

Two words: absentee ballots.

Depends on whether Louisiana requires an excuse to vote absentee, and if so what qualifies as an excuse.

[GaryV]

Side note: The 2023 annular eclipse is the same day as election day in Louisiana. People living there will have to choose whether to vote or to see the eclipse in Texas.

Two words: absentee ballots.

Depends on whether Louisiana requires an excuse to vote absentee, and if so what qualifies as an excuse.

Travel out of state usually qualifies. You aren't required to say why you are traveling.

[Bruce]

According to a few voter's guides, it seems out-of-state travel is a valid qualifier for an absentee ballot in Louisiana.

Of course, this would be easier if we had automatic mail voting nationwide (it works just fine in states that do have it, and I can't imagine any other way). I've voted from a plane, a train, and a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, all at my leisure.

[hbelkins]

Side note: The 2023 annular eclipse is the same day as election day in Louisiana. People living there will have to choose whether to vote or to see the eclipse in Texas.

Two words: absentee ballots.

Depends on whether Louisiana requires an excuse to vote absentee, and if so what qualifies as an excuse.

I'm not exactly sure what Kentucky's procedure is now, as my policy is to only vote in-person on Election Day, but in the past you could vote on a machine at the courthouse unless you were going to be away from your local county during all hours when the courthouse was closed. In that case you could vote by mail-in paper absentee.

[ZLoth]

According to a few voter's guides, it seems out-of-state travel is a valid qualifier for an absentee ballot in Louisiana.

Of course, this would be easier if we had automatic mail voting nationwide (it works just fine in states that do have it, and I can't imagine any other way). I've voted from a plane, a train, and a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, all at my leisure.

Texas is very tight about voting absentee. The only way you can request an absentee ballot is under the following circumstances:

• Expected absence from the County during both the early voting period and election day. The ballot must be mailed to an address outside the county.
• Disability
• 65 years of age or older
• Confinement in jail and not finally convicted of a felony

Depending on the type of election, there is a one to two week "early voting" period where you can show up, present your ID, and cast your vote at any of the voting centers in your county, and usually, it's within a few minute drive. That early voting version usually includes a Saturday and sometimes a Sunday as well.

[hotdogPi]

According to a few voter's guides, it seems out-of-state travel is a valid qualifier for an absentee ballot in Louisiana.

Of course, this would be easier if we had automatic mail voting nationwide (it works just fine in states that do have it, and I can't imagine any other way). I've voted from a plane, a train, and a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, all at my leisure.

Texas is very tight about voting absentee. The only way you can request an absentee ballot is under the following circumstances:

• Expected absence from the County during both the early voting period and election day. The ballot must be mailed to an address outside the county.
• Disability
• 65 years of age or older
• Confinement in jail and not finally convicted of a felony

Depending on the type of election, there is a one to two week "early voting" period where you can show up, present your ID, and cast your vote at any of the voting centers in your county, and usually, it's within a few minute drive. That early voting version usually includes a Saturday and sometimes a Sunday as well.

The event I'm referring to (an annular solar eclipse, not the title of this thread) is in an odd-numbered year and not on November 7. Texas won't be affected by this, since the election that day is only in Louisiana.

Sorry for completely derailing the thread.

[tmoore952]

To put this thread "back on its rails"

The 2017 eclipse happened on the day we flew to the UK, so I missed it. I was not in totality area anyway, it was a few hundred miles drive away.

I am not sure what is going on with me wrt 2024 eclipse.

I do plan to travel to see a total solar eclipse at some point, as in a few years I will be retired.
That would include traveling internationally -- e.g., a few years ago, I had considered traveling to southern Chile for a total solar eclipse.
So 2024 for me is not "make or break".
I remember there was a total solar eclipse in Nova Scotia in July (?) 1972. So it's not like I haven't waited a long time, and may have to wait longer.

===============================
To go back to annular eclipses for a moment, you would need to have a telescope filter, or look at leaf shadow, or a pinhole camera. You will not be able to look directly at the sun like you would for a total eclipse.

[Bruce]

Local libraries in Washington are giving out free eclipse glasses (due to the upcoming annular eclipse this month). Grabbed a few, but apparently not many takers so far.

[tmoore952]

Local libraries in Washington are giving out free eclipse glasses (due to the upcoming annular eclipse this month). Grabbed a few, but apparently not many takers so far.

I'm going to write about the "wrong" eclipse here (relative to this thread), but if you read on, it will be clear why.

What happened to the (separate) tread about the Oct. 14 2023 annular eclipse (might have been titled "2023 eclipse")? It seems to have disappeared. I was wondering if anyone out west (in US) experienced this last weekend.

[bm7]

Local libraries in Washington are giving out free eclipse glasses (due to the upcoming annular eclipse this month). Grabbed a few, but apparently not many takers so far.

I'm going to write about the "wrong" eclipse here (relative to this thread), but if you read on, it will be clear why.

What happened to the (separate) tread about the Oct. 14 2023 annular eclipse (might have been titled "2023 eclipse")? It seems to have disappeared. I was wondering if anyone out west (in US) experienced this last weekend.

It's still there: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=33845.0

[webny99]

Under 7 weeks to the 2024 eclipse, and preparations are ramping up!

Some highly detailed info on the eclipse path and totality length/times can be found here: https://eclipse2024.org/path-north-america.html

[Rothman]

If you're only preparing now, prices must be through the roof.

[ET21]

Imagine if the path is complete overcast 

[NWI_Irish96]

Imagine if the path is complete overcast 

I'm only making the trek if it's expected to be clear.

[Rothman]

Imagine if the path is complete overcast 

I'm only making the trek if it's expected to be clear.

Trek to where?  The path stretches thousands of miles.

[epzik8]

Imagine if the path is complete overcast 

I'm only making the trek if it's expected to be clear.

Trek to where?  The path stretches thousands of miles.

I saw a simulated flyover of said path yesterday, and the odds of that entire thing not being clear are next to none.

[NWI_Irish96]

Imagine if the path is complete overcast 

I'm only making the trek if it's expected to be clear.

Trek to where?  The path stretches thousands of miles.

My in-laws house, right in the path of totality. 2½ hour drive normally but probably > 3 that weekend, even with all the back roads I know.

[webny99]

Imagine if the path is complete overcast 

I'm only making the trek if it's expected to be clear.

Trek to where?  The path stretches thousands of miles.

I saw a simulated flyover of said path yesterday, and the odds of that entire thing not being clear are next to none.

The northern half could plausibly be entirely cloudy, but almost certainly not the entire southern path through Texas and Mexico.

[Rothman]

Just sat in a meeting today with a bunch of NYSDOT people.  VMS messaging is set but all locations of PVMSes are not, Thruway patrolling "help truck" operations are being ramped up, event lists have been distributed...but a local traffic engineer is sort of shrugging that NYSDOT "must do something" to handle the anticipated crowds (i.e., there's only so much a DOT can do).

Not sure if this is true, but someone said at the meeting that Jefferson County is all booked up and people are looking southward to Syracuse and environs for hotels now.

(personal opinion/perspective emphasized)

[webny99]

Syracuse is going to have it coming from both directions. Before the eclipse should be manageable, especially with the two days prior being a weekend, but it's after the eclipse that's going to be interesting. The entire Bos-Wash corridor is within driving distance and borderline day-trip range of totality, which wasn't the case in 2017, so there's going to be a lot of traffic returning south/east. If/when issues crop up on I-90/I-81, I'd like to see NYSDOT recommend I-390/I-86 as an alternate.

I am also increasingly concerned about the Niagara Peninsula, where typical traffic is horrible on summer/holiday weekends, all of Toronto having to get south of Burlington to see totality (or 2+ hours east to Belleville) sounds like a nightmare. The QEW/403/407 interchange is going to be carrying the weight of the world post-eclipse and there are ZERO good alternates, so it's almost impossible to see that going well. For anyone in Ontario that doesn't want to cross the border, I would honestly recommend going east instead, or west to at least Woodstock before heading south, so that at least you have the 401 as a viable return alternate.

[Rothman]

I wonder what will happen to traffic if it's cloudy.

[kphoger]

I wonder what will happen to traffic if it's cloudy.

The drivers will be grumpier.

[Genghixiani]

Thankfully I have the day off for the 2024 solar eclipse, but this won't be my first solar eclipse in general. First total yeah, but I saw a partial back in like 1st-2nd grade. I think it was the 2017 one.

[boilerup25]

This eclipse is on my 21st birthday, and Indy isn't too far from West Lafayette, so I'm planning to head out to see it!

[Bruce]

For 2017, the traffic jams out of the path of totality in Oregon were insane.

This time around I was planning to stick around in the Waco area until it dies down, but my trip mate booked a place in San Antonio...I am not looking forward to the multi-hour slog through Austin.