I have decided to become an eclipse chaser. I think it is a fantastic way to combine visiting some exotic locations whilst viewing one of the grandest spectacles in nature
Here is my itinerary:
2017: USA
2019: Pacific Ocean off Pitcairn
2020: Argentina
2021: Antarctica
2023: East Timor
2024: USA
2026: Iceland
2027: Egypt
2028 & 2030 : Australia
Thoughts?
>>1251075
I'm going to Atlanta in August to see this summers eclipse. Was planning on heading to Wyoming and the Grand Tetons but everything was booked at least a year in advance.
>>1251075
Sounds really nice, but also very expensive. How do you manage the antarctica part?
>>1251079
I have seen one company already offering a tour for the 2021 eclipse, viewing it from the South Orkney Islands and then sailing to the antarctic mainland. I am sure that lots of sailing tours that year will be timed for the eclipse, maybe some out of the Falklands, and yes this one in particular will cost an absolute fortune, but I want to visit Antarctica anyway so fuck it.
>>1251075
chase your dream, man
>>1251075
I've only properly seen one total solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse (is that what it's called even....?)
Anyway, the full solar eclipse, middle of the path, top of a mountain surrounded by plain...... I'll never forget it, it was awesome.
I was supposed to experience a partial solar eclipse, too, but it was so fucking cloudy that day, that we didn't even notice anything at all.
If you have the money and time, go for it.
I'm still trying to scout at least one friend (driver...) to come to the US with me for the next solar eclipse, I don't drive, etc etc
>>1251132
You could just amtrak/greyhound into the totality in August. I'm flying from the UK to St Louis and taking the train to Jefferson City, MO.
Though a driver would be very useful if the weather turns bad in your chosen location, but the interstates will be jammed if you try to move on the day. I am really hyped for this, most excited I've been about any trip anywhere.
>>1251075
>Thoughts?
It's be more interesting if you were a real enthusiast, had telescopes, hung out with Southern Cross Astronomical society and traveled with fellow buffs, who have their own homemade scopes, photography tips, cool Apps on their phones to identify the sky, and such. Eclipses are kind of boring, imho. There's some other cooler stuff to travel to as well, that is more education, more social, more fascinating. Eclipses are the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. What about gorgeous northern lights? Or going to dark spaces around the globe?
http://scas.org/winter-star-party/setup-day-at-wsp-2016/
http://scas.org/activities/photo-galleries/
I had a FANTASTIC unforgettable vacation at Trout Point Lodge, the darkest place in North America and the telescope viewing was lovely with a babbling brook nearby and big boardwalks over it all. The resort is unspeakably luxurious "camp" for being so remote, and the NS and cape breton driving (and skies) rounded out the vacation.
http://www.troutpoint.com/star-gazing.html
Northern Lights from a roof deck with lounge chairs in screaming arctic winds, a black sand beach next to a lavafield, or your glass skylight topped bedroom at Budir Lodge in Snaefellsnes Peninsula in Iceland while sipping some whiskey? Another unforgettable remote experience, that isn't roughing it either. I'd do that 100x more than a trip to Antarctica.
http://hotelbudir.is/
There's some gorgeous stargazing from your hot tubs at night in Costa Rica, and you can combine your evenings of staring at the stars with active volcano lava shows, and other rain forest fun.
https://www.tabacon.com/
By all means enhance your travel, but it seems kind of bucket listy to do it without really being a buff. Find a group to join.
>>1251076
Check a map -- Atlanta is too far south, you won't see it from there.
http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/path_through_the_US.htm
>>1251154
>telescopes
>eclipse
Pick one. A good set of field glasses is fun for a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse is not something you want to be looking at through magnification, though you can use a scope to project an image of the partial phase of the eclipse onto a screen.
>>1251075
Coolest thing to see in a partial solar eclipse, or before/after totality ... Pinhole-camera effect of the sun shining through leaves of trees.
>>1251154
>There's some gorgeous stargazing from your hot tubs at night in Costa Rica, and you can combine your evenings of staring at the stars with active volcano lava shows, and other rain forest fun.
>https://www.tabacon.com/
Thanks for that tip -- will be in CR next month, and enjoy a good night with a million stars.