How far away is too far? (Page 3): Also, the filter always goes over the end of the lens, scope or binoculars. Never put on the glasses then look thru the binoculars. It will melt the...

JBRIII

Also, the filter always goes over the end of the lens, scope or binoculars. Never put on the glasses then look thru the binoculars. It will melt the glasses then your eyes. I know somewhere here will likely say how stupid that would be, but I know someone who did it. Somehow he caught it before it blinded him.
Old scopes use to come with eyepiece screw in solar filters, they can crack due to the heat, throw out if you have one labelled sun.
Websites have easy instructions on how to make filters from solar film Amazon, etc.) and cardboard, etc. Can make any size up to at least 12".

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

JBRIII wrote:

Also, the filter always goes over the end of the l... (show quote)

Good to know. It would be just like me to do something stupid!!!

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

JBRIII wrote:

Also, the filter always goes over the end of the l... (show quote)

Now you know two people. When I was very young (beginning high school), I tried using two fully developed pieces of slide film as a solar filter - on the eye piece end. I lucked out by "using" it close to sunset with less solar brightness. I swung the spotting scope towards the sun while looking. The at first sharp image immediately became distorted. My curiosity saved me; I wondered what was happening and removed my eye from the eye piece film filter. When I examined the two pieces of film, the first piece of film had a hole in the middle and the film edges were blackened and distorted. The second piece of slide film was just beginning to be burned and distorted. If it had not been for the lower level of sunlight and the darkening of film combined with the directional distortion of sunlight by the distorted film, I would be blind in one eye. Total time that the sunlight was on the film: less than a half a second. If I had held my eye to the eye piece for a whole second, I would be blind in one eye. Now imagine what would have happened with bright sunlight.

This is why I am very adamant on this site about making sure what one is doing with partial and total eclipses. I can only hope that my experience will keep someone else from losing their eyesight.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

ELNikkor wrote:

However you get there, it is worth it to get to the centerline! I drove my family 800 miles to get to Southern Illinois for the 2017 eclipse. I think we had around 4 minutes of totality, but it was was worth it! As a coincidence, the same place we were for the 2017 eclipse, is in the centerline for the 2024 eclipse, but we won't have to drive there. Thanks to celestial circumstances, the eclipse is going right over our patio here just west of Rochester, NY, lucky us!

The centerline is about 100’ off shore of our camp in Henderson Bay. The afternoon sun is high in the sky with a clear shot free of trees. I had removed a couple of trees to facilitate a wall to prevent erosion during record high water levels. They were ash which are going to dye anyway.

Now what do you suppose the odds of a clear sky are? I take comfort in the notion that sky is more likely to be clear over Lake Ontario.

btbg

AzPicLady wrote:

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. It looks like I'll need to find a place south of Effingham to sit and enjoy the eclipse. Don't know how much shooting I'll do, as I don't have a filter and can't afford to purchase one.

If you have neutral density filters you can use them as long as you use at least 16 stops.

Also you have about a minute just before during and after totality where you can shoot without a filter.

Another thing you could do is borrow a welding helmet and hold it over your lense

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Do what ever it takes to get to the 99% point. I shot the 2017 eclipse here in Oregon. You will not regret the experience . Here is a reasonable filter from a real astronomy company. https://www.highpointscientific.com/celestron-eclipsmart-universal-solar-filter

You wast to be able to take the filter off and on quickly. This is much faster than a screw on filter.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

AzPicLady wrote:

I have a farm in the middle of Illinois. I had planned to go there for the eclipse. I recently downloaded a map of the course of the eclipse and found out that I'm about 15 miles outside the "total darkness" range. How much difference will that make?

For those of you who know the area, Effingham is right on the north edge of the path, and I'm 15 miles north of Effingham.

In my opinion, 15 miles isn't anything to drive to insure you get the best possible options of shots. Good luck! Can't wait to see your results posted here.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

wdross wrote:

Now you know two people. When I was very young (be... (show quote)

Scary thought. I remember using negatives to view an eclipse

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Jack 13088 wrote:

The centerline is about 100’ off shore of our camp in Henderson Bay. The afternoon sun is high in the sky with a clear shot free of trees. I had removed a couple of trees to facilitate a wall to prevent erosion during record high water levels. They were ash which are going to dye anyway.

Now what do you suppose the odds of a clear sky are? I take comfort in the notion that sky is more likely to be clear over Lake Ontario.

I think I'll try to find out about the weather. But if they can't get it right for tomorrow, how can I expect them to be right 4 months from now?

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

btbg wrote:

If you have neutral density filters you can use them as long as you use at least 16 stops.

Also you have about a minute just before during and after totality where you can shoot without a filter.

Another thing you could do is borrow a welding helmet and hold it over your lense

Thanks.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

ORpilot wrote:

Do what ever it takes to get to the 99% point. I shot the 2017 eclipse here in Oregon. You will not regret the experience . Here is a reasonable filter from a real astronomy company. https://www.highpointscientific.com/celestron-eclipsmart-universal-solar-filter

You wast to be able to take the filter off and on quickly. This is much faster than a screw on filter.

Thanks.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

flathead27ford wrote:

In my opinion, 15 miles isn't anything to drive to insure you get the best possible options of shots. Good luck! Can't wait to see your results posted here.

I'm not worried about driving. I'm concerned about finding a place to set up and sit!

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

AzPicLady wrote:

I'm not worried about driving. I'm concerned about finding a place to set up and sit!

Yeah, I bet! Good luck.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

AzPicLady wrote:

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. It looks like I'll need to find a place south of Effingham to sit and enjoy the eclipse. Don't know how much shooting I'll do, as I don't have a filter and can't afford to purchase one.

See if you can borrow a welding helmet, they work great.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ysarex wrote:

Drive that 15 miles to a pre-selected spot and arrive about 30 minutes early. It's worth it. I'm in St. Louis and will have to drive about 50 miles. That afternoon I'll arrive in the parking lot of the Dollar General on Ill. route 3 south of Grand Tower. All contingent on the weather of course -- could be a nice rainy day.

Definitely! Fifteen miles is nothing. I have to drive seventeen miles just to get into town.