Patrick
Well-known member
Part 2. First run after totality. Of course, you can't see the eclipse in the background.
Total Solar Eclipse, Apr. 8, 2024
- Thread starter jamesdeluxe
- Start date
We know about that and Liz will potentially want to ski later on that trip. But eclipse in Queenstown is near sunset, only 9 degrees above the horizon with Southern Alps to the west. I've been in NZ for skiing in 4 seasons and I can confidently say the the climatology for clear skies with those parameters midwinter is terrible. We will be somewhere in outback Australia with close to 5 minutes totality and slam dunk clear weather odds.Next skiing opportunity during a Total Eclipse is July 22, 2028. Remarkables is basically one the centre line.
ChrisC
Well-known member
It's too bad some Eastern Resorts were closed for the Eclipse. I saw CNN footage from the Top of Stowe Gondola, but that is not a 360-degree view—maybe 180. Nice though - eclipse over the Stowe Valley.
The Sugarloaf Snowfields look like a fantastic spot!
Was there coverage on the Backside Snowfields? This is likely one of the few times of year White Nitro is worth skiing - spring, plus new snow. It's the only Snowfield run with snowmaking - when combined with typical Sugarloaf winds - it's an icy hell most of the year with many slides for life.
Eclipse satellite clips on Jay Anderson's site.
I screenshotted the Mexico and Northeast clips just after totality:
I've marked locations of Whiteface, Jay and Sugarloaf. The gray in New Hampshire and Maine is snow cover; there were no clouds. The streaky NW to SE gray bands through central Vermont are high cirrus. It looks like Ohio also had the high cirrus and enthusiastic online reports would indicate no worse than that. Western New York was skunked.
I screenshotted the Mexico and Northeast clips just after totality:
I've marked locations of Whiteface, Jay and Sugarloaf. The gray in New Hampshire and Maine is snow cover; there were no clouds. The streaky NW to SE gray bands through central Vermont are high cirrus. It looks like Ohio also had the high cirrus and enthusiastic online reports would indicate no worse than that. Western New York was skunked.
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Patrick
Well-known member
The backside snowfields were closed; apparently it was pretty bony. WhiteNitro definitely prime, the top part was somewhat firm, but very edgeable, definitely one of my favorites at Sugarloaf. The temperature started getting warm for the season on Saturday/Sunday. Open half of the mountain was dry marshed potatoes (new snow that hadn't really changed over to spring corn). The changeover in the snow on the lower mountain was apparent as it was more corn and sticky surface as all the artificial snow was buried underneath the new snow.
Many areas were open Inside the path of totality; Titus even reopened after closing for the season 2 weeks prior.
As mentioned in my blog post, there were 3 categories of ski areas on Eclipse day.
1) Open and shutting down prior to the start of the eclipse and not allowing skiers to start on the mountain (Whiteface, Jay). Both these areas were selling tickets to ride up the gondola/tram to the summit of Jay or Little Whiteface.
2) Open and shutting down prior to the start of the eclipse, but allowing skiers to stay on the summit/mountain (Orford, Smuggs)
3) Closed for skiing all day, but lift for non-skiers to reach summit (Owl's Head, Bromont, Adstock, Moose Mountain (aka Big Squaw).
4) Open: 9 Areas open for skiing. In most cases lifts will shutdown around totality, but normally operations will continue until end of day. (Sutton, Titus, Stowe, Bolton, Sugarloaf, Burke, Saddleback, Mad River, Sugarbush).
Unfortunately the best view at Sugarbush is North (aka Mt Ellen) was closed for the season, but access to non-skiers via cat-ride were sold. Sugarbush Valley Upper lift was closed due to replacement.
Composite image from Carrabassett Valley:
Very clear skies to show that much outer corona!
This is a very close to natural view composite from Mont Megantic:
Very clear skies to show that much outer corona!
This is a very close to natural view composite from Mont Megantic:
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To no surprise, JSpin viewed the eclipse from the top of Bolton Valley. View west over Lake Champlain:
Champlain is lit up in afternoon gold sun reflection similar to the Catalina Channel as viewed from Baldy.
Eclipse close-up:
The big loop prominence that was visible at 4 o'clock when viewed from Mexico at local midday was past 6 o'clock viewed from the Northeast in mid-afternoon. Bolton was about half way between centerline and the southern limit and had 2 minutes 50 seconds of totality.
Champlain is lit up in afternoon gold sun reflection similar to the Catalina Channel as viewed from Baldy.
Eclipse close-up:
The big loop prominence that was visible at 4 o'clock when viewed from Mexico at local midday was past 6 o'clock viewed from the Northeast in mid-afternoon. Bolton was about half way between centerline and the southern limit and had 2 minutes 50 seconds of totality.
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Nice pic of Lake Champlain framed by the Adirondacks.
Wow, J.Spin's final FTO post was almost nine years ago: tempus fugit.
View from the International Space Station flying over Canada and looking south over the St. Lawrence at Maine in totality.
Tony doesn't deem this lunar phenomenon worth noting but I'm looking forward to it tonight. Blue Oyster Cult and Neil Young both wrote great songs named after it.
It’s an 8% partial eclipse. You will see a tiny bite out of the top of the full moon around the 10:44EDT max eclipse. Do not expect to see the red or orange colors of total lunar eclipses.
US will get a total lunar eclipse next March 14. I doubt I will be awake to see it as it’s at midnight during Iron Blosam week.
We saw Neil Young in San Diego this past spring. He played “Harvest Moon.”
US will get a total lunar eclipse next March 14. I doubt I will be awake to see it as it’s at midnight during Iron Blosam week.
We saw Neil Young in San Diego this past spring. He played “Harvest Moon.”
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Cloud cover moved in early evening so I missed it in NJ. Here's a shot this morning from my brother in southeast Denver.
We came out from dinner in Santa Barbara with eclipse in progress about 7:30. It was over at 8:16 but in view through the windshield most of the drive home.
We were in Santa Barbara to pick up the Tesla. The battery failed there on 9/3 while I was at Arroyo Burro beach. Gory details here. Once at the Santa Barbara Service Center the next morning, the problem was diagnosed and I was on my way in a loaner Model Y in less than an hour. My car is 5 years old and the battery was warrantied for 8 years/unlimited mileage. The EV thread drift is moved here.
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A friend in Woodstock NY took this pic of the northern lights on Wednesday. Kinda eclipse-like?
Not really. Due to the long camera exposures, auroras are a rare phenomenon that usually looks better in pictures than in person. I have only seen them in 3 places and not seen exceptional ones with multicolors and/or a lot of motion.
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A strong aurora borealis can be an hours-long intensely psychedelic light show you will not soon forget. I've been fortunate enough to see one. It was kinda mind blowing. I can only imagine what it might be like to see a good display from much closer to the pole.
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ChrisC
Well-known member
I saw all types of photos of the extremely strong aurora from the electrical storm on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
I had a midnight flight/redeye back from Alaska in 2015, where I was able to witness the event once the plane got to 10k feet: no reds, but lots of greens with a backdrop of Denali and the Chugach.
I had a midnight flight/redeye back from Alaska in 2015, where I was able to witness the event once the plane got to 10k feet: no reds, but lots of greens with a backdrop of Denali and the Chugach.
I experienced an incredible display while camping in Quebec's Mont Valin Park (15 miles north of the Saguenay Fjord). Combined with wolves howling in the distance in early October, I would certainly describe the in-person effect as mindblowing.
EMSC
Well-known member
We had mostly reddish on Tuesday night from the recent solar storm. Barely even visible at all without a camera. My first time seeing them in Colo despite all the years I've been here. But also certainly by far the least visible and least impressive that I have ever witnessed - by a long shot.
I have seen them in upstate NY; southern NJ of all places; and Alaska previously.
jasoncapecod
Well-known member
We had it on and off in Iceland
Being color blind it’s kinda lost on me
Being color blind it’s kinda lost on me