Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Self-sufficient Eclipse Chasers Hit the Road To 'Totality' (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the talk-of-the-town dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Michael Zeiler packed his portable toilet then headed out on a 10-hour drive from New Mexico to Wyoming where, on Monday, he intends to mark the ninth time he has seen the moon pass in front of the sun in a total solar eclipse. Zeiler is a self-described "eclipse chaser," part of a group of avid astronomy buffs, telescope hobbyists and amateur photographers whose passion for such celestial events takes them to the far corners of the earth. For the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in the United States in almost a century, and the first visible anywhere in the Lower 48 states since 1979, Zeiler had only to drive some 650 miles (1,046 km) from the desert Southwest to the Rockies. He showed up prepared and early on Wednesday at his destination in Casper, Wyoming, within the "path of totality," the corridor over which the moon's 70-mile-wide shadow will be cast as it crosses the United States over 93 minutes. Along that path at the height of the eclipse on Aug. 21, the sun will be completely blotted out except for its outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

42 comments

  1. Stare all you want, Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You'll never eclipse the beauty of this first post, m'ladies

    1. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      That sounds like something an eclipse totalitarian would say!

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    2. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by sysrammer · · Score: 3, Funny

      I imagine he'll take umbrage at that.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    3. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed. If they got into a fistfight, he would no doubt land the first contact.

    4. Re: Stare all you want, Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's just resolve our misgivings by throwing a moon in front of his son.

    5. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      I imagine he'll take umbrage at that.

      *rimshot*

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    6. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      I'll be here all week, folks! Mondays are dark days, of course.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    7. Re:Stare all you want, Slashdot by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      I'll be here all week, folks! Mondays are dark days, of course.

      In all fairness the review did say, "Great food, but no atmosphere."

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  2. First. To the isolated spot in the wilderness. by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    First. To the isolated spot in the wilderness.

    >> Hey, that place you posted on your account, we're here too, and we brought our phones and some kids.

    F**k

  3. Self-sufficient by Osgeld · · Score: 2

    packed his portable toilet

    Really, never heard of sitting on a log or digging a hole ... I dont think its really "Self-sufficient" if the main thing to mention is a portable toilet

    1. Re:Self-sufficient by sysrammer · · Score: 3, Funny

      Well, he packed it himself, and he considers it sufficient...

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    2. Re:Self-sufficient by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      But it's a smart toilet, it syncs up to his smart phone.

    3. Re:Self-sufficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > Really, never heard of sitting on a log or digging a hole...

      Those are unsanitary things to do that are illegal in many jurisdictions.

      > I dont think its really "Self-sufficient" if the main thing to mention is a portable toilet

      It's just as justifiable to complain that he's driving around in a car (or even eating food) that didn't come from a universe that he created from scratch.

      A portable chemical toilet is far more sanitary (and much better for the health of the environment) than simply shitting wherever you feel like it.

    4. Re:Self-sufficient by Osgeld · · Score: 1

      well I have heard it all now, a chemical toilet designed to KILL THINGS submerged in it is better for the environment, how has the earth survived all this time

    5. Re:Self-sufficient by riverat1 · · Score: 1

      The issue is if a bunch of people do that in a relatively small area it becomes a problem. There's going to be lots of people out looking at the eclipse.

    6. Re: Self-sufficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indians shit wherever they want. Smelly country.

    7. Re:Self-sufficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "A portable chemical toilet is far more sanitary (and much better for the health of the environment) than simply shitting wherever you feel like it."

      Yeah those wild animals had damn well better learn better hygiene, or nature's gonna fall apart!
      Leave it to humans to decide that poo in the woods is politically incorrect. :)
      (Captcha: Deposits)

    8. Re:Self-sufficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But they all won't be sh*tting at the same time -- that would be a world record

    9. Re:Self-sufficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well I have heard it all now, a chemical toilet designed to KILL THINGS submerged in it is better for the environment, how has the earth survived all this time

      If you knew anything about history, you'd know how many people died before proper sanitation was common. Yes, the earth is fine. It is a big ball of rock. I unlike you, it seems, care about people.

  4. mini-disaster in the making by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Setting out bravely for eastern Oregon or maybe into Idaho, here. I predict there are going to be:

    (1) Idiots starting campfires they can't control, which get out of control.

    (2) Idiots pulling cars with hot underparts on grassy areas and starting brush fires.

    (3) Idiots traipsing all over fragile plant ecosystems so they can "get a better view".

    (4) Hordes of screaming children running roughshod over local plant life.

    (5) Idiots trying to get 5 feet from larger wildlife to "grab a selfie"

    (6) Idiots feeding the local wildlife, which ends with said wildlife being put down by the NPS rangers.

    (7) Idiots leaving their trash all around the place.

    I'm going anyway. Because eclipse.

    I suggest: try to be helpful to the above classes of idiots. Be friendly, helpful, and suggest better behaviors in a positive way. It's not much, but it's all we can do.

    1. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am going to be firing bullets into the air for the entire duration of the eclipse. Fuck it, this is once in a generation.

    2. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I predict you are very wrong. Actually with a million people, anything can happen, so maybe 3 / 80million people. And those are the ones that we will here all about and there will be multiple /. posts about them and whiny people will make a dozen lame comments and forget about it 15 seconds later because of squirrel.

    3. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Deadstick · · Score: 1

      An official near here made a sensible recommendation: Make sure you have water, food, first aid and a full tank of gas. With that, you can deal with most of the problems. But there's gonna be traffic jams, accidents, shortage of emergency personnel, and general pissed-offness.

      By one estimate, the population of Oregon will be up by 25%.

      Not a bad idea to plan on an extra day, or half-day. Huge crowds gather in a progressive way, but when the event is over, they all want to leave now.

    4. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      First person to hit the moon wins!

    5. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      (2) Idiots pulling cars with hot underparts on grassy areas and starting brush fires.

      I misread that as "hot underpants". That was a disturbing visual.

    6. Re: mini-disaster in the making by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dumb idea. The eclipse won't be passing Chicago, you ignorant coon, and the bullets will come back down killing some of your ghetto pals. Oh, wait... nevermind.

    7. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... there's gonna be traffic jams, accidents, shortage of emergency personnel ... Not a bad idea to plan on an extra day, or half-day. Huge crowds gather in a progressive way, but when the event is over, they all want to leave now.

      Yeah the evening news has given warnings about traffic jams, etc., but I just checked Kayak and found no problem in getting motels in St Louis or Nashville, both town in the path of totality. Overhyped?

    8. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not many hotels have rooms in Kansas City. I'm staying about 50 miles out of town and heading to St. Josephs early in the morning.

    9. Re:mini-disaster in the making by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 1

      I live to the north in Washington and the traffic in Oregon is already reported as being epic- backups for 5 to 10 miles in places already and it's only Friday.

      You couldn't get me to drive down to Oregon right now for *anything*.

      --
      Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    10. Re:mini-disaster in the making by bobm · · Score: 1

      The fire service agrees, I sat next to fire fighter in the Phoenix airport who will be up in Idaho because they think a lot of fires will get started.

    11. Re:mini-disaster in the making by Gavagai80 · · Score: 1

      All those things make it sound like just another average day.

      --
      This space intentionally left blank
  5. Re:First. To the isolated spot in the wilderness. by sysrammer · · Score: 1

    "You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye"

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  6. In a total eclipse... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... no one can see a njigger.

  7. I, the benevolent lord of /.,... by mapkinase · · Score: 1

    I, the benevolent lord of /., impose an obligatory minimum Youtube tax on every eclipse watcher. If you do not make a nice video of this, you are just worthless waster of my oxygen.

    --
    I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
  8. I'll just use my own toilet thank you. by riverat1 · · Score: 1

    My road trip consists of walking out my front door. I might walk over to the park two blocks from my house. Weather report for Monday in Salem, Oregon is sunny so I'm all set.

  9. I'll make a point of crapping in the back yard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'll make a point of crapping in the back yard. After all, I want to be self-sufficient too.
    It isn't "total" here, but 98% is freakin' close enough.
    Not worth driving 4 hrs to get to the "total" place.

    Saw a 65% eclipse in 1991 - it was impressive.

    1. Re:I'll make a point of crapping in the back yard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll make a point of crapping in the back yard. After all, I want to be self-sufficient too.
      It isn't "total" here, but 98% is freakin' close enough.
      Not worth driving 4 hrs to get to the "total" place.

      Saw a 65% eclipse in 1991 - it was impressive.

      Spoken like someone who's never seen a total eclipse. There is a world of difference between 99.5% and 100%.

      If all you've ever see was a 65% eclipse ... you don't know what you're missing.

    2. Re: I'll make a point of crapping in the back yard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Saw the total eclipse in 1970 on the east coast. It was not that big of a deal. Most people are going call it a non event like Halleys Comet. If you're close sure go see it but why waste time traveling far to catch it.

      This is just Americans with too much money and time in their hands and no brains.

    3. Re:I'll make a point of crapping in the back yard by riverat1 · · Score: 1

      The difference between 98% and totality is the difference between night and day. It was spectacular to see the total eclipse earlier today.

      But there are people in the world who have no interest in things like this. I don't understand how they aren't interested but they aren't.

  10. On I-90 doing the same by Strider- · · Score: 1

    Three geeks in a VW Westfalia, cameras, telescopes, and suitable camping supplies, a big solar panel and a bunch of batteries. Trundling down I-90. Our goal is an isolated spot in Idaho or Wyoming.

    --
    ...si hoc legere nimium eruditionis habes...
  11. Re: I'll make a point of crapping in the back yar by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    why waste time traveling to watch it

    I understand not reading TFA but have we started not reading the summary as well?

    For the first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in the United States in almost a century, and the first visible anywhere in the Lower 48 states since 1979

      You could wait for the next one... Oh wait you'll be dead.

  12. I'll get a "close enough," I'm staying home by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would need to drive three hours south to reach the zone of totality. I looked up what it'll look like if I stay put and there will be a little slender crescent along the top when it gets as dark as possible. I'm sure a total eclipse is amazing but the risk of traveling with so much traffic is grossly understated; running out of gas, sitting in the heat, no help if you break down, and so on. I'll take the near-total view and travel to the one in 2024 instead. It's not like there won't be tons of pictures and video.