SUGGESTIONS FOR SURVIVING AND
ENJOYING THE APRIL 8, 2024
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

The Total Eclipse of August 21 2017 was magnificent, but the experience was marred by traffic jams lasting as long as 12 hours after the eclipse ended. 20 million people in 10 million cars attended the Totality Zone nationwide. Traffic backed up on major highways running perpendicular to the eclipse Totality Zone. And construction obstacles were a big reason for the backups.

Here are my suggestions for preventing problems next time:

  1. ARRIVE EARLY - STAY WHERE YOU WATCHED - LEAVE LATE.
  2. NO CLOSING OR BLOCKING LANES WITHIN 200 MILES AND 3 DAYS OF THE ECLIPSE.
  3. BE SURE THERE IS ROOM FOR ECLIPSE WATCHERS TO PARK AND SET UP EQUIPMENT.
  4. USE PROPER EYE SAFETY METHODS WHILE WATCHING THE ECLIPSE.
  5. GET YOUR LODGING THE NIGHT BEFORE AND TAKE IT FOR TWO DAYS.

THE LOCATIONS OF THE 2023 AND 2024 ECLIPSES:

ECLIPSES:
  1. The October 14, 2023 Annular eclipse passes over the following states:

     - OR, CA, NV, UT, AZ, CO, NM, and TX.

    - States close enough to have traffic problems:

     - ID, and MEX.

  2. The April 8, 2024 total eclipse passes over the following countries, states, and provinces:

     - MEX, TX, OK, AR, MO, KY, IL, IN, OH, PA, NY, VT, NH, ME, ON, PQ, NB, PE, NS, and NF.

    - States close enough to have traffic problems:

     - MS, and MI.

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  3. For contrast, August 21, 2017 total eclipse passed over the following countries, states, and provinces:

     - OR, ID, WT, NE, KS, MO, IL, KY, TN, GA, NC, and SC.

    - States close enough to have traffic problems:

     - WA, MT, SD, CO, IA, AR, IN, Al, and VA.

    The 2017 eclipse

ADVICE FOR STATE GOVERNMENTS WITH HIGHWAYS WITHIN 200 MILES OF THE TOTALITY ZONE:

  1. DO NOT close any lanes of any highway perpendicular to the path of totality within 200 miles of the eclipse.

     - In 2017, traffic jammed the entire Pennyrile Parkway (I-69, I-169) for 12 hours because half (3) of the Ohio River bridge lanes (6) were closed.

  2. River crossings are especially important because all traffic crossing the river must use the available bridges.

     - Part of 2017 problems were three major Kentucky to Indiana river crossings were all missing half of their lanes to bridge reconstruction.

  3. Pay particular attention to places where freeways have short gaps in them and places where freeways end.

     - Make sure surface streets and highways can pass the extra traffic. Readjust traffic lights for increased traffic or have police direct traffic.

  4. Use state parks and other state recreation areas in the totality zone so people can park and watch the eclipse.

     - Post temporary signs to guide eclipse viewers to viewing areas. Changeable message signs are helpful here.

  5. Other high-volume events (e.g. sports events) should not be scheduled on the day of the eclipse.
  6. Make sure travelers can get food, water, restrooms, and gasoline so they are not stranded.

ADVICE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE TOTALITY ZONE:

  1. Provide plenty of places to park and observe the eclipse. Use all parks and recreation areas for places to observe.
  2. Let merchants charge eclipse viewers to park and observe on their parking lots.

     - Keep the businesses open so people can buy what they need.

     - In 2017, Hopkinsville KY had a very successful management of eclipse viewers by letting merchants charge for viewing space.

     - Everyone found a place to observe in Hopkinsville and there was space to spare.

  3. Other high-volume events (e.g. sports events) should not be scheduled on the day of the eclipse.

     - In 2017, Kelly KY held a 62nd anniversary festival for the 1955 UFO case on eclipse day. This totally blocked US-41 north of Hopkinsville.

  4. DO NOT close any lanes of any highway or street.
  5. Post temporary signs to guide eclipse viewers to viewing areas. Changeable message signs are helpful here.
  6. Make sure travelers can get food, water, restrooms, and gasoline so they are not stranded.

     - advise merchants to stock up on food, water, and gasoline.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING TO THE TOTALITY ZONE:

  1. ARRIVE EARLY - STAY WHERE YOU WATCH - LEAVE LATE.
  2. Bring enough supplies (food, water, and gasoline) to be able to do the above.

     - If you can, fill up your gas tank BEFORE the eclipse.

  3. Do not expect to find lodging in the Totality Zone. It will be booked solid weeks before the eclipse.
  4. Book lodging 50 to 100 miles from the Totality Zone if you need it.

     - To ensure lodging, get a room the night before and take it for two nights. Then you already have it after the eclipse when you need it.

  5. Expect traffic jams and allow extra time for them in your schedule - in both directions.

     - There are usually longer traffic jams after the eclipse.

  6. If you are driving when totality happens, do not stop on the highway to watch it. Turn on your headlights.

     - Find an exit or turnout and then find a safe place to stop to watch.

     - Totality usually lasts less than 5 minutes. If you are in traffic when it starts, don't expect to see it.

  7. Read temporary signs to find viewing areas.
  8. Expect a fee to park to watch the eclipse.

ADVICE FOR WATCHING THE ECLIPSE:

  1. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN DURING THE PARTIAL ECLIPSE PHASE OR DURING AN ANNULAR ECLIPSE WITHOUT APPROVED EYE PROTECTION.

     - You may look directly at the sun only during totality when the moon completely covers the sun.

     - Looking at the sun at any other time will permanently damage your eyes.

     - Looking at the sun through binoculars or a telescope is even more dangerous.

  2. NEVER POINT A CAMERA DIRECTLY AT THE SUN DURING THE PARTIAL PHASE OR AN ANNULAR ECLIPSE.

     - You may photograph the sun only during totality when the moon completely covers the sun.

     - Photographing the sun at other times will damage the camera.

  3. Safe methods to observe solar eclipses: Equipment Setup
    • Genuine approved eclipse glasses
    • Arc welder's helmet
    • Pinhole projects onto white surface
    • Binoculars project onto white surface
    • Small telescope projects onto white surface (right)
    • Telescope with special solar filter

    - It is safe to look at and photograph the solar image projected on the white surface.

    - The equipment shown makes an image about 5 inches across on the white surface.

    Photos taken with the equipment shown on 08/21/2017 in Hopkinsville KY:

    Eclipse 1 Eclipse 3 Eclipse 6
    White surface minutes before totality White surface just before totality Direct to camera during totality

    One thing I wish I had done, I should have brought two tripods - one for the telescope and one for the camera.

    Without a tripod, some of the camera photos were blurry.

  4. Look for other effects of the eclipse:

     - Look for large light and dark patches on the ground during totality.

     - Look for sunset effects. If there are scattered clouds, some near the edge of totality may turn bright red.

     - The sky often turns a leaden color during totality.

     - Stars and planets appear during totality.

     - If the sky is totally overcast, there are still eclipse effects such as sunset effects and a huge black circle on the clouds.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE DRIVING FOR OTHER REASONS WHEN TOTALITY OCCURS:

  1. Expect the eclipse. News coverage should have mentioned it often enough.

     - The time of the eclipse is known so don't let it catch you unaware.

  2. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN DURING THE PARTIAL ECLIPSE PHASE OR DURING AN ANNULAR ECLIPSE WITHOUT APPROVED EYE PROTECTION.

     - You may look directly at the sun only during totality when the moon completely covers the sun.

     - Looking at the sun at any other time will permanently damage your eyes.

     - Looking at the sun through binoculars or a telescope is even more dangerous.

  3. Expect traffic jams before and after the eclipse.

     - If you are within 200 miles of the Totality Zone, do not expect traffic to be normal, especially on Interstate highways.

     - There are usually longer traffic jams after the eclipse.

     - Look for alternative routes that are not jammed.

  4. If you are driving when totality happens, do not stop on the highway. Turn on your headlights. It's just like night.

     - Totality usually lasts less than 5 minutes. Then the sun suddenly returns.

  5. Expect other drivers to do unusual things. They may not understand what is going on.