AstroPrinter

Starliner launch on the Atlas rocked was scrubbed today. Scrub happened at L-3:50. I finally figured out what stands for

May the 4th be with you always

If you have been wondering where I have been. I have been busy with eclipse preparations.

I leave Thursday to head to Texas in the hope of clear skies to image the eclipse

Here is my NASA/JPL page. You should check it out https://www.facebook.com/LiamFinnSSA?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Liam Finn NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, Vice president of the Great Lakes Association Of Astronomy Clubs

I have heard statements many times by some new amateur astronomers and the general public, "We get to see 98% or some variation of 90% totality so I dont need to drive anywhere to see the eclipse".

While people can believe this I have to say that as someone that has seen multiple eclipses there is a vast difference. Just telling people this means little as they dont understand the difference so I tend to use analogies to explain the differences.

Analogy one:
Being in the path of totality is like getting a private jet to Orlando, chauffeur limo pickup at the airport, driven to Disney World, no worries about parking, first in every ride in every park for a week and spending the whole week sleeping in Disney Castle.

98% or 99% is like driving from Michigan to Florida with 3 kids in the car, driving to disney, pulling into the Disney parking lot, opening the door and announcing we are at Disney, then driving home without ever going inside the park.

Analogy two:
A total eclipse is like going to your favourate band/group concert, getting VIP passes, being in the front row, being invited up on stage, singing the Encore song with the group and spending the rest of the evening at the concert afterparty with the group.

98% or 99% totality is knowing there is a concert going on, you are unable to get a ticket and you end up sitting at home hearing the crowds screams from the concert.... 8 blocks away.

Analogy three:
This is my final one, I promise. A total eclipse is like spending a private week at Typhoon Lagoon waterpark for you and your friends and haveing full access for a whole week with no one else having access.

98 or 99% totality is like sitting in an inflateable kiddy pool in your back yard...and the kiddy pool leaks.

So I hope this provides some kind of understanding of the difference between any version of a partial and a Total Solar Eclipse. I hope this also helps you and others to explain the difference as we will all come accross people in our day to day life who dont understand why you and I are so excited about April 8th 2024.

Just 124 and a half days to totality

Astronomy At The Beach fundraising Winners

Grand Prize 8" Celestron Telescope - Ticket 230327
Private Star Party - Ticket 230293
Private Planetarium Show - Ticket 230192
Andromeda Galaxy Image - Ticket - 230129
Whirlpool Galaxy Image - Ticket 230276
Dumbbell Nebula Image - Ticket 230393
Iris Nebula Image - Ticket 230233

Congratulations to all the winners of the Astronomy At The Beach fundraising Raffle.

We hope to see you all at next year's event with more telescopes, more talks and more raffle prizes.

Special thanks to for donating our grand prize and also to the local astronomers that donated the astrophotography Images.

We look forward to seeing everyone in 2024 at the 28th Astronomy At The Beach