Curbed - Solar Eclipse 2017Love where you live2019-01-24T14:58:51-05:00http://archive.curbed.com/rss/stream/158992512019-01-24T14:58:51-05:002019-01-24T14:58:51-05:0011 stellar observatories and planetariums in the U.S.
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<img alt="The exterior of the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. There are two domed towers sitting on a hillside. There is a sunset in the sky." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/82ISx41jo_up7DGkC4DKjtcJZw8=/94x0:6315x4666/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56222795/shutterstock_128928830.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Located 56 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona, Kitt Peak National Observatory stands tall at sunset. | Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>Architecture built for the stars </p> <p id="81sbrQ">Planetariums and observatories host millions of people each year, showcasing everything from asteroids and stars to planets and far-flung universes. Yet these impressive buildings don’t always take top billing in architecture roundups, whether it’s because they fly under the radar or because they aren’t always designed by <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/2/23/14690114/best-museums-world-architecture">big-name architects</a> like other <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/1/11/14231538/best-museums-architecture-america">museums</a>. </p>
<p id="o6kSIS">Planetariums and observatories are worth a second glance, however, if only because they do important research and often serve as educational centers for budding astronomers. Their architecture might surprise you; while there are plenty of sparkling domes on this list, we’ve also featured historic structures and new takes on the traditional observatory. </p>
<p id="sUsruW">Here are eleven architecturally interesting planetariums and observatories in the United States that are sure to get you looking skyward. </p>
<h4 id="5Dhqwd">Gemma Observatory in New Hampshire</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of Gemma Observatory in New Hampshire. The building structure is geometric with multiple windows. " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AuVkC51aO9ht_ZxHnCaoPjBmTFM=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9060181/2017050123433975072179270.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of The American Architecture Awards</cite>
<figcaption>The Gemma Observatory in Southern New Hampshire.</figcaption>
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<p id="f3SXiQ">Designed by <a href="http://aw-arch.com/projects/institutional/gemma-observatory/">Anmahian Winton Architects</a>, this private observatory in New Hampshire rejects the traditional dome in favor of an unconventional geometric shape that is meant to mimic the rocky outcroppings that surround the structure. </p>
<p id="e4J5hL">Inside, the building is lined with fir plywood to create a warm and inviting refuge in which to appreciate the stars. A faceted turret holds the observatory’s primary viewing platform, and the building also boasts an exterior observatory deck in the rear. </p>
<h4 id="1688Cp">
<a href="http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/">Adler Planetarium</a> in Chicago</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Adler Planetarium building in Chicago. The top is domed and there are pyramid shaped structures on both sides of the building. " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B-t03E3A5sGzHoBziUCzQuwspm0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9060831/16c762e9577510f7.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of the Adler Planetarium</cite>
<figcaption>The Adler Planetarium opened in 1930 as the first planetarium in the western hemisphere.</figcaption>
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<p id="T4EUL3">Opened in 1930 as the first planetarium in the western hemisphere, the Adler Planetarium was built as “a classroom under the heavens” for popular astronomy education. The Art Deco structure has a stony, pink and grey exterior, few windows, and is designed as a 12-sided shape topped with a dome. </p>
<p id="TskjQw">Today, the structure--which some liken to a space ship—houses three different theaters, special exhibits, and an observatory. It’s also located on the banks of Lake Michigan, boasts a top-notch view of the Chicago skyline, and was one of the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/maps/solar-eclipse-chicago-2017-where-to-see-watch-party/adler-planetarium">best places in the city to see the 2017 eclipse</a>. </p>
<h4 id="n7CPY8">
<a href="http://astro.uchicago.edu/yerkes/">Yerkes Observatory</a> in Wisconsin</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin. There is a main building with an arched entryway attached to an observatory with a domed roof. " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vKFE-Yh4yB0NhG-tyDf40X0G9BY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9059921/shutterstock_67903.jpg">
<cite>Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>The Yerkes Observatory on the campus of the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.</figcaption>
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<p id="zKcrgE">Affiliated with the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Chicago, the Yerkes Observatory was established in 1897 on Geneva Lake in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. </p>
<p id="gT8N5d">The observatory houses a 40” single lens refracting telescope and sits on a 77-acre park that was designed in part by John Olmsted, brother of the famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The historic building is notable for its many arches and how the design incorporated both a domed observatory and a space for education and events. </p>
<h4 id="IwlxKk">
<a href="http://www.amnh.org/our-research/hayden-planetarium">Hayden Planetarium</a> in New York City</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. The building has glass walls. There is a large blue globe and other planetary objects on display in the building. The building has an arched green brick base." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/IaGYgizKuF2AF3AQrLIgyVuS8ZI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9060941/GettyImages_521773804.jpg">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gettyimages.com%2Fsearch%2Fphotographer%3Ffamily%3Dcreative%26photographer%3DAlan%2BSchein%2BPhotography&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F16%2F16151650%2Fbest-science-museum-observatory-planetarium-astronomy-united-states" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Alan Schein Photography</a>/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>The Hayden Planetarium in the Rose Center for Earth and Space in New York City.</figcaption>
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<p id="0zgzYW">Operating out of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History, the new Hayden Planetarium sits in the stunning Rose Center for Earth and Space building. The previous planetarium was closed and demolished in 1997, and in its place sits a 2,000 ton sphere that contains the planetarium.</p>
<p id="P8dzgV">The 87-foot-diameter sphere is housed within a 95-foot-high cube of suspended glass, creating what some have called a “cosmic cathedral.” Two different theaters take visitors on virtual journeys, and the planetarium is also available to rent as an event space. </p>
<h4 id="iUtH1D">
<a href="http://www.hmns.org/planetarium/">Burke Baker Planetarium</a> at The Houston Museum of Natural Science</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Burke Baker Planetarium at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The roof is painted green and dome shaped. There are trees and grass in front." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fi-IhYk1zACWr-aNgIdJDBESCtI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13711953/GettyImages_170487733.jpg">
<cite>UIG via Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Burke Baker Planetarium at The Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston, Texas.</figcaption>
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<p id="MZC4Rl">Located inside the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Burke Baker Planetarium boasts Digistar 6—one of the most advanced simulators in the world. The domed exterior isn’t just pretty, it also allows visitors to get lost in high-resolution solar videos. </p>
<p id="cpbm3E">Opened in 1964, millions of guests have flown through the universe, navigated asteroid fields, and explored planetary surfaces. The dome theater is also used to train NASA Space Shuttle astronauts in identifying starfields. </p>
<h4 id="xp7ECS">
<a href="https://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/mko/">Mauna Kea Observatory</a> in Hawaii </h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii. The main building has a dome shaped roof and a white facade. In the distance on the edge of a cliffside is another dome shaped structure." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/r6dOxA2ILx_z70Ziz0GIdALQaFY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9059939/shutterstock_85692802.jpg">
<cite>Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>The telescopes high on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii.</figcaption>
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<p id="MU3ZQ1">Sitting at 13,796 feet in Hawaii, the white and silver Mauna Kea Observatory looks like what you’d expect from the <a href="https://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/mko/">world’s largest observatory</a> for optical, infrared, and submillimeter astronomy. </p>
<p id="DiFHUm">The complex contains 13 high-tech working telescopes near the summit of the dormant volcano, and more major telescopes are now located on Mauna Kea than any other single mountain peak. </p>
<h4 id="ioA3Gj">
<a href="http://griffithobservatory.org/">Griffith Park Observatory</a> in Los Angeles</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles. The building facade is white and there are multiple dome shaped structures on the roof. In the background is the city skyline of Los Angeles. " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/buNp1pv3EB3rKu67AEpiRBAqtUA=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9059965/shutterstock_274125356.jpg">
<cite>Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>The LA skyline behind the Griffith Park Observatory.</figcaption>
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<p id="Ak6d6S">A well-known tourist destination in Southern California and the most-visited public observatory in the world, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles offers visitors free admission to its building and grounds. </p>
<p id="1qTmqV">The building includes the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, an observatory, and an exhibition space. It’s a mishmash of grand and monument styles constructed using concrete, steel, and copper domes. Head <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2014/12/17/10011006/the-creation-of-las-most-recognizable-and-beloved-building">over here</a> for more on LA’s <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2014/12/17/10011006/the-creation-of-las-most-recognizable-and-beloved-building">“most recognizable and beloved building.”</a></p>
<h4 id="XEWAIf">
<a href="https://www.noao.edu/kpno/">Kitt Peak National Observatory</a> in Arizona </h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. There are two white dome shaped structures. Each structure is positioned at the edge of a cliff. There is a sunset in the sky." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N4-l1WNgoeemqfo4ABUO_wFTTbQ=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9059979/shutterstock_128928830.jpg">
<cite>Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>An observatory near Tucson, Arizona at sunset.</figcaption>
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<p id="J940LT">Located 56 miles southwest of Tucson, Arizona, Kitt Peak National Observatory was selected in 1958 as a site for a national observatory after a 3-year survey that included 150 mountain ranges across the U.S.</p>
<p id="kw2AmJ">The observatory offers <a href="https://www.noao.edu/kpvc/">daily tours</a> that show the buildings and telescopes, while nighttime tours let people view the night sky through a 16” telescope. </p>
<h4 id="XI8IVJ">
<a href="https://mcdonaldobservatory.org/">McDonald Observatory</a> in Texas</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of McDonald Observatory in Texas. The roof is dome shaped with white structural supports. " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i0d_dkv6ojgjdgtnjLJWl1Vxqtk=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9059993/shutterstock_420007684.jpg">
<cite>Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>McDonald Observatory in Texas.</figcaption>
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<p id="mpErDX">Set in the mountains of West Texas, 450 miles west of its research and administrative home at the University of Texas at Austin, McDonald Observatory boasts some of the darkest skies in the continental U.S. </p>
<p id="YhZaeV">Those skies let the observatory’s gleaming dome shine, and the observatory welcomes approximately 60,000 visitors each year to star parties and exhibits. </p>
<h4 id="JHgswA">
<a href="http://mgio.arizona.edu/">Mount Graham International Observatory</a> in Arizona</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of Mount Graham International Observatory in Arizona. The facade is gray and there is a large binocular telescope that can be seen inside the building." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/n0SrPvMtO8bvyFJ03jcEK4D-bv8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9060029/GettyImages_114650506.jpg">
<cite><a class="ql-link" href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gettyimages.com%2Fsearch%2Fphotographer%3Ffamily%3Deditorial%26photographer%3DJoe%2BMcNally&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F16%2F16151650%2Fbest-science-museum-observatory-planetarium-astronomy-united-states" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Joe McNally</a>/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>A large binocular telescope located in south eastern Arizona.</figcaption>
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<p id="6gjqAg">Originally erected in Milan, Italy, before being shipped to Arizona in 2002, the large binocular telescope at the Mt. Graham International Observatory can deliver images ten times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope. </p>
<p id="6Vf1bd">It’s the world’s most powerful telescope, and public visits are available by advance reservation from May through October. </p>
<h4 id="V74vlJ">
<a href="http://www.calacademy.org/exhibits/morrison-planetarium">Morrison Planetarium</a> in San Francisco</h4>
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<img alt="The exterior of the Morrison Planetarium in San Francisco. The roof has multiple domes which have plants growing on their surface. In the front of the building are trees and plants. " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/820aMZpwV-_hNNuuy8f9WoKVHMw=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9061079/shutterstock_422317603.jpg">
<cite>Shutterstock</cite>
<figcaption>The green roof of the Morrison Planetarium in San Francisco.</figcaption>
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<p id="7jlKgi">Located inside the California Academy of Sciences—one of our <a href="https://sf.curbed.com/maps/things-to-do-sf-kids">favorite destinations for kids in San Francisco</a>—the 75-foot domed Morrison Planetarium is the largest all-digital planetarium in the world. </p>
<p id="qQom4l">While the architecture of the California Academy of Sciences building doesn’t look like other planetariums and observatories, it’s still an important structure. Architect Renzo Piano built a 2.5-acre “living roof” for this green building that uses sustainable materials and boasts two domes that cover the planetarium and the rain forest exhibition. </p>
<p id="8zpYrV"></p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/16/16151650/best-science-museum-observatory-planetarium-astronomy-united-statesMegan Barber2017-08-21T15:45:01-04:002017-08-21T15:45:01-04:00The best solar eclipse images from towns in the path of totality
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<figcaption>An agricultural field in Madras, Oregon was turned into a campground for total solar eclipse enthusiasts. Photo taken on August 18, 2017. | Rob Kerr/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Fields turned into makeshift campsites</p> <p id="YiaYco">Eclipse fever has swept the country, as millions of Americans watched a <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/15925410/total-solar-eclipse-2017-explained">solar eclipse</a> that traveled across the entire United States for the first time since 1918. </p>
<p id="PjJy6t">For the hundreds of towns in the path of “totality,” the sun was completely blocked out by the moon for two minutes and a partial eclipse was visible for about 1.5 hours. Experts predicted that up to 7.4 million people will travel to see the eclipse in the path of totality, and early <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">reports</a> from this past weekend are confirming these figures. </p>
<p id="1l491g">In the days leading up to the eclipse, gridlock plagued highways as <a href="http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-great-american-eclipse-liveblog-it-was-so-busy-in-madras-oregon-they-1503273850-htmlstory.html">thousands</a> of people traveled to Madras, Oregon, and other <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">eclipse boom towns</a> located from Oregon to South Carolina. <a href="http://www.kgw.com/news/eclipse/gas-shortages-long-waits-reported-at-central-oregon-stations/465012913">Local news stations</a> in Bend and Prineville in Oregon have also reported long lines and empty gas tanks. </p>
<p id="xBwz7D">But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the eclipse phenomenon were the crowds of people gathering to see the eclipse. Fields and backyards became makeshift tent sites, with thousands up people waiting for their chance to gaze skyward. In larger cities like St. Louis and Nashville, people stopped in downtown streets for the celestial event, while others gathered on rooftops. </p>
<p id="Fnlw0h">We’ve rounded up the best images and videos from social media of what it looked like in towns in the path of totality, from Oregon to South Carolina. This story will be updated with more tweets as needed. </p>
<p id="aHBTeI"><em>Curious what the solar eclipse looked like in the biggest cities in the U.S.? Check out our photo roundups from </em><a href="https://philly.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16180162/solar-eclipse-2017-photos-philadelphia"><em>Philadelphia</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://sf.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16179766/solar-eclipse-photos-san-francisco"><em>San Francisco</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16180290/solar-eclipse-2017-seattle-photos"><em>Seattle</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16179706/solar-eclipse-chicago-photos"><em>Chicago</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://detroit.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16180564/solar-eclipse-2017-detroit-photos"><em>Detroit</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://austin.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16180556/solar-eclipse-2017-photos-austin"><em>Austin</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16179962/solar-eclipse-2017-new-york-photos"><em>New York City</em></a><em>. </em></p>
<h3 id="GdNkGa">Camps in the path of totality started filling up last week. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Aerial photos show thousands camped out at the Big Summit Eclipse event near Prineville, Oregon. <a href="https://t.co/oBWITcqeTO">https://t.co/oBWITcqeTO</a> <a href="https://t.co/H5xVzvf4xL">pic.twitter.com/H5xVzvf4xL</a></p>— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/899496559351607296">August 21, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Camping is already filling up in Madras. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2017eclipse?src=hash">#2017eclipse</a> <a href="https://t.co/jEL8RSD4Qs">pic.twitter.com/jEL8RSD4Qs</a></p>— Tim Robertson (@TimRobertson56) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimRobertson56/status/898372534793420800">August 18, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sunset at <a href="https://twitter.com/Oregonsolarfest">@Oregonsolarfest</a> Tomorrow the Sun will meet the Moon in the skies over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madras?src=hash">#Madras</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2017?src=hash">#Eclipse2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/rx2SVkJYMb">pic.twitter.com/rx2SVkJYMb</a></p>— Chasing Atlantis (@chasingatlantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/chasingatlantis/status/899526646717333504">August 21, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Me and my 5,500 neighboring SolarTown campsites are all set for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2017?src=hash">#Eclipse2017</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/drone?src=hash">#drone</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Madras?src=hash">#Madras</a> <a href="https://t.co/h4Uab1JSq5">pic.twitter.com/h4Uab1JSq5</a></p>— Eric Betz (@ericbetz) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericbetz/status/899309726244020224">August 20, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="aWNRma">Rural fields became eclipse-viewing parking lots.</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just one part of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2017?src=hash">#Eclipse2017</a> crowd in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Glendo?src=hash">#Glendo</a>. <a href="https://t.co/fTGeIUzI5v">pic.twitter.com/fTGeIUzI5v</a></p>— Deb Stanley (@7NEWSDeb) <a href="https://twitter.com/7NEWSDeb/status/899681230454628354">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="x0esoH">Lines of busses brought passengers to tiny towns like Glendo, Wyoming (population 202). </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/TheTakeaway">@TheTakeaway</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/wpunj_edu">@wpunj_edu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eclipse2017?src=hash">#eclipse2017</a> estimates are 100,000 people in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Glendo?src=hash">#Glendo</a> <a href="https://t.co/89BeP6IaqE">pic.twitter.com/89BeP6IaqE</a></p>— Jason S. Kendall (@jasonskendall) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonskendall/status/899636920795508740">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="pOSeqA">In small towns like Hopkinsville, Kentucky (population 31,000), downtown streets filled with people days before the event. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The first campers got here at 1AM this morning! More than 19 countries represented in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipseville?src=hash">#Eclipseville</a> & we're just getting started! <a href="https://twitter.com/LEX18News">@LEX18News</a> <a href="https://t.co/ivyKArMoOp">pic.twitter.com/ivyKArMoOp</a></p>— Claire Crouch (@clairecrouch) <a href="https://twitter.com/clairecrouch/status/898621888985001986">August 18, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="4NoY1n">In Wyoming, the highways emptied this morning as people pulled over to watch the total eclipse. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">People in Wyoming are picking random spots along the highway under crysltal- clear sky! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eclipse2017?src=hash">#eclipse2017</a> <a href="https://t.co/NMCY1UBfEi">pic.twitter.com/NMCY1UBfEi</a></p>— Ellen Bacca (@ellenbacca) <a href="https://twitter.com/ellenbacca/status/899668312983863297">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="zxBxUM">Carbondale, Illinois experienced the longest total eclipse at 2 minutes and 40 seconds. Eclipse tourists flocked to the town and even filled local football fields. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">And we have totality in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Carbondale?src=hash">#Carbondale</a>. It is quite dark. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2017?src=hash">#Eclipse2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wsjeclipse?src=hash">#wsjeclipse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wsjphotos?src=hash">#wsjphotos</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z1rPCqYBeo">pic.twitter.com/Z1rPCqYBeo</a></p>— Quint Forgey (@QuintForgey) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintForgey/status/899698565664133120">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="UJD3WB">Elsewhere, air fields became prime viewing locations.</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Now I know why people travel the world to see a Total Solar <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2017?src=hash">#Eclipse2017</a> ...speechless <a href="https://t.co/DCwvUBNcg6">pic.twitter.com/DCwvUBNcg6</a></p>— Matt Alvarez (@MAlvarezFOX17) <a href="https://twitter.com/MAlvarezFOX17/status/899701358827327488">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="glk6vA">And 360-degree sunsets occurred during the two minutes of darkness in towns like Casper, Wyoming. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crowd cheers during totality in Casper, Wyoming. 11:43am. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/wyomingeclipse?src=hash">#wyomingeclipse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cnneclipse?src=hash">#cnneclipse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/caspereclipse?src=hash">#caspereclipse</a> <a href="https://t.co/SFe4aKH9D5">pic.twitter.com/SFe4aKH9D5</a></p>— Ben Von Klemperer (@VKtrue) <a href="https://twitter.com/VKtrue/status/899698033964720130">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="djIkpZ">In larger cities like St. Louis, people stopped in the street to look skyward during the two minutes of darkness. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">YOU GUYS!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eclipse2017?src=hash">#eclipse2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stl?src=hash">#stl</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vs5JAI9vIz">pic.twitter.com/Vs5JAI9vIz</a></p>— Gateway Arch (@GatewayArchSTL) <a href="https://twitter.com/GatewayArchSTL/status/899699064329183232">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="ibxsZG">The city looked drastically different during the eclipse. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">St. Louis. <br>Once at 11:30<br>Once at about 1:18<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EclipseDay?src=hash">#EclipseDay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/STL?src=hash">#STL</a> <a href="https://t.co/6HyMcnbtjA">pic.twitter.com/6HyMcnbtjA</a></p>— J.J. Bailey (@TheJJBailey) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJJBailey/status/899701584673755136">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="x1hZKe">You can really see how dark it got in these time lapses from Lincoln, Nebraska, </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Time lapse of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eclipse2017?src=hash">#eclipse2017</a> from the parking garage at 10th and Q streets, Lincoln, Nebraska. <a href="https://t.co/zK0q0IdN28">pic.twitter.com/zK0q0IdN28</a></p>— kevin_abourezk (@LJS_Abourezk) <a href="https://twitter.com/LJS_Abourezk/status/899695973366079488">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="EDTIAC">and one from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Timelapse video shows Jackson Hole, Wyoming, go from light to dark and back again during today's total solar eclipse <a href="https://t.co/oM1X9EhrT6">https://t.co/oM1X9EhrT6</a> <a href="https://t.co/6fXqRkzrJN">pic.twitter.com/6fXqRkzrJN</a></p>— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/899760372663566340">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="KxrMFs">In Nashville, crowds gathered downtown despite cloudy skies. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's getting weird on Lower Broadway! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eclipse?src=hash">#eclipse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nashville?src=hash">#Nashville</a> <a href="https://t.co/Md7VBGS9jR">pic.twitter.com/Md7VBGS9jR</a></p>— Tennessean (@Tennessean) <a href="https://twitter.com/Tennessean/status/899699098667954178">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="do0enq">But once the total eclipse started in Nashville, it looked like dusk and the crickets started chirping.</h3>
<div id="G38rUQ">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Nashville eclipse is over.. interesting to hear the crickets start chirping when it became dark. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse?src=hash">#Eclipse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SolarEclipse?src=hash">#SolarEclipse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nashville?src=hash">#Nashville</a> <a href="https://t.co/gSHM4cxfOD">pic.twitter.com/gSHM4cxfOD</a></p>— Dave McGuire (@TheDavidMcGuire) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDavidMcGuire/status/899711297108967425">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="k0Zj5I">The crowds at Carhenge in Nebraska—a replica of England’s Stonehenge made out of vintage automobiles—were visible from the sky. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Crowds building up at Carhenge for the eclipse. <a href="https://t.co/aiqgk1sDP9">pic.twitter.com/aiqgk1sDP9</a></p>— Miles Buskirk (@mbuskirk5) <a href="https://twitter.com/mbuskirk5/status/899676998032703488">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="d63ULb">The Carhenge crowds were gleeful as the sun came back out. </h3>
<div id="nzmUnr">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The sun comes back out after the total solar eclipse is done crossing over Alliance, NE. <a href="https://t.co/q3jBRYgob2">https://t.co/q3jBRYgob2</a> <a href="https://t.co/5LUoN0GjfY">pic.twitter.com/5LUoN0GjfY</a></p>— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/899691267403137024">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="VeVhZw">And everywhere in the path of totality, people cheered, clapped, and cried during the two minutes of darkness as the stars came out. </h3>
<div id="dcv7Bg">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Folks cheering as totality arrives! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eclipse2017?src=hash">#Eclipse2017</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EclipseOverClemson?src=hash">#EclipseOverClemson</a> <a href="https://t.co/135Rwg76RN">pic.twitter.com/135Rwg76RN</a></p>— The Tiger News (@thetigerCU) <a href="https://twitter.com/thetigerCU/status/899702618251046913">August 21, 2017</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's what it was like when totality happened. I didn't know what to focus on, but the little girl at the end, Manali, is me in my heart. <a href="https://t.co/aGj1mTwBLD">pic.twitter.com/aGj1mTwBLD</a></p>— Lizzy Acker (@lizzzyacker) <a href="https://twitter.com/lizzzyacker/status/899697604287537153">August 21, 2017</a>
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<h3 id="RkLJiF">After the eclipse, cars snarled highways as people headed back home. </h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cars crawl on Oregon highways as extensive traffic hits the state immediately following the total solar eclipse. <a href="https://t.co/UZmxiIzrWE">https://t.co/UZmxiIzrWE</a> <a href="https://t.co/BhbkOxrFh6">pic.twitter.com/BhbkOxrFh6</a></p>— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/899716792339361792">August 21, 2017</a>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/21/16179788/solar-eclipse-2017-photosMegan Barber2017-08-21T11:01:25-04:002017-08-21T11:01:25-04:00How today's solar eclipse is changing the towns in its path
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Cm32xr-hXUMxoWaHbCDKxuMs1Og=/320x0:5440x3840/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56123827/GettyImages_464782719.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A total eclipse in Australia in 2012. | <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?family=creative&photographer=Naoyuki+Noda">Naoyuki Noda</a>/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>200 million people live within a day’s drive of the total eclipse</p> <p id="la69nP"> <em>Editor's Note: This post was originally published on August 9, 2017 and has been updated with the most recent information.</em></p>
<p id="SifE1Y">On Monday, August 21, a <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/15925410/total-solar-eclipse-2017-explained">solar eclipse</a> will travel across the entire United States for the first time since 1918. Astronomically, it’s one of the biggest events of the decade. And for towns stretching from the west coast of Oregon to the east coast of South Carolina, it’s also shaping up to be one of their biggest tourism events ever. </p>
<p id="tW8zK3">For the hundreds of towns in the path of “totality,” the sun will be completely blocked out by the moon for two minutes and a partial eclipse will be visible for about 1.5 hours. Millions of people across the country are expected to travel in order to see what happens when the moon aligns with the sun, creating a black hole ringed by light. </p>
<p id="jAyib4">The impact of the eclipse on the towns and cities in its path can’t be overstated. Experts believe that up to 7.4 million people will visit the path of totality on eclipse day, causing potentially crippling traffic, boosting local coffers by millions of dollars, and resulting in what might be the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/the-greatest-mass-migration-in-american-history/535734/">greatest temporary mass migration of humans</a> to see a natural event in U.S. history. This is the story of solar eclipse boom towns. </p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3TtzBf407-nO7pkiICxgobaamW4=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9013381/usa_eclipse_map.tif_.jpg">
<cite>NASA</cite>
<figcaption>The path of the total solar eclipse, stretching from the east coast of South Carolina to the west coast of Oregon. </figcaption>
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<h3 id="0uKOpc">Where and what’s happening</h3>
<p id="Lajavg">Eclipses happen <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/7/16025284/total-solar-eclipse-2017-date-time-lunar-map-glasses-path">every 18 months or so</a>, but many are partial eclipses that can’t be seen well in North America. The hype about the upcoming eclipse stems in part from its rarity; it’s the first time a total solar eclipse has passed from one coast of the U.S. to the other in 99 years. </p>
<p id="bkdsBC">No matter where you live in the United States, you’ll be able to see what some are calling the great American eclipse. To find out what it will look like near you, <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/16019892/solar-eclipse-2017-interactive-map">Vox has a helpful interactive map</a> of how much you’ll see depending on your ZIP code. </p>
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<p id="4H9ck3">The eclipse’s path makes it accessible to a huge proportion of the country. While <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/the-greatest-mass-migration-in-american-history/535734/">12 million</a> Americans live in the 70-mile-wide path of totality, some 200 million people live within a day’s drive. Yet many of the towns and cities in the path of totality are not large metropolitan areas. The fast-growing city of Nashville, Tennessee—the largest U.S. city in the path of the total eclipse—boasts a metro-area population of just under 2 million people, but most of the other towns in the total solar eclipse path are much smaller. </p>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50.0% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GPT6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXjUpvJB4f5/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by NASA (@nasa)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-08-08T23:52:11+00:00">Aug 8, 2017 at 4:52pm PDT</time></p>
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<p id="ubMZYT">Urban residents everywhere will be able to see the eclipse as long as it’s not obscured by buildings or cloud cover, but smaller towns and wide-open spaces will ultimately provide better viewing areas. This will result in a huge migration of people from urban areas around the country to less populated, out-of-the-way towns. </p>
<p id="cwfdyJ">In total, <a href="https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/statistics/">GreatAmericanEclipse.com</a> estimates that between 2 million and 7 million people will visit the path of totality, and those numbers could easily grow depending on weather, traffic, and real-time conditions. </p>
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<p id="VzSPAr">While some hardcore eclipse chasers have been planning trips for years, cities within a day’s drive of the total eclipse believe that many tourists will be last-minute travelers inspired to make the trek from metropolitan areas like Portland, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Atlanta. And if one city is forecasting cloud cover during the event, there could be a frantic rush toward other cities with clearer skies. </p>
<p id="Yv0xfN">Other factors like easy highway accessibility, the fact that many schools are still out for the summer, and a growing buzz on social media mean that the eclipse has the potential to inspire a record number of tourists. In places like Nebraska, which is directly in the eclipse’s path, the event is expected to attract <a href="http://journalstar.com/news/state-and-regional/eclipse/eclipse-could-be-nebraska-s-biggest-ever-tourism-event-ricketts/article_28bafc19-b0a5-5ecc-a569-50b13771930b.html">more people than any occasion</a> in the state’s history. </p>
<h3 id="LUXjJ4">A mass migration: the impact on towns</h3>
<p id="qGwMO0">With this many people, the eclipse will transform small towns into bustling tourist destinations. The town of <a href="http://madraseclipse.com/">Madras</a>, set in the high desert of central Oregon, is being heralded as one of the premier viewing locations in the U.S. In its most recent census, Madras boasted around 6,660 people. During the eclipse “festival period” from August 17 through August 21, Madras is expecting over <a href="http://madraseclipse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Funfacts.pdf">100,000 people</a>, and based on the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-great-american-eclipse-liveblog-it-was-so-busy-in-madras-oregon-they-1503273850-htmlstory.html">traffic</a> over the weekend, those predictions are looking fairly accurate. </p>
<p id="rPAm1H">Other small towns will see similar numbers. <a href="http://www.stjomo.com/">St. Joseph, Missouri</a>, a town of 76,000 people, is prepping to welcome anywhere from 50,000 to 500,000 visitors, while Clarksville, Tennessee (a town of 150,000), will see around <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennessean.com%2Fstory%2Fmoney%2F2017%2F08%2F06%2Fsolar-eclipse-2017-turning-tennessee-cities-into-boom-towns%2F527238001%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F9%2F16113476%2Fsolar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">200,000 eclipse tourists</a>. That many people can overwhelm local services, and towns have been preparing for years for the event. </p>
<div id="xk9nNx">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am heading to Madras Oregon for the eclipse. This is the traffic heading into town today. This is 30 miles from Madras. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2017eclipse?src=hash">#2017eclipse</a> <a href="https://t.co/KsKDJ0xb4C">pic.twitter.com/KsKDJ0xb4C</a></p>— Tim Robertson (@TimRobertson56) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimRobertson56/status/898346080865103872">August 18, 2017</a>
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<p id="itXhCn">One of the biggest concerns is traffic. Especially in states like North Carolina, Tennessee, and Oregon, traffic on arterial highways will be a major challenge. </p>
<p id="PjJy6t">The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) predicts that before and on the actual day of the eclipse, Oregon will experience its <a href="https://www.thenewsguard.com/news/eclipse-expect-busiest-traffic-event-in-oregon-history/article_92d2aaf4-79ed-11e7-92d6-53e18262b3f6.html">busiest traffic event ever.</a> In the days leading up to the eclipse, gridlocked plagued highways as <a href="http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-great-american-eclipse-liveblog-it-was-so-busy-in-madras-oregon-they-1503273850-htmlstory.html">thousands</a> of people traveled to Madras and other eclipse boom towns. <a href="http://www.kgw.com/news/eclipse/gas-shortages-long-waits-reported-at-central-oregon-stations/465012913">Local news stations</a> in Bend and Prineville in Central Oregon reported long lines and running out of gas entirely. </p>
<p id="JjIO9H"><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/21/eclipse-traffic-wyoming/">Traffic</a> from Denver, Colorado, north into Wyoming started early on Monday, August 21, as last-minute eclipse viewers tried to make it to the path of totality. The Wyoming Department of Transportation is <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/21/eclipse-traffic-wyoming/">warning</a> drivers to make sure their gas tanks are full and not to wear eclipse glasses while driving. </p>
<p id="dMSUvI">Post-eclipse travel with hundreds of thousands of vehicles on the road at the same time could cause unprecedented gridlock. ODOT is advising people to arrive at their desired eclipse location the day before the event; to avoid travel on Monday, August 21; and to treat the “3-hour eclipse like a 3-day event.” </p>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MJUTvP8hsqHJDmV8hOp7AjDrRcg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9015401/v24cj4avnzny.png">
</figure>
<p id="umdXln">No matter what state travelers are visiting, police fear that distracted drivers will make roads treacherous during the actual two minutes of darkness. This is not the time to <a href="http://fox17.com/news/local/tennessee-law-enforcement-plans-for-chaos-on-total-solar-eclipse-day">take a selfie</a>. </p>
<p id="gQdo8N">Eclipse boom towns anticipate other <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/talalansari/eclipse-emergency-prep?utm_term=.bilrJpK414#.llO3Wja7z7">problems</a> that seem more akin to a <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/solar-eclipse-space-national-disaster-solar-eclipse-prep-643766">natural disaster</a> than a tourism event. Towns fear a <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/solar-eclipse-space-national-disaster-solar-eclipse-prep-643766">national port-a-potty shortage</a>, are working to prevent potential wildfires thanks to thousands of campers, and need to safely accommodate thousands of people congregating in remote areas like national parks. </p>
<p id="KC3zz9">In Oregon’s Madras, the town is installing more <a href="http://madraseclipse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Funfacts.pdf">port-a-potties</a> than the county has ever seen in its history. In Nebraska, the state is activating an <a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-ricketts-state-agencies-outline-preparations-great-american-eclipse">emergency operations center</a>—the same used in the event of a large-scale disaster. And Oregon’s governor, Kate Brown, has <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2017/07/oregon_governor_authorizes_nat.html">activated the National Guard</a> in case it needs to assist any of the state’s expected 1 million visitors. Across the country, the Red Cross is preparing <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/solar-eclipse-space-national-disaster-solar-eclipse-prep-643766">hundreds of emergency shelters</a> in the 12 states that will see a total eclipse in case other emergencies (like earthquakes or tsunamis) occur while millions of people are traveling. </p>
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<p id="3ltkAp">On a more local level, towns are advising residents to prepare for disruptions and to act now for “eclipse preparedness.” In Madras, Oregon, the city is distributing a pamphlet entitled <a href="http://madraseclipse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Residents-Bilingual.pdf">“Tips for Residents”</a> that tells locals to shop early to give stores time to restock before tourists arrive. It goes on, “Get cash. ATM’s may run out,” and “be prepared for slow internet; you might not be able to stream your Netflix at peak times!” Crowds are also expected to strain trash and delivery services and cause long lines at stores and restaurants. </p>
<p id="5DXo75">Similar warnings have been issued in <a href="http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/36007158/sc-emergency-officials-issue-warnings-for-residents-visitors-ahead-of-total-eclipse">South Carolina</a>, <a href="http://fox17.com/news/local/tennessee-law-enforcement-plans-for-chaos-on-total-solar-eclipse-day">Tennessee</a>, and Nebraska, and many fear that cellular service towers incapable of handling millions of extra people per state will likely make internet, smartphone, and GPS service <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/solar-eclipse-space-national-disaster-solar-eclipse-prep-643766">nonexistent</a> near the total eclipse zone.</p>
<p id="qgbxug">The smallest of towns, like <a href="https://www.glendoeclipse.com/">Glendo, Wyoming</a>, don’t have the essential services needed to support the eclipse tourists. On Glendo’s <a href="https://www.glendoeclipse.com/">eclipse website</a> (all eclipse boom towns have them), the town advises visitors to arrive with a full tank of fuel, an icebox, and plenty of cash, as availability may be compromised. </p>
<p id="dNw0TA">Glendo even started a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/costs-of-the-2017-solar-eclipse">GoFundMe</a> campaign seeking $25,000 to offset the costs of “port-a-potties, trash containers, and other sanitation expenses for the estimated 70,000-100,000 people coming for the eclipse.” Glendo has never seen anything like this: The town has a population of 202 people. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VYI6IXRkpkGZX5lLy9-ge1hNfD8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9017943/6f5352d5_5c18_4ffe_8814_1f56d1212b7b.jpg">
<cite>Airbnb</cite>
<figcaption>A house in Madras, Oregon, that’s renting for <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F18732449%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DMadras%252C%2520OR%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$10,000 per night on Airbnb</a> during the eclipse.</figcaption>
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<h3 id="LrlLMY">The economics of a solar eclipse</h3>
<p id="z3VNXw">While no one knows exactly how much money tourists will pump into local economies thanks to the eclipse, expectations are high. Nearly every town is hosting hundreds of eclipse events, from <a href="https://www.glendoeclipse.com/">small-town street dances</a> to a <a href="https://www.moonstock2017.com/schedule-of-lineup">four-day music festival</a> in Illinois—fittingly called <a href="https://www.moonstock2017.com/schedule-of-lineup">Moonstock</a>—that culminates in Ozzy Osbourne singing “Bark at the Moon” during the eclipse.</p>
<p id="D7jvDt">Elsewhere, Nashville estimates that their 50,000 to 75,000 eclipse visitors will spend a total of <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Ftech%2Fscience%2F2017%2F08%2F07%2Fsolar-eclipse-2017-tourism-bringing-millions-oregon-s-c%2F544958001%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F9%2F16113476%2Fsolar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$15 million to $20 million</a>, and even the relatively small South Carolina State Museum told <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fstory%2Ftech%2Fscience%2F2017%2F08%2F07%2Fsolar-eclipse-2017-tourism-bringing-millions-oregon-s-c%2F544958001%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F9%2F16113476%2Fsolar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>USA Today</em></a> it believes it will generate $235,000 from eclipse-related activities. </p>
<p id="1I1ZDf">But the biggest financial gains might come from lodging revenue. Hotels in <a href="http://eclipsecasper.com/">Casper, Wyoming,</a> started taking bookings as early as five years ago, and <a href="http://eclipsecasper.com/">Visit Casper</a> reports that almost all of the city’s 2,700 hotel rooms and 900 campsites are currently booked. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Camping is already filling up in Madras. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2017eclipse?src=hash">#2017eclipse</a> <a href="https://t.co/jEL8RSD4Qs">pic.twitter.com/jEL8RSD4Qs</a></p>— Tim Robertson (@TimRobertson56) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimRobertson56/status/898372534793420800">August 18, 2017</a>
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<p id="o3hStA">By August 17, makeshift campsites throughout Oregon and other states filled up with eager eclipse watchers staked out for the main event. Aerial photos show thousands of people camping in fields near Madras, Oregon. </p>
<p id="dpiBjp">A lack of traditional lodging accommodations has caused many to turn to home-rental sites like Airbnb; the company expects its <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/business/airbnb-expects-its-biggest-night-ever-in-south-carolina-thanks/article_92fd8f00-6cb7-11e7-987d-dfa9e3dc33da.html">biggest night ever</a> in South Carolina on August 20, with 7,000 rooms booked across the state. The eclipse is giving Airbnb, which has been at the forefront of the debate over <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2016/11/10/13582982/airbnb-laws-us-cities">how vacation rentals impact cities</a>, a new talking point.</p>
<p id="DvpNod">"Home sharing gives cities big and small the ability to scale up quickly for major events and creates opportunities for local residents to earn additional income by sharing extra space in their homes," said Will Burns, Airbnb's director of public policy, said in a <a href="http://www.postandcourier.com/business/airbnb-expects-its-biggest-night-ever-in-south-carolina-thanks/article_92fd8f00-6cb7-11e7-987d-dfa9e3dc33da.html">statement</a>.</p>
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<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BXjLliNAFMh/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by The Planetary Society (@planetarysociety)</a> on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2017-08-08T22:32:58+00:00">Aug 8, 2017 at 3:32pm PDT</time></p>
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<p id="gsHpUO">There’s little doubt that homeowners willing to rent out their properties are profiting from the eclipse. Peruse the <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Fs%2FMadras--OR--United-States%2Fhomes%3Fcheckin%3D2017-08-20%26checkout%3D2017-08-22%26adults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26source%3Dhdr%26allow_override%255B%255D%3D%26s_tag%3DNUks3NlZ&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">vacation rentals</a> available in Madras, Oregon, and you’ll find ordinary houses renting for <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Fs%2FMadras--OR--United-States%2Fhomes%3Fcheckin%3D2017-08-20%26checkout%3D2017-08-22%26adults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26source%3Dhdr%26allow_override%255B%255D%3D%26s_tag%3DNUks3NlZ&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thousands</a> of dollars per night. There’s not much inventory left, but a five-bedroom ranch house in Madras is still available for a shocking price of <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F18732449%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DMadras%252C%2520OR%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$10,000 per night</a> during the eclipse.</p>
<p id="P2qSFP">Everywhere in the eclipse path tells a similar story, even if prices aren’t quite so astronomical: Hotels are booked and what lodging remains is expensive. A farmhouse near Hopkinsville, Kentucky—one of the <a href="https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/best-places-to-view/">top places to view the eclipse</a>—is asking <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F20285339%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DHopkinsville%252C%2520KY%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$5,000 per night</a> for three bedrooms in a remote location. That’s a pretty penny in a farm community that has <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2017/07/26/how-the-coming-solar-eclipse-has-brought-hope-to-my-struggling-kentucky-hometown/?utm_term=.c0d12245fdcb">struggled</a> following government restrictions on growing tobacco. </p>
<p id="s7vI1R">Despite all of the potential local problems, the influx of people, and the threat of unprecedented traffic, the atmosphere in eclipse boom towns isn’t fearful. Sure, the influx of much-needed cash in some of the country’s smallest cities no doubt soothes worries of potential eclipse headaches. </p>
<p id="dvGZB1">But there’s something more: For most of these cities and towns, there’s never been a bigger event. It’s a chance to shine, all for two minutes of darkness. </p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourismMegan Barber2017-08-15T13:06:50-04:002017-08-15T13:06:50-04:00Solar eclipse 2017: 5 expensive rentals still available now
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tz0QTwMr-XSqD-BCxC3JSPTe_OQ=/216x0:3785x2677/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56203575/GettyImages_464782709.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A total eclipse in China in 2009. | <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?family=creative&photographer=Naoyuki+Noda">Naoyuki Noda</a>/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Houses in the path of totality are going for up to $10,000 per night</p> <p id="HpOISc">A <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/16019892/solar-eclipse-2017-interactive-map">rare total solar eclipse</a> will travel across the U.S. on Monday, August 21, with up to <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">7.4 million eclipse tourists</a> hitting the road to see the event. Hotels and rooms have been <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">booked</a> for years in the <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/11/16126636/solar-eclipse-2017-map-nasa-oregon">70-mile-wide path</a> of totality, when the moon will completely block the sun for two minutes. </p>
<p id="B83ciQ">But if you’re a celestial procrastinator—or if you’ve just been living under a rock—there are still a few places available for rent. The only problem? These accommodations come at a stiff price. </p>
<p id="VPm1pb">Normally in towns like Casper, Wyoming or Twin Falls, Idaho, you’d be hard pressed to find hotel rooms above $300. But <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">eclipse tourism</a> is a big deal; large cities in the path of totality predict that eclipse visitors will spend <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">tens of millions of dollars</a>. </p>
<p id="CikWmV">Last-minute lodging prices to see the eclipse are on par with five-star hotels in pricey tourist destinations like Paris, London, and Tokyo. From a $2,500 per night camper to a $10,000 house in Oregon, here are some of the most interesting—and expensive—places to stay if you want to see a total eclipse. </p>
<h3 id="kkVPtd">
<a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F19290368%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DCasper%252C%2520WY%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22%26s%3DXr1uVRGh&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The ‘Silver Streak’ Camper in Casper, Wyoming:</a> </h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/t-idnDMNRpFC-8AEfzsZ121Iavs=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9053001/ac21ecd7_c0e9_4377_8b04_bf1e501ed9b2.jpg">
<cite>Airbnb</cite>
<figcaption>A camper available for rent during the 2017 eclipse. </figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="pGIkBU"><strong>Cost:</strong> <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F19290368%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DCasper%252C%2520WY%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22%26s%3DXr1uVRGh&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$2,500 per night</a></p>
<p id="z22htR"><strong>The draw:</strong> Rooms are full at The Sterling Hotel in Casper, Wyoming, so the hotel owners are offering this 32-foot 1976 camper for rent. Casper is <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/11/16126636/solar-eclipse-2017-map-nasa-oregon">forecasted</a> to have an excellent view of the total eclipse, and your stay comes with an access card to use a hotel bathroom, and breakfast and dinner at two local establishments. </p>
<h3 id="MQnYau"><a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F18732449%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DMadras%252C%2520OR%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">A ranch house in Madras, Oregon:</a></h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VYI6IXRkpkGZX5lLy9-ge1hNfD8=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9017943/6f5352d5_5c18_4ffe_8814_1f56d1212b7b.jpg">
<cite>Airbnb</cite>
<figcaption>A house in Madras, Oregon, that’s renting for <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F18732449%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DMadras%252C%2520OR%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$10,000 per night on Airbnb</a> during the eclipse.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="Dm5iOM"><strong>Cost:</strong> <a href="https://airbnb-trips.pxf.io/c/482924/378143/5503?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airbnb.com%2Frooms%2F18732449%3Fadults%3D1%26children%3D0%26infants%3D0%26location%3DMadras%252C%2520OR%252C%2520United%2520States%26check_in%3D2017-08-20%26check_out%3D2017-08-22&sharedid=archive.curbed.com" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$10,000 per night</a></p>
<p id="geOgUX"><strong>The draw: </strong>This four-bedroom, three-bath home sleeps ten and boasts a lovely yard and patio. Madras is in the high desert of central Oregon and is considered one of the premier viewing locations in the U.S. </p>
<h3 id="2etW5z">
<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fus%2Fthe-mansion-at-fontanel.html%3Faid%3D1334242%3Bsid%3D18132a09b81d850c1d8d75f1fca3408b%3Bdest_id%3D20123908%3Bdest_type%3Dcity%3Bdist%3D0%3Bhpos%3D1%3Broom1%3DA%252CA%3Bsb_price_type%3Dtotal%3Bsrfid%3Dfb9dc0ca104216c4aedd274bf3a65a2ffefa90c7X1%3Bsrpvid%3Df35666ee0e350034%3Btype%3Dtotal%3Bucfs%3D1%26%23hotelTmpl&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F15%2F16150912%2Fsolar-eclipse-rental-where-to-stay" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Fontanel Mansion in Nashville, Tennessee:</a> </h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9iDoUrJAQMGrxdcSwc5eGTLmJvE=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9052923/Booking.com_Solar_Eclipse_1.jpg">
<cite>Courtesy of Booking.com</cite>
<figcaption>A Nashville mansion formerly owned by country Hall of Famer Barbara Mandrell is offering rooms to rent for the eclipse. </figcaption>
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<p id="nA0kt2"><strong>Cost:</strong> <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fus%2Fthe-mansion-at-fontanel.html%3Faid%3D1334242%3Bsid%3D18132a09b81d850c1d8d75f1fca3408b%3Bdest_id%3D20123908%3Bdest_type%3Dcity%3Bdist%3D0%3Bhpos%3D1%3Broom1%3DA%252CA%3Bsb_price_type%3Dtotal%3Bsrfid%3Dfb9dc0ca104216c4aedd274bf3a65a2ffefa90c7X1%3Bsrpvid%3Df35666ee0e350034%3Btype%3Dtotal%3Bucfs%3D1%26%23hotelTmpl&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F15%2F16150912%2Fsolar-eclipse-rental-where-to-stay" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$2,000-$3,000 per night, per bedroom</a></p>
<p id="5LTSYX"><strong>The draw:</strong> Nashville is the largest city in the U.S. in the path of totality, and <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2FBooking.com&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2017%2F8%2F15%2F16150912%2Fsolar-eclipse-rental-where-to-stay" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Booking.com</a> is offering four bedrooms in the 33,000 square foot Fontanel Mansion for stays on August 20. The stay includes a viewing party with complimentary daybeds, telescopes, and protective glasses. </p>
<h3 id="o5ZHB6"><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.vrbo.com/4666377ha" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">A 4-bedroom house on Idaho’s Snake River:</a></h3>
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<cite><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.vrbo.com/4666377ha" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">VRBO</a></cite>
<figcaption>The view from the patio of this Idaho home available for rent during the eclipse. </figcaption>
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<p id="EMaI3Y"><strong>Cost:</strong> <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.vrbo.com/4666377ha" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$5,000 per night</a> </p>
<p id="tQKfJS"><strong>The draw: </strong>This rather suburban looking four-bedroom house near Twin Falls, Idaho, boasts perfectly fine accommodations. But the real attraction is this jaw-dropping view of the Snake River from the property’s back yard hot tub, fire pits, and patio. A stunning spot to view the eclipse. </p>
<h3 id="vlbMh4"><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.vrbo.com/692211" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">A rooftop suite in Lincoln, Nebraska:</a></h3>
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<cite><a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.vrbo.com/692211" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">VRBO</a></cite>
<figcaption>The rooftop patio of the Grand Manse Penthouse Suite in Lincoln, Nebraska. </figcaption>
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<p id="lVLjKF"><strong>Cost:</strong> <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.vrbo.com/692211" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">$2,100 per night </a></p>
<p id="R7iewM"><strong>The draw:</strong> Book the Penthouse Suite at the Grand Manse in Lincoln, Nebraska, and not only will you be able to use this rooftop patio to see the eclipse, but also you’ll get six bedrooms, five bathrooms, and space to sleep 20 people. </p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/15/16150912/solar-eclipse-rental-where-to-stayMegan Barber2017-08-11T14:19:03-04:002017-08-11T14:19:03-04:00Nashville is throwing a party for the solar eclipse
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<p>It’s the largest city set entirely within the path of totality</p> <p id="rfIwo4">Have you heard? There’s a total solar eclipse passing through the entire United States on August 21 for the first time in 99 years, and <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">tourists are flocking to towns located along the path of totality</a> for the chance to witness this rare phenomenon. </p>
<p id="fWMhQT">Although folks from every part of the country (including Hawaii and Alaska) will be able to see a partial solar eclipse, only those in areas along the 70-mile-wide stretch from South Carolina to Oregon can observe a total solar eclipse. </p>
<p id="qboNGn">One city in particular is shaping up to the best—or at least the most fun—locale from which to observe the moon completely blocking out the sun for two minutes: Nashville, Tennessee.</p>
<p id="GVtiuk">The largest city set entirely within the path of totality, Nashville, aka Music City, is already a tourist hotspot, but with special guest the Solar Eclipse coming to town, it’s going to be an all-out party. Watch the video above to see what’s in store. </p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/11/16131838/nashville-total-solar-eclipse-2017Curbed Video2017-08-11T12:42:23-04:002017-08-11T12:42:23-04:00Solar eclipse 2017: Where to get the best view
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<figcaption>Joshua Stevens/NASA</figcaption>
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<p>NASA has some ideas </p> <p id="9Secvc">If you haven’t heard yet (unlikely), there’s an event of cosmic significance happening on August 21: a very special solar eclipse, with a shadow path that will pass exclusively through the continental U.S. (the next time this will happen is 2316). While everyone <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/7/25/16019892/solar-eclipse-2017-interactive-map">should be able to see <em>something</em></a><em>—</em>if not a full eclipse for <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">those in the path of “totality”</a>—there’s, as always, the potential for unfortunate weather to get in the way of our grand plans. </p>
<p id="4oHKqc">To help eclipse-watchers get a better sense of where the phenomenon will <em>truly </em>be most visible, NASA’s Earth Observatory has released two alluring visualizations, produced by compiling satellite images for August 21 between 2000 and 2016. The first, shown above, shows where clear skies will be most likely (dark blue) and where clouds could cover things up (lighter blue to white). </p>
<p id="MjHOx7">The main takeaway? Northwestern U.S. is in luck, especially the states of Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming. </p>
<p id="pvQXGz">A second visualization, shown below, goes in a little deeper, combining the cloud coverage data with the level of eclipse projected for each locale. It shows that while a full eclipse and its 70-mile-wide band of shadow should be visible from all the way from Oregon to South Carolina, the cities on that path with the best chances at clear skies are merely Salem, Oregon, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Casper, Wyoming. So long as weather is concerned, though, we’ll just have to wait and see. </p>
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<cite>Joshua Stevens/NASA</cite>
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<p id="0WaXOX"><em>Via</em>: <a href="https://www.citylab.com/environment/2017/08/where-clouds-might-ruin-the-solar-eclipse/536529/">CityLab</a> </p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/11/16126636/solar-eclipse-2017-map-nasa-oregonJenny Xie2017-08-09T12:52:31-04:002017-08-09T12:52:31-04:00The solar eclipse could block 9,000 megawatts of solar power
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<figcaption>The solar eclipse on August 21 will offer a unique challenge to the country’s growing solar industry. | Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>That’s enough electricity to power 7 million homes</p> <p id="kgPwYk">The approaching August 21 solar eclipse, which will traverse the continental United States, is expected to cause numerous disruptions, as curious Americans take time off or <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16113476/solar-eclipse-path-2017-tourism">even travel </a>to witness the celestial anomaly. Businesses across the country are gearing up, but few are taking it as seriously as solar power operators.</p>
<p id="fWCC4K">According to a release from Climate Nexus, the brief period of darkness will have a sizable impact on the nation’s growing number of solar installations. Expected to stretch across 14 states, the eclipse will obstruct as much as 9,000 megawatts of solar power, or the equivalent of nine nuclear reactors. That would be enough power to supply <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-14/a-solar-eclipse-could-wipe-out-9-000-megawatts-of-power-supplies">7 million homes</a>.</p>
<p id="rpeoqL">The impact will be most clearly felt in California, which can rely on solar for up to 40 percent of its power on certain days. Experts estimate that state alone will lose roughly 4,194 megawatts of generating capacity. Other solar-heavy states expected to see an impact include North Carolina and New Jersey (despite being outside of the direct 70-mile wide path of the eclipse). </p>
<p id="1QmtTW">This energy challenge results from solar’s <a href="http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data">growing popularity </a>over the last decade. At of the end of 2016, the U.S had <a href="http://www.seia.org/map/corporate-solar-projects.php">1.4 million solar installations</a>. According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-14/a-solar-eclipse-could-wipe-out-9-000-megawatts-of-power-supplies">Bloomberg</a>, rooftop panels will account for 80 percent of outages.</p>
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<cite><a href="https://www.greentechmedia.com/research/subscription/u.s.-solar-market-insight">GTM Research</a></cite>
<figcaption>U.S. Quarterly PV Installations, Q1 2012 - Q1 2017</figcaption>
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<p id="FKbD7d">The temporary loss of power, however, has already been anticipated by utilities that rely on solar. According to the release, grid operators don’t anticipate any power outages or price impacts due to the eclipse.</p>
<p id="h8EEjX">“The eclipse presents some grid management challenges for California and the West,” Nancy Traweek, the executive director of systems operations for the California ISO (CAISO), the state’s power grid, <a href="http://www.caiso.com/Documents/CaliforniaISOExpectsSunnyOutcomeforGridduringSolarEclipse.pdf">said in a statement</a>. “However, with detailed planning and engagement among all parties we are expecting no shortage of electricity or reliability incidents related to the eclipse.”</p>
<p id="kregZZ">During the eclipse, CAISO <a href="http://www.caiso.com/Documents/CaliforniaISOExpectsSunnyOutcomeforGridduringSolarEclipse.pdf">says</a> it will fill any power gaps with natural gas and hydropower, and has already begun reaching out to customers to request they lighten their energy load during the big event. CAISO also reached out to German grid operators to learn any lessons they may have picked up from their experience with a 2015 European eclipse. Dealing with this event will present important lesson for U.S utilities to learn; during the next anticipated U.S. eclipse in 2024, solar power will likely be an even bigger part of the nation’s power system. </p>
<p id="4cKKBu">PJM Interconnection, which serves 65 million customers across 13 eastern states, operates the largest grid in the country. In a press release, the utility says that when the moon blocks the sun on the afternoon of Aug. 21, it expects a temporary reduction in solar power of up to 2,500 megawatts, depending on how sunny or cloudy it is that afternoon. PJM also says that it has ample options at hand to cover the disruption in solar generation. </p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2017/8/9/16119352/eclipse-solar-power-utilityPatrick Sisson