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Discussion Thread: Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES) episode is up! (Patreon)

Published:
2024-04-03 21:27:07
Imported:
2026-06

Content

The Sun! We hustled to get all the info you need to appreciate the center of our solar system, and an excellent primer on eclipses with two NASA Heliologists. So, so glad I was able to ask (almost-Dr.) India Jackson and Dr. Michael Kirk all about that burning thing in the sky.

Let me know what you thought of it! Anyone see a total eclipse before? What was it like? I’m headed to Texas and will give you the full report. 

Umbraphiles assemble,

Ol’ Ward

Files

Heliology (THE SUN/ECLIPSES) with India Jackson and Dr. Michael Kirk - alie ward

Sunset flimflam! Auroras! Eclipse tips! Let's get to know the center of our solar system, the Sun, as the April 8th eclipse approaches. What is it made of? How big is it? Will it explode soon? Why can't I stare at it? And why is it wearing sunglasses?

Comments

Belinda B

I'm so excited for you that you get to go to Texas for it, Alie!! Hope you find a ride 😅 Thanks for another fantastic and fascinating episode!

Crystal Wilson

You'll be in my neck of the woods. 🤠 Have a good time!

Michelle Butcher

Listening now! We live in Austin and considered driving out toward Kerrville to maximize our time in totality, but I’m hearing crazy things about traffic. Also, keep an eye on the weather. Avery Tomasco posts good updates on Facebook, but it’s not looking real great for our area on Monday.

Eil Be Gone

Woo!!! Started listening in September just got caught up this past week. Can't wait to listen to this episode!

Alie Ward

Oh dear, I hear thunderstorms perhaps? I wonder how long the drive from Austin to Kerrville will be on Sunday night...

Dave Miller, PhD

was in TN for the 2017 event and traveling to Dallas for this one…and yes we have our “twice in a lifetime” shirts ready to go. Now if the weather will cooperate! ✌🏻♥️🍸

Michelle Butcher

I hear a bunch of people are headed out over the weekend & are planning to make a party of it, so hopefully most of the crowds will have settled in by Sunday night? I’m wishing you clear roads! But if not, I hear TxDOT (Texas dept of transportation) has set up porta-potties along the side of most of the main roads in the Hill Country, so at least that’s one less thing to worry about? 👍 😂

Lisa St

Ooooh Ooooh! I'll listen tomorrow. I've seen partial before, but not total. I'm in Maine (near Augusta, just south of totality), taking the day off, driving an hour or two north with a friend for the day/event. As when most fun celestial events happen, it'll probably be cloudy here. BUT I'M STILL EXCITED.

Jeri Webb

Ooh baby! My husband and I are traveling to Texas as well, just a little southwest of Austin, where we will be joining a FABULOUS group of his ex-Adler Planetarium co-workers. My first total eclipse experience was on a ship in the Caribbean with about 300 astronomy experts/fans/nerds. The eclipse was a primal experience to say the least: I was overwhelmed and felt so connected to centuries of cultures all over the world who had experienced the same thing. In terms of my life experiences, I rank it right after the birth of my two children. Seriously. AMAZING! Hoping that the sky will be clear for us!

Raja

Yes!!! Listening now!!

Diane Heise

The one in 2017 was a very short drive. But this is a little further away. So Monday my little group is driving to Southern Illinois. After the 2017 eclipse, I was planning for this one. It is such a wonderful experience.

Theresa Carey

We are in Mazatlan for the eclipse! We experienced the 2017 eclipse near Salem OR at a friend’s hemp farm. Totally mind-blowing experience. You understand why ancient civilizations freaked out to see a black hole in the sky where the sun used to be.

Helen Langille

We’re driving a few hours to eastern New Brunswick (Canada) - and so far it looks like the weather might actually cooperate!

Nancy Weber

In Vermont, I've seen 2 partials. One in 1994, I think, and one a few years ago. I didn't have glasses for either, so used various things with holes. A colander is pretty neat, as well as trees! (the holes in leaves make little eclipses all over the ground. ) This time, my house is actually in the path of totality, but only for a minute 20 seconds, so I'm driving 20 mins away to a BBQ and 2 minutes 20secs :) This time I got a hold of some solar filter film, and made some goofy steam-punky goggles. Also some filters for my binocs. Amazingly, the day is forecast to be sunny! I believe they said we had a 12% chance of that, a few weeks ago. I guess I should continue to hold my breath!Look forward to listening this evening. Thanks for everything, Alie! <3 the show!!

Alie Ward

I hope we make it in time! The drive may be 12+ hours to go about 100 miles!

Alie Ward

Thank you so much! It's a logistical hornets' nest but fingers crossed!

Alie Ward

Aahahah! We must hydrate. This is nice of the TxDOT

Alie Ward

Ah! Nice! You can officially call yourself an umbraphile. Or I can call you that, umbraphile.

Alie Ward

Oh wow! I hope you get great weather! Either way a spring drive through Maine is heaven.

Alie Ward

Oh that's great! Are they watching it with a big group or a small one? Do you all travel and meet up for them?

Alie Ward

I had no idea it'd be an hour 40 until we were about to post it!

Alie Ward

Oh that's so great! I hope your weather is wonderful

Alie Ward

That is great news. We chose Texas because of weather and we maaaay have thunderstorms. WE SHALL SEE

Alie Ward

Oh sweet! It looks like the northeast may fare better than Texas.... I hope we both get a great view

Nancy Weber

Yeah, I hope we both do too!

Jeri Webb

There will be 18 of us, all staying at a camp ground near Canyon Lake called Mystic Quarry. Most of us are coming from Chicago. We’ll scope out the area when we all get there this weekend and see if we need to travel to get to clear skies—the weather reports are driving us crazy! But given how small the roads are and the potential for crowds, I’m pretty much planning on staying in the area and letting Mother Nature do her thing. Where are you going to be? Enjoy and bask in the miracle!

Angellica Stanley

My partner and I are also going to be going to southern Illinois! Traveling from the Twin Cities. Have you decided where you’re going to try to be for the viewing yet? We’re still trying to figure out where would be a good area.

Raja

I've only gotten to part of it so far because of a meeting, but I'm excited about the length!

Dave Miller, PhD

It’s an honor for you to call me anything Dad-ward!

Gabrielle Heiss

Thank you so much for the fantastic episode as always.

Diane Heise

Because it’s easy for me to get to with as little traffic as possible we are going to Fort Defiance park. It is just south of Cairo.

Waylo

I experienced totality in South Carolina in 2017. A wonderful experience! During totality it goes dark, but there is a beautiful ring of light that circles the horizon. And the birds go quiet of course. I’ll be driving from my home in Michigan down to the Toledo, OH area on Monday. Hoping for clear skies! And for you in Texas!

Felipe Jimenez

Total sun eclipse in 2019 in Chile. People for random reasons began to sing the national anthem (??) and that was the beginning of a series of unfortunate events in the country. Coincidence? I don’t know, but several conspiracy theories were opened…. 😅

Jenny Lowe Rhodes

I thought that for sure, this episode would not mention butts, but then I screamed laughing about the aside that shares etymology with anus and how fun Bailey beads sound.

Michelle Butcher

I just saw this news report regarding the traffic. Hoping it’ll help y’all with your planning! Were you able to get your hands on a rental car for the weekend?

Angellica Stanley

Has anyone created an “eclipse chasing” playlist?! I just started mine and would love to hear what songs about the sun/ sky/ outer space I should add! 😊🎶☀️

DeWaine Tollefsrud

We were in Costa Rica for the ‘91 eclipse. We 4 were chasing the blue sky all over the back roads until a few minutes before totality when we made a stand! We watched the umbra approach (unlike anything we expected) and as the darkness came to us the parrots, roosters, howler monkeys started their evening calls all at once! Totality hit and the sounds were amazing! At least the ones we heard over our whoops. We were totally unprepared for the emotion of the experience. Then we led a tour of 12 friends and colleagues to the Galapagos islands for our second total eclipse in ‘98. The area of the longest duration of that event was in restricted waters, but our captain was pals with the naval commander of the area and we got special permission to position ourselves at the exact lat/long for the maximum duration of that eclipse. Blue bird skies. We could see the umbra descend on us from a great distance but in silence this time (except for us and the crew!) The emotion of those two will last us a lifetime. Good luck to y’all!

DeWaine Tollefsrud

Sooo looking forward to your commentary on your successful viewing! Too far and wet for us to drive from Hawai’i. We will get 20-25% here but still and all! We have 2 totals under our happy belts so we are satisfied. Umbraphiles Unite!

CapallGlas

8/2017 in totality while teaching adults. We all went outside to drink coffee and peer through our eclipse glasses. If you look down, shadows show a million tiny sun crescents.

Alyssa Killingsworth

I was in Georgia for a partial in 2017, but I’m now in the northeast in the line of totality! The partial was cool but I am crossing all my fingers for clear skies for myself, and for my family and friends in Texas!! I have to say, the northern grey skies of this past week and the cloudy forecast make me nervous but here’s to hoping!!

Spencer Parks

My aunt, uncle, and cousins are traveling to Texas from Minnesota to see the eclipse so if you see them, say Hi! ;) Some day I'll get to see a totality! I'm in Chicago so we'll get 94% but from what I keep on hearing, that's NOTHING compared to what totality is. Oh well. I'm really tempted to go to Iceland for the next one. It's amazing there anyway so it would be magical to see an eclipse there. Congrats to India!

Allison De Jong

We drove from Missoula, Montana, down to Idaho to reach the path of totality in 2017, and camped overnight in a recommended wilderness area. Experiencing the totality was wild. The temperature dropped 15 degrees, everything got quiet (except for the shouts and whoops we heard from other folks scattered on the mountainside), we could see stars (!), and we were laughing and crying and overcome. It was incredibly emotional. We’re too far away to get to it this year, but will be hoping for clear skies across the path!

Abby Grieb

Dang I wasn’t planning to go to see the solar eclipse but after listening I feel like I should!! I’m only 2 hours away. Might be taking a last minute road trip on Monday!

Jeri Webb

And here’s some more info on our group!

Meghan

I haven't even listened to this yet but as someone who saw totality in 2017 I am encouraging everyone I can to go! If the weather is in your favor it's just the most surreal experience ever.

Pearl Ramone

I live in San Antonio and I’m really hoping the trip for you will be worth it - we are hearing it will be cloudy. 😶‍🌫️

Michelle Cabrera

Hubby is, as I write, driving from southern VA to an eclipse-viewing site in Missouri. We did a major road trip back in 2017 and we started by viewing the total solar eclipse at the Oregon Star Party, which is an annual gathering outside of Bend. It was AMAZING! Hubby went a little crazy with photo and video. He put a mini tripod with his phone on top of the car to video us, as we set up the binoculars and cheered at the various phases. He also videoed the eclipse itself but wasn't trying to get anything worthy of National Geographic. It was more about capturing our experience (which consisted of me saying only the word "WOW!" every 3 seconds). The evening before, we went to a lecture by an eclipse chaser. The main tip he gave was: Don't try to take the perfect photo of your first total solar eclipse. Just watch it, experience the whole thing. Take time to notice the change in the air, the sounds of wildlife around, all that other stuff (everything slows down and becomes eerie and focused and synchronized). We viewed through astronomical binoculars (Hubby made filters for them) on tripods (these are not for holding). For me, they were perfect. I could see the corona fanning out, and looping pink prominences. By all means, check out the view through a telescope, but I have to say astronomical binoculars worked really well (and were less hassle to set up). And yeah, we hit traffic. The eclipse was in the morning, and so by mid-afternoon, all routes heading west and south out of Oregon were completely clogged. It took us like 6 hours or so to get to Crater Lake. Anyhoo, soooo jealous that I can't make it to the States to see this. But soooo excited to hear about your experience!!

Elisabeth Westner

Hi Alie! I listened to this episode on the plane to Austin. We were thinking of going to Kerrville too but the cloudiness is making us think of other possibilities. Maybe if we both make it to Kerrville I'll run into you - that would make me day! I mean, it would be the 2nd thing that makes my day!

Elisabeth Westner

For 2017 we were in Idaho and got up at o' dark thirty to make the 50 or so mile drive, fearing for terrible traffic. But it was totally fine and we just sat around for a long time with a bunch of other cool ppl waiting for totality, which wasn't until 1:00 or so. Worth it.

Tom Harrington

I always thought "solar wind" was the polite term for a sun fart.

Caro Young

This episode was epic!! And thanks so much for having our back down under I can’t wait for our very own Sydney eclipse (and thank you for asking my questions). Also completely unrelated but MASSIVE congrats to Jarrett on his black belt!!!

Amy E Kirby

So the sun is cool and all, but India Jackson (hopefully Dr. Jackson by now) is awesome! I love that jet advisor straight up told her she could write her check for whatever she wanted. Too many academic advisors see only their career path. So big shout out to whoever it was a GSU. Second, I'm thrilled that she chose Grady as her donation. Such an amazing hospital doing the very hard work of being a major safety net and the only level 1 trauma for Atlanta. And they have awesome docs like Kimberly Manning, aka @GradyDoctor.

Shannon Amiot

THIS POD WAS SO COOL AND RIGHT ON TIME!!!

Rachel Guthrie

This episode has inspired my partner and I to finally book a trip to Iceland later this year to see the northern lights!

Lori Anderson

I'm listening to this driving through Texas after seeing the eclipse in Dallas! The weather miraculously held for us!

Michelle Cabrera

Ok so my husband changed his mind twice during his road trip to Texas because of weather. He had me look up campgrounds in southern Missouri. He even bought a ticket for the place I found, but then they were also looking at clouds, so he cancelled that too and headed for southern Illinois. He lucked out with sunny skies and is now driving home in a downpour just as happy as could be!

Yngvi

Hey Alie, you said in the episode that the Sun is 33.000 times bigger in mass than Earth. Isn’t it 333.000?

Ben Beardiac Fiore

We booked a VRBO at a ski resort 45 minutes south of Buffalo 6 months ago for this event. We made the drive, we enjoyed 2 days of clear skies, then Monday it was cloudy all morning and until 1 hour AFTER the end of the eclipse. We still got glimpses of the partial eclipse poking through before and after, and even with the clouds the 4 minutes of night-dark skies are still an experience. We got to see the 2017 eclipse clearly in Greenville, SC, and will likely be planning a trip to Iceland in 2026. If that one gets clouded out, at least we can see auroras, hot springs & volcanos.

Rick T

…got cut off. I can’t imagine what you paid for last minute flights to Buffalo and Toronto but so happy you said f*ck it. Listening to the episode made me forget I was stuck in traffic in a rainstorm with dilated pupils. Hoping to hit Iceland in 2 years so I can experience it too

Rick T

I was feeling pity for you when you opened that you were going to Buffalo as I knew they had clouds there. Then happiness that you opted to chase it than stay put. What a fantastic account of your experience. I had planned over a year ago to fly north and meet friends in Rochester but couldn’t afford it, even a year ahead. Turned out to money well saved as clouds there obscured nearly everything. Thank you for sharing your joy

Minty Mcgee

I just listened to the Heliology podcast. Loved it! Please Please give India a whole hour, shes hilarious!