Peter Trei wrote:
On Monday, August 21, 2017 at 9:10:56 AM UTC-4, D B Davis wrote:
A blue sky greets Casper at dawn. They say that there's smoke in the air
from Pacific Northwest forest fires, but you can't prove it by me.
Sometimes Summer forest fire smoke fills Casper's mid-level sky with
dark, smelly, angry, long clouds. During such times there's no doubt
whatsoever that the sky is indeed full of smoke. But, that's not the
case today.

At best, today's reported smoke looks like a virtually invisible haze. A
Denver meteorologist who's here for the eclipse says that the haze
actually enhances the Sun's coloration. Let's call the sky one notch
lower than the "severe clear" that often greets Casper in its high
desert climate. To paraphrase American Indian Chief Crazy Horse, "Today
is a good day to eclipse for all the things of the sky are present."

Sounds good! I'm about 400 miles out to sea, posting via satellite. The
ship has excellent wifi. We have some thin cloud, but I don't think it
will stop the viewing. Uncertainty about crowds on the top deck, and
the effect of the DNCE/ Bonnie Tyler concert is of some concern.

It's started here in Casper. The moon's occluding the upper right
perimeter of the Sun.

Rumor has it that there's at least one Saudi Sheikh in town with his
entourage. Someone also hit the jackpot after _National Geographic_
paid $40,000 to rent /that person's/ house for four days. Other news
crews from around the world also rented houses for amounts unknown to
me.

Thank you,

--
Don