Watching the ring eclipse in Tokyo tomorrow

hailstorm · May 20, 12, 7:12 am

On the odd chance that the clouds lift, any recommendations on where to watch Tokyo's first ring eclipse since 1839 tomorrow morning?

O Sora · May 20, 12, 8:43 am

I was reading an NHK article. It says it will be fine in Northern Kanto and Southern Nagano.

So, taking an early morning Shinkansen to Utsunomiya or Takasaki may be an option.

hailstorm · May 20, 12, 2:00 pm

Thanks for the tip, but in the interest of getting to work on time, I'll take my chances on Tokyo.

Guess I'll try Odaiba area?

O Sora · May 20, 12, 3:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hailstorm

Guess I'll try Odaiba area?

How is it now in Odaiba ? Isn't it raining ?

TBS is live broadcasting the ring eclipse. They've set the camera in Usunomiya, Tochigi. It is about 20% shadowed now.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TBSsolareclipse?v=2ZZElO9kxKI

hailstorm · May 20, 12, 5:01 pm

I ended up in the bathroom of the Mandarin Oriental. Turned out to be a great call, as I was all alone, and the New Age Instrumental music that was playing in there really enhanced the feel of this as some sort of pagan happening. I highly recommend it for your future eclipse watching needs.

As for the visibility, it was mostly cloudy, but every now and then you would get a good view of it, including several seconds of the complete "ring of fire" It was even noticable for the brief second that I looked at it directly without my glasses. Magnificent!

ainternational · May 20, 12, 6:22 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hailstorm

I ended up in the bathroom of the Mandarin Oriental. Turned out to be a great call, as I was all alone, and the New Age Instrumental music that was playing in there really enhanced the feel of this as some sort of pagan happening. I highly recommend it for your future eclipse watching needs.

As for the visibility, it was mostly cloudy, but every now and then you would get a good view of it, including several seconds of the complete "ring of fire" It was even noticable for the brief second that I looked at it directly without my glasses. Magnificent!

Magnificent and hilarious simultaneously. Combining the luxury of the MO Tokyo, fantastic new age music and .... a toilet and eclipse all at once. It sounds magical in only a way that few could appreciate.

Thanks for the "recommendation". Will try to plan to be in said bathroom during the event eclipse in, what, a decade or two? ;-) haha.. I'm laughing out loud over here...

BTW, interestingly, we're just getting ready to begin viewing the eclipse now here in America. Begins in about 8 minutes and scheduled to climax at about 6:30pm Pacific time with 83% coverage.

hailstorm · May 20, 12, 6:29 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ainternational

Magnificent and hilarious simultaneously. Combining the luxury of the MO Tokyo, fantastic new age music and .... a toilet and eclipse all at once. It sounds magical in only a way that few could appreciate.

Staring up at the ring of fire whilst emptying my bladder, it truly felt like I was urinating into the abyss.

ainternational · May 20, 12, 6:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hailstorm

Staring up at the ring of fire whilst emptying my bladder, it truly felt like I was urinating into the abyss.

I didn't realize you were quite the comedian! We should meet up next time I'm in TYO.

Now, I need to grab a glass of wine and head out to see this eclipse. Minus the luxury of the MO Tokyo and the toilet.

armagebedar · May 20, 12, 6:38 pm

I watched it near Iidabashi Station. It seemed like just about everyone going to work at that hour stopped to have a goggle. (Even some idiots who were just using sunglasses...) Even with the clouds, if you used eclipse glasses you could actually see it pretty well. Definitely the chance of a lifetime to see an eclipse so perfectly shaped, IMO.

It's all over now, BTW, so don't bother trying to see it now.

hailstorm · May 20, 12, 6:44 pm

In the brief time that the full ring was formed, it was noticeable even without glasses, though I didn't dare look at it that way for more than a second.

For those who have already shelled out for eclipse glasses, don't throw them away just yet! The last transit of Venus to occur in our lifetimes will happen on June 6th.

ainternational · May 20, 12, 7:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by hailstorm

In the brief time that the full ring was formed, it was noticeable even without glasses, though I didn't dare look at it that way for more than a second.

For those who have already shelled out for eclipse glasses, don't throw them away just yet! The last transit of Venus to occur in our lifetimes will happen on June 6th.

Rather presumptuous of you to think we won't last until the next eclipse, isn't it? ;-) haha...

hailstorm · May 20, 12, 7:15 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ainternational

Rather presumptuous of you to think we won't last until the next eclipse, isn't it? ;-) haha...

Not at all, since I wasn't talking about eclipses in general. The next transit of Venus after the one coming up next month will not occur for another 105 years. Assuming all of us are adults, we would have to live longer than any human lifespan ever recorded to see the next one.

ainternational · May 21, 12, 4:25 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by hailstorm

Not at all, since I wasn't talking about eclipses in general. The next transit of Venus after the one coming up next month will not occur for another 105 years. Assuming all of us are adults, we would have to live longer than any human lifespan ever recorded to see the next one.

105 years. I'm not sure I'll make it another 5, let alone 105.