<p>The sun will still be very very bright and I advise you not to look at at directly.  If you were to, you would not see any corona, since it is very faint, relative to the sun (even 1%).  The sun will look a bit like your photo, but I'd say with a little more light.</p>

<p>However there will be a very noticeable darkening of the environment around you, to the extent that any local wildlife will likely start make preparations for nighttime.  It will also cool down.</p>

<p>As totality approaches, gaps between shadows made by, for example leaves on trees, will progressively show the shape of the partially obscured sun - similarly with pinhole cameras.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-09T07:11:09.823Z
2017-08-09T07:11:09.823Z
Dr Chuck
<p>At 99% the Sun will be reduced to a small sliver. There are <a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/portland-or" rel="nofollow noreferrer">simulations</a> on the internet. It will become notably darker. However, the Sun is 400,000 times brighter than the full moon, so 1% of the Sun is still 4000 times brighter than the Moon, and so no corona will be visible. You can still damage your eyes looking at that sliver.</p>
<p>Since the centre of totality is less than an hour's drive from Portland, if you have a car, and can get out early, you can see totality and the corona (weather permitting).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-09T11:52:00.150Z
You would be daft not to. There is a huge experiential difference between 99% and 100%.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-09T16:56:41.597Z
@RobJeffries - The roads will be literally gridlocked. Ugh. Not only will everyone from Portland will be heading south on I-5, so will Seattle which is a couple hours north of here. That normally one hour drive to Salem (in totality zone) will probably take 3-4 hrs or more. Then head back home afterwards.
iMerchant
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-09T17:11:28.147Z
@iMerchant There are people I know from the UK travelling significantly longer and further...
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-10T11:34:59.693Z
3-4 hrs drive to see a total solar eclipse? Nah, I wouldn't bother if I were you. I mean, a couple of hours would be totally worth it but that's just getting silly.
Bob says reinstate Monica
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-07T14:07:08.643Z
Definitely worth it - I drove 9 hours with the family from Scotland to Cornwall just to see one, and it was superb!
Rory Alsop
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-08-09T07:22:45.630Z
2023-01-06T16:51:20.953Z
2023-01-06T16:51:20.953Z
James K
<p>People smarter than me say the sun will be 99% covered during the 2017 solar eclipse where I live (Portland, OR metro). I am curious to know what it might look like (photo or drawing). Does this photo approximate 99% coverage? Or will there be slightly more sun? Will I still see some of the corona?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CTnkp.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CTnkp.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<solar-eclipse>
What does a solar eclipse at 99% totality look like?
iMerchant
# What does a solar eclipse at 99% totality look like?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-09)

People smarter than me say the sun will be 99% covered during the 2017 solar eclipse where I live (Portland, OR metro). I am curious to know what it might look like (photo or drawing). Does this photo approximate 99% coverage? Or will there be slightly more sun? Will I still see some of the corona?

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/CTnkp.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/CTnkp.jpg)

**Tags:** solar-eclipse

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-09. Score: 10 | Accepted answer

At 99% the Sun will be reduced to a small sliver. There are [simulations](https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/usa/portland-or) on the internet. It will become notably darker. However, the Sun is 400,000 times brighter than the full moon, so 1% of the Sun is still 4000 times brighter than the Moon, and so no corona will be visible. You can still damage your eyes looking at that sliver.

Since the centre of totality is less than an hour's drive from Portland, if you have a car, and can get out early, you can see totality and the corona (weather permitting).

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: You would be daft not to. There is a huge experiential difference between 99% and 100%.  
> **username_0**: @RobJeffries - The roads will be literally gridlocked. Ugh. Not only will everyone from Portland will be heading south on I-5, so will Seattle which is a couple hours north of here. That normally one hour drive to Salem (in totality zone) will probably take 3-4 hrs or more. Then head back home afterwards.  
> **username_3**: @iMerchant There are people I know from the UK travelling significantly longer and further...  
> **username_4**: 3-4 hrs drive to see a total solar eclipse? Nah, I wouldn't bother if I were you. I mean, a couple of hours would be totally worth it but that's just getting silly.  
> **username_5**: Definitely worth it - I drove 9 hours with the family from Scotland to Cornwall just to see one, and it was superb!  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-09. Score: 4

The sun will still be very very bright and I advise you not to look at at directly. If you were to, you would not see any corona, since it is very faint, relative to the sun (even 1%). The sun will look a bit like your photo, but I'd say with a little more light.

However there will be a very noticeable darkening of the environment around you, to the extent that any local wildlife will likely start make preparations for nighttime. It will also cool down.

As totality approaches, gaps between shadows made by, for example leaves on trees, will progressively show the shape of the partially obscured sun - similarly with pinhole cameras.


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