Barstow ‘science nerd’ travels to Texas for total solar eclipse

Barstow resident Louise Miller is a retired teacher, who traveled to Texas to conduct science projects during Monday's total solar eclipse.

“On Monday, we’ll be in the path of totality when things start turning dark and I'll conduct my scientific observations,” Miller told the Daily Press. “I even bought eclipse T-shirts and glasses. Yes, I'm a total science nerd."

During Monday's eclipse, she’ll observe how the celestial event affects farm animal behavior.

“There have been lots of anecdotal stories and people who have tried to collect and understand how animals respond to eclipses over many, many years,” said Rebecca Johnson, a biologist at the California Academy of Sciences. "People often tell stories of birds and insects making noise or falling silent, for example."

But gathering data that isn't merely anecdotal is no easy task, Johnson said.

“It’s a pretty hard system to study because eclipses don’t happen that often,” Johnson said. "On average, any given place on Earth sees a total solar eclipse just once every 375 years—hardly something to build a career around."

In addition to observing animal behavior, Miller has another experiment she wants to test.

Monday’s eclipse won’t be Miller’s first, in August 2017, she traveled to the path of totality for what many call the "Great American Eclipse.”

The Purkinje effect

Miller said red and green colors, combined with the solar eclipse, are expected to create the Purkinje effect and change how viewers perceive colors.

“I might be pushing it a little, but I’m also going to ask some of the participants that are with me to wear different colored shirts,” Miller said. “During the eclipse, I want to see the effect of the changing light on those colors.”

The phenomenon creates the perception that reds and yellows will seem to fade while greens and blues appear brighter during the eclipse, according to a USA Today article, which Miller referenced.

Named after Czech physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkinje, the Purkinje effect states that "as light intensity decreases, red objects are perceived to fade faster than blue objects of the same brightness."

“I’ve alerted several of my teacher friends that I’ll be doing the Facebook live during the eclipse,” Miller said “I’ll be saving the video so if they’re interested and maybe comparing or contrasting with what their students experience that will be available to them. It’s just showing that you can have fun doing just about anything.”

Texas hospitality

While in Texas, Miller and her husband, Mike, are staying with longtime friends and former High Desert residents, Doug and Alice McDonald.

“Their last name is McDonald and they actually do live on a farm,” Miller said. “I knew that they could put up with me for a few days being a complete celestial waka doodle.”

Miller said her brother and his wife from San Diego will also be in Texas for the eclipses, but about 45 minutes away.

The Millers said they are fortunate to be staying with friends as hotels, motels, campgrounds and Airbnbs are nearly sold out along and near the path of totality.

Additionally, many remaining accommodations are listed at sky-high prices, according to USA Today.

Miller shared that about a year ago, when she seriously started making travel plans to cover the total eclipse, people acted like she was "nuts," a comment she jokingly admits she is used to.

“Now, most everyone’s on board and I noticed it’s getting a lot more media attention as well,” said Miller, who is among the millions of people who traveled to see the eclipse.

The estimated number of people traveling to see the eclipse is anywhere between 1 million and 3.7 million. Additionally, 1.85 to 7.4 million people will visit the path of totality, Space.com reported.

The Federal Highway Administration predicted that up to five million people will travel to the path of totality between Texas and Maine, with Texas having the highest number of visitors.

“I’m aware that rain storms are predicted in that area during the 4 minutes or so of the eclipse, but I think that enhances the situation and the experience for me anyway,” Miller said. “I will be with people that I love in a place that I love doing something I love.”

While Miller is in Texas, High Desert residents on Monday will be able to view a partial solar eclipse beginning at 10:06 a.m., reaching maximum coverage of 58% at 11:13 a.m. and ending at 12:24 p.m.

Path of totality

Nearly 500 cities in 13 U.S. states are located on the eclipse's path of totality. Here are some of the major municipalities in each of the 13 states:

• Dallas and San Antonio, Texas

• Idabel, Oklahoma

• Poplar Bluff, Missouri

• Little Rock, Arkansas

• Paducah, Kentucky

• Indianapolis and Evansville, Indiana

• Carbondale, Illinois

• Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio

• Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, New York

• Burlington, Vermont

• Lancaster, New Hampshire

• Caribou, Maine

• Erie, Pennsylvania

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow ‘science nerd’ travels to Texas for total solar eclipse