Wow! Nearly one-fifth of Utahns say they plan on traveling north or east to see the total eclipse of the Sun on Aug. 21, a UtahPolicy.com poll finds.
If they really do head for Idaho, expect one heck of a big traffic jam.
Total eclipses are rare over populated areas, and it’s clear many Utahns don’t want to miss this one.
While there will be a partial eclipse in Salt Lake City, because of the power of the sun it won’t be anywhere as impactful as underneath the total eclipse.
Pollster Dan Jones & Associates finds:
- 18 percent said they plan to travel to see the total eclipse.
- 71 percent said they would not, and 10 percent didn’t know.
Here are some interesting demographics:
- Younger Utahns are more adventurous than the older folks.
- 38 percent of those who said they are ages 18-24 say they will be traveling to see the midday darkness. Maybe they don’t think they’ll have another chance in their lifetimes.
That’s more than a third of that age group.
- 20 percent of those 25-34 years old are traveling to see the eclipse.
- Only 12 percent of those 65 years and older are going on the road. Maybe they’ve seen one before.
Men are going more than women.
- 23 percent of men said they’re going to the eclipse, while only 15 percent of the women are.
And here is an interesting one:
- Only 16 percent of “very active” Mormons are traveling to see the eclipse, while 24 percent (one-fourth) of those who said they have no religion are going.
What can we read into this?
Religion vs. science? Anything?
And 16 percent of those who say they are “very conservative” politically are going to see it, 17 percent of the “very liberals” are going.
But 26 percent of the “moderates” plan on traveling to see the total eclipse.
You can figure that one out yourself.
Jones polled 607 adults from May 31 to June 5. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.98 percent.
And don’t forget your special viewing glasses – we want no eye damage for Utahns looking directly at the sun.