For the past couple weeks, US government agencies have been warning citizens about potential traffic issues and the need for protective eyewear during the upcoming solar eclipse. But what if you want to enjoy this rare phenomenon without being bothered by a Sasquatch? Or what if you’d like to hang with Bigfoot while it all goes down? Joshua Stevens has you covered.
An imposter saunters in Brooklyn. Photo: AP
Stevens is a data visualisation and cartography lead at NASA’s Earth Observatory. He noticed some of his fellow data enthusiasts had been applying their skills to increasingly ridiculous maps relating to the solar eclipse that will occur on August 21. So he decided to throw his own hat into the ring:
“There are no more eclipse maps to make”
Challenge accepted. pic.twitter.com/PnFJSXeSiY
— Joshua Stevens (@jscarto) August 3, 2017
He was quickly one-upped by data visualiser John Nelson, who offered a map of UFO sightings overlaid with the eclipse’s path of totality. Aliens, it seems, are much more likely company:
JS: “This is the last possible eclipse map possible”
Challenge accepted. pic.twitter.com/GAPdd0miMM
— John Nelson (@John_M_Nelson) August 3, 2017
GIS analyst Harel Dan has a nice running collection of whimsical eclipse-related maps that other data junkies have been putting together. Here are some of the best ones:
I’m here for you @eagereyes. pic.twitter.com/vgGTAjRLLd
— Elijah Meeks (@Elijah_Meeks) August 2, 2017
This is very cool, via @jscarto: Search interest in the eclipse correlates with the path of the eclipse https://t.co/nm76qIpmzg pic.twitter.com/3HQPq82SM0
— Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) July 31, 2017
For all the kids in black out there. The gothest place to watch the eclipse: from a cemetery.
CC @jscarto pic.twitter.com/igcZ1zNB0n
— Darrell Fuhriman (@nixzusehen) August 4, 2017
Eclipse For Sale.
what, you thought I ran out of parody eclipse map ideas?#Eclipse2017 #Eclipse pic.twitter.com/aCs9Bcqb5z
— HD (@HarelDan) August 10, 2017
Four Jordans won’t experience totality (MT, MN, IA, NY). But Jordan SC…. Boom-shakalaka! h/t @Timmeko @DeniseDSLu @bonnieberkowitz @emamd pic.twitter.com/Gz5C6GmEbA
— karklisCarto (@KarklisCarto) August 4, 2017
So if you don’t think experiencing the only total solar eclipse in the US for the next 28 years is enough, the internet is full of ideas to help you spice up this landmark event.