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Show HN: How will the Aug 12 eclipse look like from your address?

eclipse2026times.com

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Re: Show HN: How will the Aug 12 eclipse look like from your address?

#11
post #9
post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah I see, I think I didn't make it clear enough that for the 3D viz there's only France and Spain that are currently supported today. I'll change the phrasing to make it clearer. I'm planning on adding more countries and features before the 12th. Thanks for the feedback!

Ok, shame, but thank you for the clarification. Just asking: what are technical constraints of implementing it for any location?

Multiple data layers have to exist per country, and both have to be fetchable straight from the browser, since the site is static with no backend (everything is computed in your browser).

You need both accurate heights and outlines at ground level for buildings, forest, etc. OSM has outlines nearly everywhere, but height data can be missing. Without a height, it'll be inaccurate to answer "will that roof block the Sun", which is the whole point of the app. France and Spain both publish real heights, so they went first.

You also need good terrain elevation data: with the Sun only a few degrees up, a hill can hide it completely, and your own ground height counts too. Inaccurate terrain data can flatten hilltops for example, which I've seen in many cases.

So, since I want things to be accurate: it's one integration per country, and plenty of countries don't publish heights openly.

I'll be gradually adding more and more countries. I've already started working on the 2027 eclipse (https://eclipse2027times.com/), so by then it should have even more supported countries.

Re: Show HN: How will the Aug 12 eclipse look like from your address?

#12
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many thanks I will take a look at the new data about German cities.

Hope it's useful. For what it's worth the variation within Germany is small: about 88% coverage in Cologne and Düsseldorf, 89% around Stuttgart, down to 85% in Berlin and Hamburg. So it isn't worth driving for a couple of points. The most important thing to check for will be cloud coverage at this point. Enjoy it.

I think I will stay at home and watch the partial eclipse from their. But I think I need to go upstairs to my attic and watch it from a window up their.

Re: Show HN: How will the Aug 12 eclipse look like from your address?

#13
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many thanks I will take a look at the new data about German cities.

Hope it's useful. For what it's worth the variation within Germany is small: about 88% coverage in Cologne and Düsseldorf, 89% around Stuttgart, down to 85% in Berlin and Hamburg. So it isn't worth driving for a couple of points. The most important thing to check for will be cloud coverage at this point. Enjoy it.

And I live near Düsseldorf so I think the percentage fits to my place.
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