Title: Weeks 1 & 2 Project
Course: ASTRON103: The Evolving Universe: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology (001) DHH SU18 > Section: Week 1

Eclipse Excursion

On April 8^th, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over the continental USA! This is a rare occurrence and the chance of a lifetime to experience a humbling moment where the Moon passes perfectly in front of, and obscures, the photosphere of the Sun for a couple minutes during the day. For this project, you will plan a vacation to see this phenomenon in person from within the path of totality.

Tasks

1. Research the last total solar eclipse to pass over the continental USA on August 21^st, 2017.
  1. Where was the path of totality?
  2. What locations seemed to have favorable weather?
  3. Were there any transportation or traffic related extremes in different areas?
  4. Were there enough potential sites for accommodations that were affordable?
2. Research the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8^th, 2024.
  1. Where is the path of totality?
  2. How long will totality last for along the path?
    1. How will the duration of totality change along the path?
    2. Is there a location that has the longest duration of totality?
  3. What are typical weather conditions along the path of totality on April 8^th in history?
3. Decide on a destination (and a backup destination) for viewing the eclipse and consider the following when making your choice.
  1. Will you be staying within a zone of totality the night before and/or after the eclipse?
    1. If not, how far away will you be?
    2. Are there parks, campsites, Airbnbs, hotels, etc. nearby?
  2. How easy will it be to get to and from a viewing location within totality?
    1. Are the roads well maintained?
    2. Are the roads large enough to handle significant flows of traffic?
  3. To mitigate the risk of clouds, ensure you have one or two backup sites chosen nearby to your primary destination.
    1. Are your backup sites within driving range?
    2. Are you accommodations site central to your chosen viewing sites?
  4. How will you arrive at to your destination area from your place of residence?
    1. How expensive might it be to fly to the nearest airport?
    2. How long will it take to drive there? Consider the time with and without traffic based on your research.

Write-Up

Your write up should consist of two components: an Estimated Budget and a Written Justification. These should be uploaded as Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) or Portable Document Format (.pdf) files.

Estimated Budget (5 points)

To prepare the Estimated Budget, complete this budget template form based on your research and understanding of your chosen location. This form is a Google Docs spreadsheet; you can make your own copy by selecting File > Make Copy, and then save your completed budget as a PDF file by selecting File > Download as > PDF Document (.pdf).

You should consider the following points when making your estimates:

- Will you be cooking / bringing food with you, or eating at restaurants?
- If there is heavy traffic, how might extra fuel and transportation expenses impact your budget?
- When choosing between campsites, hotels, Airbnb, etc. for accommodation, what hidden costs might arise (e.g., for camping, you may need to buy a tent)?

Written Justification (15 points)

Your Written Justification should be a document 1–2 pages in length (around 800 words), describing and justifying your choice of eclipse viewing location.  Be sure in particular to address the following points:

1. The locations chosen
  - Primary viewing location
  - At least one backup location
2. Why you chose these locations
3. The duration of totality at these locations
4. The distance of these locations from your home
5. Where you will be staying before and after the eclipse
6. How far your accommodations are from your chosen viewing locations
7. An estimation of traffic around these locations
8. How you will get to these locations from your home
9. How long before and after the eclipse you will stay in the area