The Great American Eclipse of 2017 Mystery Cache

This is a Mystery Cache dedicated to The Great American Eclipse of 2017 and will require some easy sleuthing for information about men of science, local venues and science fiction series that are all somehow related to the eclipse phenomenon. This cache is meant to entertain and educate locals and out-of-towners which may stumble upon it (either before, during, or after the total solar eclipse on August 21st, 2017) about some of Carbondale's hidden charms.

NOTE: LIKE MOST MYSTERY CACHES, THE CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORDINATES! You will also need a log retrieval AND writing tool. :)   Continue reading for some information about the Great American Eclipse of 2017, the city of Carbondale, and how to solve this cache!

In layman’s terms, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, thus obscuring the Sun from the viewpoint of us Earthlings below. Total obscuring (Totality) happens when, for a brief period of time, the Moon completely blocks all of the Sun’s light, turning day into night. This so called Totality is only visible from certain regions down a particular “corridor”. 2017’s eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the contiguous, mainland USA since 1979! Hawaii did get to enjoy a total solar eclipse in 1991.

What makes Carbondale and its surroundings special? Well, not only is it going to be a great spot to observe 2017’s Great American Eclipse, but it will also be a prime spot for the upcoming total eclipse on April 8, 2024. The path of the 2017 eclipse crosses the path of the 2024 eclipse, with the intersection of the two being in southern Illinois in Makanda Township at Cedar Lake just south of Carbondale. Additionally, according to NASA, the eclipse of 2017’s longest duration of totality will be 2 minutes 41.6 seconds and seen from the Shawnee National Forest just south of Carbondale. Not only will the Carbondale area get to experience two total solar eclipses in the span of 7 years, but it will also get to enjoy total darkness for the longest time.

What does this all mean for Carbondale? Well, first of all - NASA will be here! Local officials are projecting thousands of people will be coming into the area. Some officials, like the members of the Jackson County Board, have predicted numbers anywhere between 50,000 to 500,000 people. The city of 25,000 has been told to expect 30,000 visitors, and is preparing to use the football stadium at Southern Illinois University to accommodate up to 15,000 of them. Buses full of people from all over the world are expected, and hotels area already being built in anticipation. Based on some sleuthing done by The Southern Illinoisan newspaper, there are already no available rooms at any of the America’s Best Inn and Suites, The Hampton Inn, and Holiday Inn, or Super 8 motels in the area. Certain places are actually auctioning off their vacant spots via AirBnB and eBay with prices ranging from sky-high to astronomical!

There are a couple points of interest I could have chosen to use as this Mystery Cache’s NOT-location. The current coordinates would take you to the Saluki Stadium - SIU’s very own football field. You, however, do not need to go there to figure out this cache. It’s going to be the gathering place for thousands of locals and out-of-towners during the festivities and it’s a great spot to start this cache. I also considered SIU’s Neckers The coordinates for the longest duration of totality down in Makanda, IL, just south of Carbondale, would also be a prime destination for an Eclipse-themed cache.

Anyways! Back to the Mystery Cache.

To find it, you have to do your research and some simpe, simple math. You will be able to get all the information you need from the good ole Internet.

N 37° 43.(SUN + SIGHT - 6)'

W 089° 12.(SUN + CLIPSE - 93)’

SUN - To get SUN, you will need to find out the name of the popular architect and inventor who coined the terms “sunsight” and “sunclipse”  in order to replace their more common and rather “geocentric” synonyms. How long did he live? The answer will be your SUN.

Do the math. I’ve provided you with a way to check your answers. If everything goes according to plan (and I believe it will), you should find this geocache, and you might even see a solar eclipse no matter the year or time of day.

Bonus points if you managed to take a cool photo or selfie during The Great American Eclipse of 2017. I'd love to see some pictures posted here. As always, do your research and use the proper protective eye gear. Never look at an eclipse with a naked eye!