Free Geography Tools

Mike Kosowsky of the HeyWhatsThat website writes to say that he’s added several tools for solar/lunar eclipse visibility in 2009 for use with Google Earth and Maps:

The Cosmic Visibility site uses Google Maps with
its sky maps to bring the night sky to your
web browser.  Browse to

http://www.heywhatsthat.com/cosmic.html

Select an eclipse on the left, and use the “+” and “-” under
minutes and hours to see the Moon pass over the Sun or
through the Earth’s shadow.

The Planisphere site generates KML files you can view in
Google Earth’s sky mode.  Go to

http://www.heywhatsthat.com/planisphere.html

to set your location and request a KML file for current
conditions or one of the solar eclipses.  For the lunar
eclipses and other options, use the Advanced Planisphere at

http://www.heywhatsthat.com/ap.html

When you open Google Earth to view the planisphere KML
files, be sure to “Switch to Sky Mode” under the View menu
if you’re not switched automatically.  Turn off other
overlays that provide planets, such as “Our Solar System.”
If the eclipse is not visible, double click on the overlay
name and it should come into view.  Slide the animation
control back and forth to watch the eclipse’s progress.