Government Agencies Put Paranormal Spin on Upcoming Solar Eclipse

Two government agencies have tweeted maps of reported monster sightings in conjunction with the path of August 21st's upcoming solar eclipse.  The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), and NASA's data visualization and cartography lead at Earth Observatory, Joshua Stevens, have both posted their paranormal maps to social media.

The SCEMD's map plots instances of lizardmen sightings along the path of the eclipse.  The lizardman is a popular South Carolina cryptid, said to have red eyes and dwell in the state's swamps.  Reports of the lizardman date back to the 1980s, when teenager Christopher Davis claimed to have been chased by the "red-eyed devil" near a swamp.

"This historical map is in response to recent media reports about possible paranormal activity associated with the upcoming total eclipse," wrote the government agency.  "SCEMD does not know if Lizardmen become more active during a solar eclipse, but we advise that residents of Lee and Sumter counties should remain ever vigilant."

Stevens' map is a tongue-in-cheek response to the many correlative maps flooding the Internet in advance of the upcoming eclipse.  His tweet was followed closely by data visualizer John Nelson, who applied the same theme to sightings of UFOs that coincide with the path of the eclipse.

The solar eclipse is set to darken skies across the United States on August 21st, 2017, and will be visible from a multitude of vantage points.  Please remember to take safety precautions if planning to view the event.

Tobias Wayland