Timbuktu conjures up images of long camel caravans out on the edge of the sand-strewn Sahara — a remoteness so legendary that the ancient city is still a byword for the end of the earth.

From Here To Timbuktu: Myth And Reality At The World's Edge

We chose Timbuktu as the default starting location for TPE many years ago - mostly because of the childhood associations of wonder and mystery described in the article linked above. And practically because, in the absence of anything more specific, software needs default values.

Yes, we know - you're probably not planning a photo trip to Mali. So, how do you get to where you want?

Get me out of here

Here are some options:

 Search - click the search button above the map and find a place name, address or coordinate

 Current location - click this button to navigate to your device's current location (you'll need to provide permission when prompted)

Move the map pin - zoom and pan the map and then click the 'center red pin' button, or just drag and drop the map pin

Why do I end up back here every time?

If you find the web app always opens at Timbuktu, it's almost certainly due to one of two things:

1. Wrong bookmark: you're using a bookmark or shortcut to the site that includes the coordinates for Timbuktu in the URL. This can happen if you bookmark the site while the map shows Timbuktu. It can also be why the app always opens at a specific date. 
   
   Solution: create a new shortcut
   
   
2. Private browsing: you're using the app via a Private Browsing or Incognito window, or your browser is configured to delete cookies at the end of each session or upon closing. 
   
   Solution: adjust your browser settings as shown here and here.
   
   If you prefer to continue using private browsing, you can save a bookmark to the site with the coordinates of your preferred default location included - just navigate to where you want, and then save the bookmark (you can also edit it to remove the date, if desired).

What should I expect if things are working normally?

The expected behaviour for Photo Ephemeris Web  is as follows:

1. On your first ever visit to the site, the map will default to Timbuktu
2. If you change the primary (red) pin position and map view, or the selected date/time, those changes are saved to your browser and restored the next time you visit the site
3. If you open the site using a link that includes parameters for map pin position, map center and zoom, and/or date/time, it will open using those parameters, overriding any saved position from your last visit

Examples

https://app.photoephemeris.com - open to last used location + date/time, if available, otherwise Timbuktu at the current date/time

https://app.photoephemeris.com/?ll=40.014990,-105.270550&center=40.0150,-105.2706&z=13 - open to Boulder, Colorado at the current/date time (I removed the 'dt=xxx' parameter from the URL)

https://app.photoephemeris.com/?ll=40.014990,-105.270550&dt=20210120113057-0700&center=40.0150,-105.2706&z=13&spn=0.07,0.20 - open to Boulder, Colorado at 11:30am (moonrise) on Jan 20 2021