7/31/2008

University of North Dakota professors Timothy R. Young (physics) and Ronald Marsh (computer sciences), and graduate student, Tricia Johnson (physics), will travel to Antalya, Turkey to provide the world with a live webcast of the March 29, 2006 total solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular events seen on Earth as daylight fades into a starry night in only a few seconds. Unfortunately, only those who are situated in the very narrow path swathed by the moon's shadow are able to witness the event, with the rest of the world left to view it on the next day's news. The March 29 eclipse begins in Brazil, crosses the Atlantic Ocean, northern Africa, the Mediterranean Ocean, Turkey, and ends in Georgia. This eclipse will not be visible anywhere in North America.

Those not traveling to eclipse destinations will still have a chance to view the eclipse live. By logging on to the UND webcast viewers can watch the eclipse beginning at 3:37 AM on March 29 (the night of March 28 for the US). It will take 1 hour and 15 minutes for the Moon to completely cover the Sun reaching totality, the period in which the Sun stays completely covered by the Moon. Totality is only 3 minutes and 45 seconds long, but the rewards are stunning. A glimpse of the sun's corona is visible and planets and stars appear in the middle of the day. The corona, a halo of pearl-white light shimmering around the dark silhouette of the Moon, has been termed the eye in the sky. Totality occurs between 4:54 AM to 4:57 AM and, in addition to the video webcast, the UND team will acquire and post high-resolution digital photographs of the corona. Finally, the eclipse ends at 6:12 AM.

The UND webcast is unique in several ways. The UND webcast broadcasts streaming color video, not just static pictures. The UND webcast includes a chatroom where viewers from around the world can add to their involvement in the eclipse experience and can ask questions of the UND team. The UND webcast uses live audio to answer viewer's questions and to provide viewers with updates and discussions on the progress of the eclipse. The UND webcast team will also produce and post on the website podcasts about Turkey and the eclipse. A podcast highlight will be the excitement of Turkish children watching the eclipse. Finally, the UND team will be conducting a learning study to determine the ability of preadolescents to distinguish between solar/lunar eclipses and the phases of the moon.

It is the goal of the UND team to use technology to bring the excitement of science to viewers around the world. The live webcast can be viewed at http://www.sems.und.edu. Take part and share in the adventure.