[This story from 4K describes options for experiencing next week’s total solar eclipse via technology. The CNN press release notes that “While only a fraction of the country will be able to witness the total eclipse in-person, CNN’s immersive livestream will enable viewers nationwide to ‘go there’ virtually and experience a moment in history, seven times over.” For more information about all aspects of the eclipse see coverage on the NASA website. –Matthew]
Where to Watch The 2017 Total Solar Eclipse In Full 4K And Virtual Reality
by Stephen on August 14, 2017
Although not even the best 4K OLED or QLED TVs on the market will beat experiencing a Total Solar Eclipse live and in-person with your own eyes (while using special-purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses” or hand-held solar viewers), for those who can’t get a true naked-eye view of the upcoming fantastic astronomical event, there’s CNN. In partnership with Volvo, CNN will be broadcasting 2017’s Total Solar Eclipse of North America on August 21, and you’ll be able to watch it on your 4K resolution TV/Monitor or in immersive 360-degree virtual reality using a VR head-set.
The broadcast will be available all around the world in 4K resolution at CNN.com/eclipse, or in 4K and other available resolutions and formats through CNN’s mobile apps, Samsung Gear VR powered by Oculus via Samsung VR, Oculus Rift via Oculus Video and through CNN’s Facebook page via Facebook Live 360.
According to CNN, the livestream will be enhanced by real-time graphics, close-up views of the sun, and the running commentary of experts from the science community. Four cameras will be spaced across the United States in four different locations: Snake River Valley, Idaho; Beatrice, Nebraska; Blackwell, Missouri; and Charleston, South Carolina. Each camera will be shooting 4K video shot of the total eclipse’s path.
Other sites like NASA, The Weather Channel, National Geographic and Astronomy.com will be also broadcasting the natural event through their main websites and Facebook pages, presumably in 4K as well at least for NASA, which has a regular habit of shooting astronomical events in ultra HD for public consumption.
The total eclipse of august 21 will have a magnitude of 1.0306 and will be visible within a narrow corridor of 70 miles of darkness crossing fourteen contiguous states of the United States. These are: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Naked-eye views of a partial solar eclipse will also be possible across a much broader expanse of territory that includes most of the U.S south and part of the U.S north of the states mentioned above. Only part of the sun will “disappear” in these regions though.
If you want to know how much of the solar eclipse you’ll be getting, go to NASA’s interactive map to find out specific details for your area: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/interactive_map/index.html
Also, please remember that Looking directly at the sun is unsafe except during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse (“totality”), when the moon entirely blocks the sun’s bright face. After that, looking directly into the sun can cause some series injuries to your eyes and vision, especially if done with binoculars or a telescope without filters.