LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee plans to live-broadcast this century's last annular eclipse on Tuesday, February 16 via the Internet. The organization's video crew will be transmitting the live image from Mullewa, West Australia. Mr. Bevan Harris, president of The Astronomical Society of Western Australia (ASWA) supported the organization in terms of observation site coordination.
The details of the event are as follows:
Feb. 16 Program Outline
- - Live Time (UT):
Start at 6:00 and close at 8:30 or earlier, on February 16, 1999
- - Live Contents:
The program will be providing the realtime video of the circular sun gradually eclipses to become a thin ring which at last returns to the former shape. The LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee will be arranging 2 stream types -- 20kbps video-only stream, enabling a low-bandwidth line to let viewers enjoy the program, and 45kbps stream with video and sound, conveying the real atmosphere of the observation site.
This time's eclipse will show a very thin ring with the maximum eclipse ratio being 98%. So we can expect to see the beautiful Bailey's Beads, the sunlight leaking out from the rough surface of the moon which looks like a pearl-beads necklace. The annularity will start around 7:30 (UT) and will pearl-beads necklace. The annularity will start around 7:30 (UT) and will last for only 47 seconds.
- - URL
http://www.solar-eclipse.org/index.html
- - System Requirements:
RealPlayer 5 or RealPlayer G2 needed for video, 56kbps modem or ISDN TA for video and audio.
- - Image Of The Prominences
We plan to upload on the website the image of the eclipsing sun and the prominences within 30 minutes after the live. The prominences will be videotaped using a special filter. An annular eclipse enhances the contrast of prominence against the bright sunlight by covering the sun, and makes it easier for us to observe and videotape the prominences. Please note, however, that whether we will be able to capture clear prominence images may depend of the condition of the sun.
Significant Step Toward The European Total Eclipse In August
On August 11, we expect this century's last total eclipse covering unusually wide area from Europe to West Asia. The LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee positions the Feb. 16 undertaking as the technical testing, eyeing the August live program of the European total eclipse, of Internet live which can handle highly-concentrated, one-time access through burden distribution.
The preparation for the August live has already been on the way by the LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee. What we are planning is to send out the eclipse image from as many places as possible. We, therefore, are looking forward to a global-scale support either from organizations or individuals, in fields of observation, technology, equipments, funds, translations and others. Please contact webmaster@solar-eclipse.org for inquiries.
Profile Of LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee
The LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee is a non-profit organization formed by amateur astronomers, astronomical observatories, SOHO workers, network engineer, students majoring in technology, as well as individuals. It is supported by many corporations. The organization is headed by Masami Okyudo, a director of Misato Observatory who has accumulated expertise in the promotion of astronomy utilizing the Internet.
Starting from the March 1997 Mongolia/Siberia total eclipse Internet live, the LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee carried out live programs of 3 consecutive total/annular eclipses. As the world's top leader of eclipse Internet live webcasts, our unique programs, fully utilizing the cutting-edge Internet technologies, have achieved many accesses from an average of 100 nations all over the world.
Press Inquiries
Y. Honobe, Public Relations, LIVE!ECLIPSE Executive Committee Bpress@solar-eclipse.org
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Junichi Watanabe, Dr.
Public Information Office
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan / STAR WEEK in Japan /
Osawa, Mitaka, 181-8588 Tokyo Japan / /
/ 1999 /
e-mail:jun.watanabe@nao.ac.jp / Aug.1-7 /
FAX: +81-422-34-3810
Phone:+81-422-34-3638