Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Solar Eclipse Apps Help Enhance Viewing Experience

  •  Joanne Serrieh 
Friday, August 18, 2017 | Sacramento, CA

There are a multitude of apps available for almost anything these days. Among them are apps to help experience the solar eclipse on Aug. 21 in new ways.

And while solar eclipses happen often around the planet, the last total solar eclipse viewed from United States was on Feb. 26, 1979, according to NASA. Its path passed through the northwestern U.S. states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. This year’s solar eclipse will be visible from coast to coast in the continental United States.

Because of this, the eclipse is a unique opportunity for scientists to collect data. And the millions of people who will be watching the event, can help them by collecting and submitting images and wildlife observations.  

Here’s a list of apps that you can download that will make you feel like a citizen scientist for the day and help enhance your eclipse experience.

Eclipse MegamovieEclipse Megamovie Mobile - This app was developed as part of a project collaboration between UC Berkeley and Google. It makes it easy for citizen scientists with smart phones to photograph the total solar eclipse and upload the images to the project to provide a lasting photo archive for scientists studying the sun’s corona.  

iNaturalist - With the California Academy of Sciences' iNaturalist app, users can log wildlife sightings 30 minutes before, 5 minutes during, and 30 minutes after the eclipse on a special eclipse feature. The compiled data will be shared online, both in raw form and with expert analysis.

Eclipse Soundscapes - If for any reason you won't be able to see the eclipse with your own eyes, this might be the app for you. Eclipse Soundscapes, from NASA’s Heliophysics Education Consortium, will include audio descriptions of the eclipse in real time, recordings of the changing environmental sounds during the eclipse, and an interactive “rumble map” feature that will allow users to visualize the eclipse through touch.  

I Naturalist

Smithsonian Eclipse 2017 - Users can watch a live NASA stream of the eclipse, calculate a view with the interactive eclipse map and get a virtual view in the eclipse simulator. You can also review some of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's solar research. Bonus, you can get even closer to the sun with near-live views from space through the app.

Eclipses - Using your phone's location service, this app will tell you when and where you can see the eclipse. You can see previous or future eclipses, and you can choose your viewing location. Using your phone's location service combined with a condensed database of eclipse parameters, the app computes the viewing information directly on your phone. 

Eclipses Total Solar Eclipse - San Francisco's hands-on science museum, The Exploratorium, is sharing live images of the sun during the total solar eclipse. The team will aim telescopes at the eclipse from locations in Oregon and Wyoming to capture the event and livestream it to the world. You can choose one of five simultaneous video streams. The streams include live coverage hosted by Exploratorium educators and NASA scientists, live coverage in Spanish hosted by Exploratorium educators, a non-narrated, 3-hour live telescope view of the full eclipse as seen from Oregon, a non-narrated, 3-hour live telescope view of the full eclipse as seen from Wyoming and a live telescope view with live musical sonification and accompaniment by the Kronos Quartet.

Experts are discouraging observers from looking directly at the sun.

On Insight with Beth Ruyak, Doctor Donald Bucklin shared safety tips on using special eyewear to keep your eyes safe during the eclipse.

"All the eclipse glasses that are made legitimately have an ISO standard on them," said Bucklin. "Meaning they're dark enough that you can look directly at the sun."

You can listen to the full Insight segment here.

You can find more apps and software on the American Astronomical Society website.

 

Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about Solar Eclipse 2017

  • CapRadio's Solar Eclipse 2017 Coverage

    CapRadio's coverage of the 2017 Solar Eclipse.

    Related Stories

  • Powerhouse Science Center / Courtesy

    Solar Eclipse 2017 Casts A Shadow Across The West

    Monday, August 21, 2017
    We hear from reporters, scientists, and photographers in California and Oregon as the 2017 solar eclipse takes place.

 californiaeclipsesafetySolar Eclipse 2017

Joanne Serrieh

Interactive Producer

Joanne worked with the news team to enhance and expand CapRadio’s news presence on various digital platforms. She keeps up with new trends on social media and online to better serve the audience.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Here's what we know about the Monterey Park shooting victims

January 25, 2023

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Videos like the Tyre Nichols footage can be traumatic. An expert shares ways to cope

January 28, 2023

Jae C. Hong / AP Photo

FDA experts are still puzzled over who should get which covid shots and when

January 29, 2023

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding. That's how his friends say they'll remember him

California coronavirus updates: FDA plans to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Tyre Nichols loved skateboarding. That's how his friends say they'll remember him

California coronavirus updates: FDA plans to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations

Behind The I-80 Castle: A Drag-Racing, Beauty School Mogul’s Dream House

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.