GoPro Inc Cameras To Capture 360 Degrees Of Solar Eclipse

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GoPro’s cameras can be used to capture all kinds of action footage, and now some are exploring their use with drones. Now scientists are planning to use the company’s cameras to capture an incredible view of a total solar eclipse from outer space.

Solar eclipse to be streamed to mobile devices

Ellie Zolfagharifard, Victoria Woollaston and Sara Malm of the Daily Mail report that a total solar eclipse is expected to happen over Europe on March 20. Only the people who live in the Faroe Islands and the northern part of Scandinavia will be able to see the eclipse, however, so scientists are sending GoPro cameras up into space so that more people can experience the total eclipse.

People in London will see the sun 84% eclipsed, while some areas in Scotland will see as much as 94% of the sun eclipsed.

GoPro cameras to capture rare event

According to astronomers, a total solar eclipse won’t happen again until 2026. It’s different than other solar eclipses, which happen often. The reason this one is so rare is because the shadow of the moon will pass over the North Pole, which will make the moon look bigger than the sun by turning daytime into total nighttime. The eclipse is also timed just right to happen just as the sun is about to come into view after the North Pole’s six months of nighttime.

The group zero2infinity recently posted a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo to raise funds to send the GoPro cameras into space. At this point, the campaign has raised only €2.766 of its €25,000 goal. The campaign closes on March 29, which is after the eclipse, so they’re running on a tight schedule.

Live stream of GoPro event offered

Zero2infinity intends to launch a balloon carrying the cameras into space so that the cameras can record a full 360-degree view of the eclipse. The balloon will be at least 31 miles into Earth’s atmosphere. Those who are interested in watching the total solar eclipse will be able to do so on their smartphone or tablet.

The longest duration of the total eclipse anywhere on the planet will be two minutes and 47 seconds, which can only be seen from a place in the Norwegian Sea 186 miles off Iceland’s eastern coast. The path of the total shadow of the moon will go from just under Greenland and move north to the Arctic Circle.

The eclipse will begin at 8:45 a.m. GMT in London and peak at 9:31 a.m. GMT. The last time a total eclipse of this magnitude happened was Aug. 11, 1999.

As of this writing, shares of GoPro were up by 2.11% at $41.15 per share.

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