Live streaming a total solar eclipse from Micronesia

On March 8, 2016 a total solar eclipse occurred, on a path that stretched from the middle of the Indian Ocean, across Indonesia, and ending just north of the Hawaiian archipelago. The San Francisco Exploratorium, in conjunction with NASA planned to offer a live stream of the event. After careful examination of the path of the eclipse, the most favorable position to observe it was the small coral atoll of Woleai in Micronesia, an island about the size of the Golden Gate Park, with a thousand occupants, two automobiles, no electricity, and an airstrip that hasn’t been used since World War II.

Our presenter, Larry Kenworthy, and the technical team were tasked with transporting two tons of equipment to Woleai, setting it up, beaming the signal back to the US mainland, and then producing a series of program events over the period of the eclipse. In this fascinating presentation, Larry will explain why the location was chosen, and the logistical and technical hurdles that had to be overcome to make the final event a resounding success.

PRESENTER: Larry Kenworthy, President Magnetic Image Video.

An amateur video recording of an aerobatic flight demonstration shot as a favor for a friend in 1967 was the start of a long and successful career for Larry. From assisting in the build of a new ABC affiliate television station in his home town of Palm Springs, CA through an award winning stint as Director at KCST-TV in San Diego, to the Bay Area, directing part time for a year at KTVU in Oakland, CA.

In 1985 Larry was offered a partnership in Magnetic Image Video, then located in the garage of a home in Mill Valley California. In 2000, Larry took full ownership of Magnetic Image Video, now located in San Rafael, CA, doing live location video production for sports, music, science, education, comedy, medicine, politics and corporate business. MIV has done microscopy for NOVA to rocket crashes into the Moon for NASA and two BBC 5 hour prime time nature specials 6,000 feet below the surface of the ocean. The Solar Eclipse projects for the Exploratorium Science Museum in partnership with NASA have taken him and his equipment to Africa, China, Europe, the Caribbean and most recently Micronesia.