The SunSketcher app is a newly developed platform built by the team and students at Western Kentucky University. It is a project funded by NASA and the app utilizes the smartphone's camera and GPS coordinates to properly record the total solar eclipse on April 8th when it passes through North America. Notably, the app is available on both iOS and Android platforms.
The project specifically sets out the goal to gather dataset images of Baily's Beads phenomenon. This is a rotating spheroid that spins and force generates inertia, which will cause it to slightly flatten and create a unique structure. Gordon Emslie, project lead notes, "The 2024 Eclipse offers an unprecedented opportunity to measure the shape of the Sun and so to infer its inner structure."
Eclipse-Capturing Smartphone Apps
Students at WKU Develop the Sunsketcher App Backed by NASA
Trend Themes
1. Eclipse-capturing Smartphone Apps - Innovative apps using camera and GPS for eclipse data collection offer new research opportunities.
2. Baily's Beads Phenomenon Dataset Imaging - Efforts to gather dataset images of Baily's Beads phenomenon enable detailed scientific analysis.
3. Augmented Reality Eclipse Viewing - Integration of AR technology for eclipse viewing enhances user experience and data collection.
Industry Implications
1. Mobile App Development - Developing specialized apps for scientific data collection expands the possibilities of mobile technology.
2. Space Research and Exploration - Incorporating smartphone apps in space research allows for more accessible and innovative data gathering methods.
3. Augmented Reality Technology - Adopting AR technology for eclipse viewing presents opportunities for interactive and immersive experiences.