Mike Kentrianakis, Eclipse 2024, 1 Year and 1 Day
Friday, April 7, 2023, 3pm to 4pm
Guyon Auditorium, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
With just one year to go to the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, SIU Carbondale will host America’s favorite eclipse chaser, Mike Kentrianakis, to talk about his experiences in observing total solar eclipses. Mike’s presentation will be preceded by a brief announcement on the upcoming eclipse 2024 events at SIU Carbondale. Mr. Kentrianakis will be available for 30 minutes before and after the presentation for questions.
About the Speaker
Mr. Mike Kentrianakis has had a lifelong interest in astronomy and space science. He saw his first total solar eclipse in Canada at the age of 14 when he was invited along on a scientific expedition led by scientists with the Hayden Planetarium. He has seen a total of 21 total solar eclipses to date, often serving as videographer for heliophysics research expeditions with Dr. Shadia Habbal of UHIFA and the late Dr. Jay Pasachoff of Williams College. Mike served as the American Astronomical Society Solar Eclipse Project Manager for total solar eclipse 2017 and has worked with solar scientists, artists, campuses including SIU Carbondale, and media from around the world in helping with preparations for eclipse activities.
A 20 year veteran producer for CBS News, New York, Mike specializes in advising the media in eclipse coverage and has done numerous high profile interviews related to his eclipse expeditions and experiences. He became internationally known in 2016 when a video he filmed on Alaskan Airlines flight 870 of the March 2016 total solar eclipse over the Pacific Ocean went viral. His video work conveys the enthusiasm he has for eclipses and demonstrates the unexpected human reaction people have when they experience a total solar eclipse.