NASA Science Soars During August Total Solar Eclipse
NASA will study the Sun’s corona and Earth’s atmosphere during the August 12 total solar eclipse using high-altitude jets and balloons, aiming to improve understanding of solar dynamics and atmospheric changes.
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On August 12, a total solar eclipse will pass over Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, offering NASA-funded teams a rare chance to observe the Sun’s corona from the ground and air. Scientists will use a high-altitude WB-57 jet equipped with specialized cameras to capture high-resolution images of the corona in visible and infrared light. Flying at 50,000 feet, the aircraft will extend observation time to nearly three minutes, compared to the two-minute ground view, while avoiding atmospheric interference. The mission aims to study coronal structures, heating mechanisms, and solar wind interactions, building on data collected during the April 2024 eclipse.
Researchers from the Southwest Research Institute will lead the airborne campaign, refining techniques based on lessons from 2024. Adjustments include optimized exposure settings to prevent overexposure of bright features and improved software for faster data processing. The project, funded by NASA’s Heliophysics Low Cost Access to Space Program, seeks to uncover new insights into the Sun’s dynamic behavior and its impact on space weather. Each eclipse presents unique conditions, providing opportunities to observe phenomena that may not recur identically.
NASA’s Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project, led by Angela Des Jardins at Montana State University, will deploy student teams in Iceland and Spain to launch scientific balloons before, during, and after the eclipse. In Iceland, 80 balloons will monitor changes in the atmospheric boundary layer, which varies with temperature and moisture. Researchers, including Matthew Bernards from the University of Idaho, will investigate whether the eclipse causes the boundary layer to collapse, offering new data on atmospheric responses to sudden darkness.
Teams in Spain will launch six balloons equipped with 360-degree cameras and ozone-measuring instruments to capture the eclipse’s shadow from above. Previous flights during the April 2024 eclipse detected a decrease in ozone levels during totality. Scientists will compare findings from this eclipse, which occurs later in the day and during a different season, to assess variations in atmospheric effects. While the total eclipse won’t be visible in the U.S., some regions will experience a partial eclipse.