WASHINGTON, D.C. — During the solar eclipse that crossed the United States on April 8, 2024, scientists employed a variety of methods to study the sun and its atmosphere. High-altitude aircraft, weather balloons, and ham radio signals were among the tools used to gather data, aiming to uncover some of the sun's enduring mysteries, such as why the corona is significantly hotter than the sun's surface.
Preliminary findings from these experiments were shared on December 10 at the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting. Despite cloud cover obstructing parts of the eclipse path, teams managed to collect valuable data that will drive future research. Here’s an overview of some of the projects that delved into the moon's shadow.
NASA's WB-57 aircraft flew within the moon's shadow to study the corona. Equipped with cameras and spectrometers, the aircraft captured detailed images and measured different wavelengths of light, providing insights into the corona's structures based on temperature. Although some camera images were blurry due to vibrations, the spectrometers remained unaffected.
On the ground, the Citizen CATE project involved 35 teams capturing images of the sun's corona from various locations. The goal was to create a 60-minute movie showing the corona's evolution. The middle corona, a transition zone between the sun's surface and the heliosphere, was a focus due to its role in charged particle bursts that can affect Earth's systems. Despite cloudy conditions, over 47,000 images were collected, contributing to a preliminary movie showing the corona's changes over time.
Meanwhile, the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project saw over 800 students launch weather balloons to study atmospheric effects. The project aimed to detect gravity waves caused by the eclipse's cooling effect. Although weather conditions were challenging, the project had a positive impact on students' perceptions of their STEM abilities.
Additionally, over 6,350 amateur radio operators participated in the HAMSci study, examining the eclipse's impact on the ionosphere. The data revealed changes in electron density and ionosphere altitude, providing insights into the connection between space and the upper atmosphere.
While solar eclipses offer a unique opportunity to study the sun, more comprehensive insights may come from space-based missions. NASA's Parker Solar Probe and the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission are ongoing efforts to explore the sun's atmosphere and its mysteries.
Source link: https://www.sciencenews.org
