Stay Tuned: Pursuing the Eclipse via Jet Aircraft
The upcoming total solar eclipse on Monday is often dubbed a "once-in-a-lifetime" occurrence, and understandably so. Such events are exceptionally rare, with certain regions only experiencing them once in centuries. Even for those fortunate enough to be within the eclipse's path, totality lasts a mere four minutes at most, contingent upon weather conditions. Consequently, some individuals opt to pursue the eclipse via jet planes.
Exploring the rarity of total eclipses, it's evident that while two to five solar eclipses transpire annually in various parts of the world, total solar eclipses occur approximately every 18 months. However, their visibility is limited to a fraction of the Earth's surface, confined to the umbra, the Moon's darkest shadow. Given the vastness of the globe, coupled with substantial expanses of uninhabited land and vast oceans, the likelihood of witnessing a total solar eclipse firsthand is minimal.
This scarcity poses a considerable challenge for scientists eager to gather invaluable data during such events. Total eclipses offer a unique opportunity to study the Sun's corona, its outer atmosphere, which becomes more observable as the Moon obstructs the Sun's face. Additionally, these occurrences provide insight into how solar radiation influences Earth's atmosphere.
However, conducting ground-based scientific observations during an eclipse is fraught with uncertainty, particularly regarding cloud cover. To circumvent this obstacle, NASA has devised an innovative solution: deploying scientific instruments aboard its WB-57 jet planes to chase the eclipse.
Three NASA-funded teams will utilize these aircraft to conduct research during the eclipse, with two teams focusing on capturing corona data and the third measuring the ionosphere, Earth's electrically charged upper atmosphere. Flying at altitudes exceeding 15,000 meters, these jets will soar above cloud cover and atmospheric interference, enabling enhanced imaging capabilities and the capture of additional wavelengths of light.
Moreover, the WB-57s' rapid speed of 750 kilometers per hour ensures prolonged observation periods. While ground-based viewers are limited to observing totality for approximately four and a half minutes, instruments aboard the planes will have an extended observation window of 6 minutes and 22 seconds. This isn't the first time NASA has employed jet aircraft for eclipse research; a similar endeavor was undertaken in 2017.
In summary, the utilization of jet planes to pursue solar eclipses offers scientists a unique vantage point unhindered by terrestrial obstacles, facilitating comprehensive research and data collection during these extraordinary celestial events.