For the first time in 99 years, a total
solar eclipse will occur across the entire continental United States, and
NASA is preparing to share this experience of a lifetime on Aug. 21.
Viewers around the world will be provided a
wealth of images captured before, during, and after the eclipse by 11
spacecraft, at least three NASA aircraft, more than 50 high-altitude
balloons, and the astronauts aboard the International
Space Station – each offering a unique vantage point for the celestial
event.
NASA Television will air a multi-hour show,
Eclipse Across America: Through the Eyes of NASA, with unprecedented live
video of the celestial event, along with coverage of activities in parks,
libraries, stadiums, festivals and museums across the nation, and on social
media.
Coast to coast, from Oregon to South
Carolina, 14 states will – over a span of almost two hours – experience more
than two minutes of darkness in the middle of the day. When the moon
completely blocks the sun, day will turn into night and make visible the
otherwise hidden solar
corona, the sun’s atmosphere. Bright stars and planets also will become
visible. Using specialized solar viewing glasses or other equipment, all of
North America will be able to view at least a partial eclipse lasting two to
four hours.
“Never before will a celestial event be
viewed by so many and explored from so many vantage points – from space, from
the air, and from the ground,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator
of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. “With our fellow
agencies and a host of scientific organizations, NASA will continue to
amplify one key message: Take time to experience the Aug. 21 eclipse, but
experience it safely.”
Viewing Safety
The only safe way to look directly at the
uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun is through special-purpose solar
filters, such as eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers. Homemade filters
or ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the
sun. In the 70-mile-wide swath of the country that will experience a total
eclipse, it’s safe to look at the total eclipse with your naked eyes only
during the brief period of totality, which will last about two minutes,
depending on your location.
An alternative method for safe viewing of
the partially-eclipsed sun is with a pinhole
projector. With this method, sunlight streams through a small hole – such
as a pencil hole in a piece of paper, or even the space between your fingers
– onto a makeshift screen, such as a piece of paper or the ground. It’s
important to watch the screen, not the sun.
For more information on viewing safety,
visit:
NASA and other agencies will provide vital
information and updates on their respective websites that include viewing
safety, activities across the country including at national parks, in
addition to transportation preparations.
Studying Our Sun
Many researchers and citizen scientists
will take advantage of this unique opportunity to study our sun, solar
system, and Earth under rare circumstances. The sudden blocking of the sun
during an eclipse reduces the light and changes the temperature on the
ground, creating conditions that can affect local weather and animal
behavior.
Understanding the sun has always been a top
priority for space scientists. These scientists study how the sun affects
space and the space environment of planets – a field known as heliophysics. As a source of
light and heat for life on Earth, scientists want to understand how our sun
works, why it changes, and how these changes influence life on Earth. The
sun’s constant stream of solar material and radiation can impact spacecraft,
communications systems, and orbiting astronauts.
“Eclipse 2017 provides an incredible
opportunity to engage the entire nation and the world, inspiring learners of
all ages who have looked to the sky with curiosity and wonder,” said Steven
Clarke, director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division in Washington.
NASA spacecraft capturing the event
include: NASA’s Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter, which will turn toward Earth to track the shadow
of the moon on our planet; a host of Earth-observing spacecraft, which can
both observe the shadow of the moon and measure how it affects Earth’s
weather; and a fleet of solar observing spacecraft. NASA images and data of
the eclipse will complement that collected by other scientific organizations.
For more information on eclipse activities,
observing assets, and viewing safety, visit:
To watch the Aug. 21 NASA TV eclipse broadcast
online and access interactive web content and views of the eclipse from more
than 60 telescopes, aircraft and balloons, visit:
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