NASA pilots will use a WB-57 high-altitude research aircraft to chase the total solar eclipse occurring on Aug. 12 [1, 2].
The mission aims to solve long-standing mysteries regarding the Sun's outer atmosphere. By capturing data during totality, scientists hope to understand why the corona remains significantly hotter than the solar surface and how these dynamics influence the atmosphere of Earth [1, 3].
The aircraft is scheduled to depart from Iceland and fly toward Greenland [1, 2]. This flight path places the crew directly within the eclipse's path of totality, which also extends across Spain [1, 2]. To maximize the quality of the observations, the jet will operate at an altitude of 50,000 feet [1].
While on the ground, observers see a limited window of totality. However, the high-speed aircraft can extend this window, allowing the crew to experience nearly three minutes of totality [1]. This extended period is critical for recording the Sun's corona, plasma prominences, and nanoflares across multiple wavelengths [3, 4].
NASA is supplementing the aircraft mission with high-altitude balloons to gather additional data [3]. These combined efforts allow researchers to obtain unprecedented observations of the solar atmosphere that are otherwise obscured by the Sun's brightness during normal conditions [1, 3].
The mission represents a coordinated effort to utilize the unique geometry of the Aug. 12 eclipse. By flying above the denser parts of the atmosphere, the WB-57 can capture clearer spectral data on solar plasma, and the magnetic structures that drive solar activity [1, 3].
“The jet will operate at an altitude of 50,000 feet”
This mission highlights the necessity of 'chasing' the moon's shadow to maximize data collection. Because the shadow of totality moves rapidly across the Earth's surface, using a high-speed jet allows NASA to effectively 'stretch' the duration of the eclipse. This provides a larger window to observe the corona and nanoflares, which are essential for predicting space weather that can disrupt satellite communications and power grids on Earth.
