Why NASA is chasing the 2024 total solar eclipse from 50,000 feet
On April 8, 2024, NASA will deploy WB-57 jet planes to capture the total solar eclipse from the stratosphere. This high-altitude mission aims to gather unique scientific data that is impossible to collect from the ground, offering a clearer perspective on the Sun and its influence on our planet.
During the 2024 total solar eclipse, three NASA-funded teams will operate scientific instruments aboard WB-57 aircraft at an altitude of 50,000 feet. By positioning themselves above much of the Earth's atmosphere, researchers can obtain superior observations of the solar corona and the ionosphere.
The mission involves imaging the Sun's outer atmosphere and measuring the electrically charged upper layer of Earth's atmosphere. Led by scientists including Amir Caspi, Shadia Habbal, and Bharat Kunduri, the project seeks to clarify the structure and temperature of the corona, study solar effects on our atmosphere, and assist in detecting asteroids orbiting near the Sun.
