CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — April’s total solar eclipse promises to be a scientific bonanza, thanks to new spacecraft and telescopes — and cosmic chance.
The moon will be extra close to Earth, providing a long and intense period of darkness, and the sun should be more active with the potential for dramatic bursts of plasma. Then there’s totality’s densely populated corridor stretching from Mexico to the U.S. to Canada.
Hundreds if not thousands of the tens of millions of spectators will double as “citizen scientists,” helping NASA and other research groups better understand our planet and star.
They’ll photograph the sun’s outer crownlike atmosphere, or corona, as the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blotting out sunlight for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds on April 8. They’ll observe the quieting of birds and other animals as midday darkness falls. They’ll also measure dropping temperatures, monitor clouds and use ham radios to gauge communication disruptions.
Michael Massey, Maikel Garcia key a 7th
Passenger breaks his leg 30 minutes into a seven
'Challengers' review: Prepare to get hot and bothered
Rebel Wilson's explosive memoir is set to be published in the UK
Incredible moment heroic K9 Mercury finds missing 85
Get better sleep with these 5 tips from experts
Australian woman denies murdering her former husband's relatives with poisonous mushroom lunch
Former Green Bay player Kayla Karius leaves South Dakota to return to her alma mater as coach
Terrifying moment truck goes off
Housing crisis laid bare as couple turn disused bus stop into a temporary home