NASA to Fly WB-57 at 15,000 Meters for 3-Minute Solar Corona Study
Updated
Updated · Noticias Ambientales · Aug 3
NASA to Fly WB-57 at 15,000 Meters for 3-Minute Solar Corona Study
3 articles · Updated · Noticias Ambientales · Aug 3
Summary
August 12's total solar eclipse will see NASA send its WB-57 research jet to capture new images of the Sun's corona from 15,000 meters.
Flying at 740 kph above clouds and atmospheric distortion, the aircraft can extend continuous eclipse observations to nearly three minutes and record wavelengths unavailable from the ground.
The WB-57 carries the SAMI spectral camera, visible and infrared sensors, gyroscopic tracking and spectrometers to study corona heating, solar wind formation and the chemical makeup of solar gases.
NASA says the natural eclipse offers a fuller view than satellite coronagraphs, which block key parts of the corona, helping researchers probe space weather that affects satellites and astronauts.