Science When The Sun Don’t Shine

Science When the Sun Don’t Shine

About once a year, somewhere on Earth, the sun is blocked by the moon. This phenomenon – called a total solar eclipse – is one of the most beautiful natural events.

image

Blocking the light of the sun during a total solar eclipse reveals the sun’s relatively faint, feathery atmosphere, called the corona. The corona is one of the most interesting parts of the sun. We usually study it using an instrument called a coronagraph, which uses a solid disk to make an artificial eclipse by blocking the sun’s face.

image

To successfully block all of the sun’s bright light – which can bend around the sharp edges of a coronagraph disk – coronagraphs must block much more than just the face of the sun.  So total solar eclipses are a rare chance to study the lower part of the corona, close to the surface of the sun.   

image

We have sent a team of scientists to Indonesia, where they’re preparing for an experiment during the March 8, 2016, eclipse, visible from Southeast Asia.

image

The scientists are measuring a certain kind of light – called polarized light – scattered by electrons in the lower corona, which will help us understand the temperature and speed of these electrons.

image

The March 8 eclipse is a preview of the total solar eclipse that will be visible across the US in August 2017.

image

Remember, you should never look directly at the sun – even if the sun is partly obscured. This also applies during a total eclipse up until the time when the sun is completely and totally blocked. More on safety: http://go.nasa.gov/1L6xpnI

For more eclipse information, check out nasa.gov/eclipse

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

More Posts from Slytherin-grin-blog and Others

9 years ago
Of Course It’s Happening Inside Your Head, Harry. Why Should That Mean That It’s Not Real?
Of Course It’s Happening Inside Your Head, Harry. Why Should That Mean That It’s Not Real?
Of Course It’s Happening Inside Your Head, Harry. Why Should That Mean That It’s Not Real?
Of Course It’s Happening Inside Your Head, Harry. Why Should That Mean That It’s Not Real?
Of Course It’s Happening Inside Your Head, Harry. Why Should That Mean That It’s Not Real?
Of Course It’s Happening Inside Your Head, Harry. Why Should That Mean That It’s Not Real?
Of Course It’s Happening Inside Your Head, Harry. Why Should That Mean That It’s Not Real?

Of course it’s happening inside your head, Harry. Why should that mean that it’s not real?

9 years ago
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.
The Gube On Set… Take 11.

The Gube on set… Take 11.

9 years ago
Bonus: 
Bonus: 

Bonus: 

Bonus: 

(x)

9 years ago

wear a different perfume when you commit murder fuckin amateurs 

9 years ago
Aren’t They Cute! Pretty Sure You Can Guess Who They Are :)

Aren’t they cute! pretty sure you can guess who they are :)

9 years ago
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say
Things Harry Potter Actors Say

Things Harry Potter Actors say

9 years ago

Solar System: Things to Know this Week

On May 22 Mars will be at opposition. That’s when Mars, Earth and the sun all line up, with Earth directly in the middle. A few days later, Mars and Earth will reach the points in their orbits around the sun where they are nearest to each other. The closer Mars comes to Earth in its orbit, the larger and brighter it appears in the sky.

Solar System: Things To Know This Week

It’s an opportunity for backyard skywatchers—and a good time to catch up on all the exploration now underway at the Red Planet. Here are a few things to know this week about Mars:

1. Red Star Rising

Solar System: Things To Know This Week

The best time to see Mars at its brightest is when it’s highest in the sky, which is around midnight during May. Look toward the south in the constellation Scorpius (where right now you can also catch the planet Saturn). If you have a telescope, you may be able to pick out some of the features on its surface. But don’t fall for Internet rumors claiming that Mars will appear as big as the full moon. Instead, it will look like a bright, reddish or orange star. Get Mars viewing tips HERE.

2. Roving Weather Reporter

Solar System: Things To Know This Week

Our Mars Curiosity mission has now been roving across the floor of Gale Crater for two full Martian years—that’s four Earth years. This robotic geologist is a meteorologist, too, and its long journey has allowed it to observe the local weather for two full seasonal cycles. During that time, the rover’s instruments have recorded temperatures ranging from 60.5 degrees Fahrenheit (15.9 degrees Celsius) on a summer afternoon, to minus 148 F (minus 100 C) on a winter night. They also detected an intriguing spike in methane gas—but it hasn’t happened since.

3. Increasing Clouds, with a Chance of Dust Storms

Solar System: Things To Know This Week

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter keeps an eye on Martian weather, too, but on a global scale. Every week, you can see the latest weather report, including an animation showing storms and clouds across the face of Mars.

4. Walking the Ancient Shoreline

Solar System: Things To Know This Week

Mars explorers have studied evidence for years that the early history of the planet included times where liquid water flowed and pooled freely. But just how deep those ancient lakes were, and how long they lasted, remains a topic of debate. A new study offers a more detailed picture of the rise and fall of standing bodies of water.

5. Wish Upon a Star

Solar System: Things To Know This Week

It’s true that Mars will be especially bright in the sky this week. But did you ever consider that Earth often shines for Mars as well? This image from the Curiosity rover shows our whole world as a single point of light. When people finally do stand on Mars, they’ll be able to look at the twilight sky—and see home. Left: the Earth and the Moon in the evening sky of Mars, as seen by the Curiosity rover. Right: Mars rising over Salt Lake City. Mars credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/TAMU. Earth credit: Bill Dunford.

Want to learn more? Read our full list of the 10 things to know this week about the solar system HERE.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

9 years ago

They said talking about your death is bad....

But I have to make sure my coffin is cute, you know what I'm saying

9 years ago
Because The People Who Are Crazy Enough To Think They Can Change The World, Are The Ones Who Do.
Because The People Who Are Crazy Enough To Think They Can Change The World, Are The Ones Who Do.
Because The People Who Are Crazy Enough To Think They Can Change The World, Are The Ones Who Do.
Because The People Who Are Crazy Enough To Think They Can Change The World, Are The Ones Who Do.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

  • emibertachini
    emibertachini liked this · 1 year ago
  • becky7275
    becky7275 liked this · 7 years ago
  • lacassel
    lacassel liked this · 8 years ago
  • biggorge-blog
    biggorge-blog liked this · 9 years ago
  • xeroxink
    xeroxink reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • mx-loki
    mx-loki reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • moesaurusrex
    moesaurusrex liked this · 9 years ago
  • zedstream
    zedstream reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • almondandpistachio95
    almondandpistachio95 reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • she-has-a-submisiveside-blog
    she-has-a-submisiveside-blog liked this · 9 years ago
  • mscumberbatchedhiddlestoned
    mscumberbatchedhiddlestoned liked this · 9 years ago
  • youllremainmyhumbleservant
    youllremainmyhumbleservant liked this · 9 years ago
  • sirs-kinky-kitty-blog
    sirs-kinky-kitty-blog reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • hotteaandoranges
    hotteaandoranges liked this · 9 years ago
  • spiderdave-blog1
    spiderdave-blog1 reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • azyaxxi-blog
    azyaxxi-blog reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • mio6166
    mio6166 reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • mio6166
    mio6166 liked this · 9 years ago
  • agentreptile
    agentreptile liked this · 9 years ago
  • non-a-ray500
    non-a-ray500 liked this · 9 years ago
  • anabelastarbr
    anabelastarbr reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • anabelastarbr
    anabelastarbr liked this · 9 years ago
  • parkrrpeter-blog
    parkrrpeter-blog liked this · 9 years ago
  • tenacious-complexity
    tenacious-complexity reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • skyesfandomcorner-blog
    skyesfandomcorner-blog reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • bionystone
    bionystone liked this · 9 years ago
  • rjbailey
    rjbailey reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • aitheras-blog
    aitheras-blog reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • rjbailey
    rjbailey liked this · 9 years ago
  • study-astronomy-biology-ref
    study-astronomy-biology-ref reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • nepenthii
    nepenthii liked this · 9 years ago
  • nepenthii
    nepenthii reblogged this · 9 years ago
  • thesixteenthminute
    thesixteenthminute reblogged this · 9 years ago
slytherin-grin-blog - quite unpleasant
quite unpleasant

"The snake always bites back."

168 posts

Explore Tumblr Blog
Search Through Tumblr Tags