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Great American Eclipse | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS

NOVA PBS Official・29 minutes read

Scientists study solar eclipses to explore the sun's outer atmosphere, aiming to understand solar behavior and decode solar storms for future prediction. The alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun during a total solar eclipse provides a unique opportunity to observe the sun's atmosphere and phenomena like coronal pseudo-streamers, contributing to advancements in solar research.

Insights

  • Solar eclipses are crucial for scientists to study the sun's outer atmosphere, the solar corona, which can lead to solar storms that may disrupt technology globally, emphasizing the importance of decoding and potentially predicting these events for future preparedness.
  • The alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun during a total solar eclipse not only creates a unique and awe-inspiring experience but also allows for the observation of the sun's atmosphere, revealing its complexity and magnetic structures that impact solar wind formation and acceleration.

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Recent questions

  • What is a total solar eclipse?

    A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun's light and casting a shadow on Earth. This rare event creates darkness during the day as the moon completely covers the sun, revealing the sun's outer atmosphere, the solar corona.

  • How do scientists study solar eclipses?

    Scientists study solar eclipses to explore the sun's outer atmosphere, the solar corona, which is usually obscured by the sun's brightness. By observing the corona during a total solar eclipse, researchers can decode solar storms and understand the sun's behavior, potentially predicting and preparing for future disruptions caused by solar activity.

  • When is the next total solar eclipse in the U.S.?

    The next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality, where the sun is completely blocked by the moon, will cover 15 states, providing a unique opportunity for scientists and the public to observe this rare celestial event.

  • Why is proper eye protection important during a solar eclipse?

    Proper eye protection, such as certified solar filters or eclipse-viewing glasses, is crucial when observing a solar eclipse to prevent eye damage. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can cause permanent eye injury due to the intense brightness of the sun's rays.

  • How do solar wind particles affect Earth?

    Solar wind particles, which are plasma ejected from the sun, play a crucial role in space weather and can impact Earth's magnetic field and technology. Understanding the formation and acceleration of solar wind particles is essential for predicting and mitigating the effects of solar storms on Earth.

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Summary

00:00

Decoding Solar Storms Through Total Eclipses

  • A total solar eclipse is a rare and astonishing natural phenomenon that connects us with our predecessors.
  • Scientists aim to use solar eclipses to explore the sun's outer atmosphere, the solar corona, to understand solar behavior.
  • Violent eruptions from the solar corona can lead to massive solar storms that could disrupt technology worldwide.
  • Scientists study solar eclipses to decode these solar storms and potentially predict them in the future.
  • Researchers study the sun during eclipses on the ground, in the air, and by touching the corona to better understand our celestial neighbor.
  • The next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. will occur on April 8, 2024, with the path of totality covering 15 states.
  • The alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun during a total solar eclipse allows the moon to block the sun's light, creating darkness on Earth.
  • Observing the corona during a total solar eclipse is a unique experience, as the sun's atmosphere becomes visible.
  • Proper eye protection, like certified solar filters or eclipse-viewing glasses, is crucial when observing a solar eclipse to prevent eye damage.
  • Even those outside the path of totality can experience a partial solar eclipse, with varying degrees of the sun's disc being covered depending on location.

17:45

"Parker Solar Probe Reveals Sun's Secrets"

  • Parker Solar Probe operates with a significant temperature difference between the front and back instruments, with the back requiring room temperature.
  • Since 2018, the probe's orbit has progressively approached the sun, culminating in a major breakthrough in December 2021 when it touched the sun's atmosphere.
  • The sun's atmosphere, previously thought to be smooth, is revealed by Parker's data to be undulating and complex, with magnetic structures like coronal pseudo-streamers affecting its rugged edge.
  • Solar wind particles are plasma, and understanding their ejection from the sun is crucial for comprehending solar wind formation and acceleration.
  • Solar wind strength is influenced by the sun's magnetic field behavior, which follows an 11-year solar cycle, with 2024 expected to be particularly active.
  • The Chacoans, a Pueblo Native American group, closely monitored the sun's movements and seasons, using structures like the Sun Dagger to track equinoxes for agricultural planning.
  • Evidence suggests the Chacoans observed eclipses, with a total eclipse visible in 1097 during a solar maximum, showcasing vast plumes extending from the sun's corona.
  • Indigenous communities in the U.S. hold varying beliefs about solar eclipses, with the Navajo viewing them as renewals and the Cherokee associating them with a giant frog swallowing the sun.
  • Ancient Babylonian astronomers discovered the saros cycle governing solar eclipses, enabling accurate eclipse predictions every 18 years, a feat later refined by Edmond Halley in 1715.
  • Halley's precise eclipse prediction in 1715, based on Newton's gravitational theory, marked a significant advancement in eclipse forecasting, leading to modern-day accurate eclipse predictions.

36:08

"3D-printable coronagraph for home telescopes"

  • To view the sun's corona, precision and expensive equipment or space deployment are necessary due to Earth's light-scattering atmosphere.
  • A team aims to create a downloadable, 3D-printable coronagraph for home telescopes.
  • The team tests the coronagraph during an annular solar eclipse over Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • An annular eclipse occurs when the moon is farther from Earth, creating a "ring of fire" effect.
  • The eclipse coincides with the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, attracting a large crowd.
  • During the eclipse, the moon aligns with the sun, causing eerie changes in shadows.
  • Scientists discover coronium in the corona during a total solar eclipse in 1869.
  • The corona's extreme heat turns iron into plasma, creating a unique spectral line.
  • In 2017, scientists use jets to study the corona during an eclipse, revealing unexpected infrared radiation patterns.
  • In 2024, new instruments and citizen scientists will study the corona during a total eclipse to unravel its mysteries.

52:04

"Rare Eclipse: Don't Miss This Opportunity"

  • Rare celestial event: eclipse
  • Opportunity not to be missed
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