NASA deploys jet and balloons to study Sun and atmosphere during Aug. 12 eclipse
On Aug. 12, NASA-funded teams will follow the eclipse path over Greenland, Iceland and Spain with a high-altitude jet and scientific balloons to capture solar corona data and monitor atmospheric changes.
During the total solar eclipse of Aug. 12, NASA-backed scientists will chase the Moon’s shadow with a WB-57 high-altitude jet carrying the SAMI camera system, which can record the Sun’s corona at 20 frames per second in visible and infrared wavelengths. Flying at 460 mph and 50,000 ft, the aircraft will view the corona for almost three minutes, longer than any ground-based observation. The project builds on data collected during the 2024 eclipse, with upgraded exposure settings and faster processing software.
In parallel, the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project will send university groups to Iceland and Spain to launch 80 and six balloons respectively, probing the atmospheric boundary layer and ozone variations caused by the eclipse’s rapid darkening. Findings are expected to refine models of solar influence on satellite operations, astronaut safety, and Earth’s climate system.
Why it matters
The observations will deepen knowledge of solar behavior and its immediate effects on Earth's atmosphere, informing space weather forecasting.
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