Italian scientists ready new solar instrument for high-stakes eclipse test

Italian scientists are preparing a groundbreaking solar instrument, called the Circular Slit Spectrometer (CISS), for a rigorous test during the upcoming total solar eclipse on August 12. The eclipse will provide a unique opportunity to study the solar corona, the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the sun's bright light.

The CISS, developed by a team led by Principal Investigator Federico Landini from the Astrophysical Observatory of Turin, boasts a novel optical principle with a circular slit that can capture the corona's spectrum in a single photograph, unlike traditional linear spectrometers that take hours to scan the corona line by line. The instrument will be tested at Spain's Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory during the eclipse, when the moon blocks the sun, allowing scientists to observe the corona.

The CISS's ability to break down the sun's light into its constituent wavelengths much faster than current instruments could significantly advance the study of solar activity, which has the potential to impact Earth's communications networks and power grids. The team, which includes Senior Researcher Paola Zuppella from the Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, has been working on the CISS for 2-1/2 years, and they must demonstrate its effectiveness during the brief window of totality to validate their research.

They have carefully prepared the instrument for transport to Spain, avoiding any disruptions caused by flight cancellations.