Airborne observatory improves views of solar corona during cloud-covered eclipse
Using unique equipment installed on NASA's WB-57 aircraft flying above heavy clouds off the coast of Iceland, a Southwest Research Institute-led team successfully observed a total solar eclipse on Wednesday. The high-altitude jet followed the moon's shadow at 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) to take measurements of the solar corona in nine different wavelengths, ranging from visible to infrared light.
A Southwest Research Institute-led team, using NASA's WB-57 aircraft, successfully observed a total solar eclipse over the Atlantic Ocean in 2024. The high-altitude jet was able to capture detailed images of the solar corona in nine different wavelengths, from visible to infrared light, despite the clouds that typically obscure the view.
The aircraft followed the moon's shadow at 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) to take measurements, collecting high-resolution images with the Airborne Multispectral Imager during the brief window of totality. This eclipse provided an opportunity for scientists to view the intricate details of the sun's outer atmosphere, which are usually obscured by the bright solar disk.
Observations revealed a massive prominence on the sun's east limb, offering new insights into solar phenomena that can impact Earth's space weather. The mission successfully gathered over 2 terabytes of high-speed data, enabling the analysis of coronal structure and dynamics. This remarkable achievement was made possible by the collaborative efforts of the air and ground crew, instrument builders, scientists, and logistical support from the U.S. Navy and Iceland.
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