CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — April’s total solar eclipse promises to be a scientific bonanza, thanks to new spacecraft and telescopes — and cosmic chance.
The moon will be extra close to Earth, providing a long and intense period of darkness, and the sun should be more active with the potential for dramatic bursts of plasma. Then there’s totality’s densely populated corridor stretching from Mexico to the U.S. to Canada.
Hundreds if not thousands of the tens of millions of spectators will double as “citizen scientists,” helping NASA and other research groups better understand our planet and star.
They’ll photograph the sun’s outer crownlike atmosphere, or corona, as the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blotting out sunlight for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds on April 8. They’ll observe the quieting of birds and other animals as midday darkness falls. They’ll also measure dropping temperatures, monitor clouds and use ham radios to gauge communication disruptions.
Inquiry slams UK authorities for failures that killed thousands in infected blood scandal
Trial begins for financial executive in insider trading case tied to taking Trump media firm public
How major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 4/30/2024
Kremer pitches Orioles past Yankees for 4
OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson comparisons
Sam Fender drops a major hint about his upcoming third studio album
Adames powers Brewers past Rays 8
Premier League & NBC Sports execs in talks to potentially hold 39th league fixture in the US
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
17th Chinese Bridge language competition held in Bulgaria