Last Sunday,
we introduced to you the simple facts about the upcoming solar eclipse
in about a week. This week we would like to emphasize on what the
experience will be like (especially for readers who will be unable to
view this majestic event during totality).
Essentially during
totality, viewers of the eclipse will be plunged into a state of
darkness - a twilight at noon so-to-say. The change of lighting is so
overwhelming that animals often behave as if night had arrived early;
birds stop singing, cows head back to the barn and animals prepare for a
night that won't be coming - not yet at least. Also when the sun
disappears, it often causes a quick change in the air temperature.
During the 2015 solar eclipse in Svalbard, scientists noticed the
temperature dropped about 8 degrees Celsius (15 degrees Fahrenheit)
during totality.
Alongside the gorgeous jets of material in the
sun's corona, stars and planets may become visible. Venus, which orbits
close to the sun, will become almost impossible to miss during the
eclipse.
During this eclipse, scientists will also be collecting data while gazing up into the heavens. Some research includes
an NCAR aircraft research initiative, a Boston University ionospheric experiment using off-the-shelf cellphone tech, and
a NASA twin airplanes flight to observe the corona and Mercury. Even regular people will take part in these initiatives in some citizen science projects such as
CATE through the National Solar Observatory and the
Eclipse Megamovie led by UC Berkeley.
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