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NASA Johnson Pilots Chase Moon’s Shadow for Eclipse Science
NASA used a WB-57F high-altitude aircraft to observe the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse from Iceland. The mission aimed to study why the Sun's corona is hotter than its visible surface.
Why it matters
Studying the Sun's corona helps scientists understand space weather, which affects the environment around Earth.
The details
The aircraft operated from Iceland to fly through the path of totality over the North Atlantic. Sensor operator Cary Klemm adjusted focus and exposure times to capture plasma shaped by magnetic fields. Principal investigator Amir Caspi is from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado.
What's next
Scientists will use the gathered data to investigate the Sun and the processes that influence the space environment around Earth.
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