The Solar Eclipse: What We Learned

The Sun's Corona

On July 2, at just before sunset, some parts of the Pacific and South America saw a total solar eclipse. A partial solar eclipse was viewable in Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay. 

A total solar eclipse is a rare sky event. It is estimated that they recur at any given place only once every 360-410 years, on average. Thankfully, however, they do occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months, on average. I say "thankfully" because a solar eclipse affords scientists an important chance to learn things which they can only learn during an eclipse. For example, it is only during a solar eclipse that we can learn more about the Sun's corona.

The Sun's Corona, based on the data gathered from the total Solar Eclipse of July 2nd, 2019 (Image credit: ESA/CESAR)

The Sun's corona looks a glowing, rainbowish, halo. Normally, the corona is invisible to us, because it is blotted out by the brightness of the Sun. But, during an eclipse, we can see it. And being able to see it is important because its structure is ever-changing. The corona is the Sun's outer atmosphere, which changes in structure by the magnetic fields of the Sun.

Because it is a scorching blaze of plasma with the potential power to disrupt Earth's GPS systems, communication systems (which underlie modern society) radio and satellites, the Sun's corona can powerfully impact life on Earth, as we know it. For this reason, scientists work to predict the structure of the Sun's corona.

Prior to July 2nd's total solar eclipse, a small group of scientists had used NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDA) data to match up with pictures taken of the real thing in order to accurately predict the shape of the Sun's corona. Using Pleiades, which the agency claims is "one of the world's most powerful supercomputers", the research team compiled a prediction of what the Sun's corona should look like on July 2. They published their prediction on June 25 and waited eagerly for the eclipse of July 2 to see the accuracy of their prediction. 

Now they've had time to compare their prediction of the Sun's corona shape with the actual corona shape, observed during the solar eclipse of July 2. The following image alternates back and forth between the science team's prediction and the actual corona shape. The team's prediction for the corona's July 2 shape is in blue and the actual corona shape is in grey:

Scientists were happy at how close they came to accurately predicting the shape of the corona. And they learned a few things to help them refine their future corona predictions.

Who knew a solar eclipse could be so important on so many levels. As I showed in my July 2, 2019 blog, this solar eclipse bore a power Heavenly message. And it also afforded scientists a needed chance to learn more about the Sun and its fluctuating corona.

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