During the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, scientists from NASA and various research institutions are preparing to launch multiple experiments to gain valuable insights into the mysteries of the sun. This celestial event, which will be visible across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, provides a unique opportunity to study aspects of the sun and Earth that can only be observed during an eclipse.

NASA will be deploying sounding rockets and WB-57 high-altitude planes to conduct cutting-edge research. These efforts build on a long history of using eclipses as a means to gather invaluable data and observations.

One of the most significant scientific milestones associated with an eclipse dates back to May 1919 when a total solar eclipse provided evidence for Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity. This groundbreaking discovery validated Einstein's proposition that gravity is the result of the warping of time and space caused by large celestial objects like the sun. Scientists observed stars appearing to be in the wrong place during the eclipse, confirming Einstein's theory.

During the 2017 solar eclipse, NASA and other space agencies used 11 different spacecraft and two high-altitude planes to conduct observations. The data collected during this event helped scientists accurately predict the appearance of the sun's hot outer atmosphere, known as the corona, during subsequent eclipses in 2019 and 2021. While the corona is fainter than the sun's surface, it becomes visible as a halo around the sun during an eclipse, making it easier to study. Scientists are still puzzled by why the corona is millions of degrees hotter than the sun's surface, and data from the 2021 eclipse provided new clues.

Solar maximum, a period of heightened solar activity, is occurring this year. Scientists are keen to take advantage of this rare opportunity to gather more data about the sun and its impact on Earth. Understanding how solar material flows from the sun and interacts with Earth's upper atmosphere, known as the ionosphere, is crucial for predicting and mitigating potential disruptions to communication infrastructure and satellite operations.

To study the ionosphere during the eclipse, scientists will employ high-altitude balloons and a citizen science project involving amateur radio operators. These experiments aim to assess how the changes in the ionosphere affect radio communications. Additionally, three sounding rockets will be launched to measure the impact of the sudden disappearance of sunlight on Earth's upper atmosphere.

NASA's WB-57s, high-altitude research planes, will also play a crucial role in the research efforts. Equipped with various scientific instruments, these planes provide a continuous and unobstructed view above the clouds. One experiment will focus on analyzing the ionosphere using an ionosonde, which measures the number of charged particles in the ionosphere. The other two experiments will concentrate on studying the corona, including its temperature, chemical composition, and the occurrence of coronal mass ejections.

Amidst the excitement of these scientific endeavors, researchers are eager to capture images of the eclipse from 50,000 feet above Earth's surface. These images, taken by high-speed and high-resolution cameras, will help scientists study the middle and lower corona, as well as potentially spot asteroids that orbit within the sun's glare.

As scientists gear up for the April 8 eclipse, they anticipate that these experiments will contribute significantly to our understanding of the sun and further unravel its enigmatic nature. Each eclipse presents a new opportunity to expand our knowledge and solve another piece of the complex puzzle that is our universe.