On April 8, millions of Americans will be able to witness a total solar eclipse — an event that won’t be visible again in the contiguous United States until 2044. While eclipses are certainly wondrous and awe inspiring, they also provide scientists with a unique window to advance understanding of the sun and its effects on Earth and our solar system.

While the eclipse is in progress, for example, NASA is launching data-collecting jets above Earth’s atmosphere with the aim of learning more about the structure and temperature of the sun’s corona — its outermost atmosphere — and the source of solar wind, a stream of particles continuously emitted by the sun. The data will also help deepen understanding of how eclipses and space weather events such as geomagnetic or solar radiation storms affect GPS and other satellite communications.

The National Academies have been offering advice and guidance on priorities for solar and space physics research for decades. Building upon that work, the 2024-2033 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics — to be issued later this year — will identify priority areas of basic and applied research to advance scientific understanding of the sun, and how the sun interacts with Earth and other bodies in the solar system. In addition, the recently launched Space Weather Roundtable is bringing together representatives from government, industry, and academia to explore how to facilitate advances in space weather forecasting; increase coordination of space weather research and operations; and improve preparedness for space weather events.

“The total solar eclipse is a really exciting way to engage the public in science while at the same time advancing our knowledge of the sun and its impacts on us here on Earth,” said Colleen Hartman, director of the Space Studies Board of the National Academies. “I hope all Americans have a chance to experience this unique event and learn more about the science behind it.”

Related Resources

• Explore a collection of National Academies publications exploring solar and space physics here.  

• Learn more about our work in solar and space physics, register for upcoming events, and sign up for our mailing list on the Space Studies Board website.