Close Reading- Eclipse 2017 Shines light on Sun-Earth Connection

What significant event related to the Sun-Earth connection occurred on Aug. 21, 2017?

• A total solar eclipse visible across the contiguous U.S.

• The launch of a new solar observation satellite

• A major solar flare impacting Earth's magnetic field

• The discovery of a new planet in the solar system

What does a total solar eclipse allow scientists to study in detail?

• Mars' atmosphere

• Earth's oceans

• The Moon's surface

• The Sun's corona

What technology did Nat Gopalswamy's team test during the 2017 total solar eclipse?

• An advanced weather prediction model

• A satellite designed for deep space communication

• A new type of solar panel

• A camera capturing multiple wavelengths of polarized light

What unusual atmospheric condition does a total solar eclipse create on Earth?

• A decrease in global wind speeds

• An unexpected shift in ocean currents

• A temporary increase in global temperatures

• Sudden, localized onset of nighttime conditions

What did Amir Caspi and team use to extend their observation time of the eclipse?

• Retrofitted WB-57F jet planes

• Space-based telescopes

• Underwater drones

• High-altitude balloons

What did the data from Shadia Habbal's team contribute to?

• The development of a new type of solar cell

• A project to map the surface of Mars

• A study on the changing shape of the Sun's magnetic field

• Research on the effects of solar flares on Earth's climate

What did Paul Bryans and Philip Judge focus their experiments on during the eclipse?

• Observing the behavior of wildlife during the eclipse

• Tracking the movement of asteroids in the solar system

• Measuring the impact of solar radiation on Earth's atmosphere

• Studying the solar corona in infrared light

What phenomenon did Erickson's team from MIT Haystack Observatory discover in the ionosphere during the eclipse?

• Bow waves

• Solar flares

• Magnetic reversals

• Gamma-ray bursts

What was the purpose of the project led by Guoyong Wen of NASA Goddard?

• To improve models of how clouds affect Earth's energy balance

• To develop a new method for predicting solar eclipses

• To study the effects of lunar gravity on Earth's tides

• To map the distribution of water ice on the Moon

When is the next total solar eclipse visible in North America after 2017?

• June 10, 2021

• April 8, 2024

• December 26, 2022

• September 14, 2025