Several eclipse-focused projects are poised to make major scientific contributions this coming Monday, April 8. While many projects are already in full swing, there is still time to get involved and contribute.
Time is coming, s A major solar eclipse in North America must make its way from Mexico to the Maritime Provinces of Canada. The upcoming celestial spectacle isn’t just a wonder to behold—it’s also an opportunity for serious science projects that rely heavily on citizen scientists to gather valuable data.
GLOBE Eclipse
This NASA-led global citizen science initiative allows volunteers to participate in Earth science research through a smartphone app (details in the app here). Participants using this a temporary feature in the GLOBE Observer applicationcan contribute by documenting cloud types, tracking land cover (ie, vegetation at the data collection site), and recording atmospheric conditions, such as temperature drops, during the solar eclipse.
This wide-ranging data collection supports Earth system science that is accessible to scientists and students and open to anyone with a smartphone. And the good news: No special knowledge is required.
Eclipse Soundscapes
Sponsored by NASA Science Activation, Eclipse Soundscapes is a unique project that will collect multi-sensor observations and sounding data during the upcoming solar eclipse to study its impact on local ecosystems. Participants contribute by making recordings before, during and after the eclipse, helping researchers understand how these events affect the behavior of animals and plants. As observers, “you will go outside on the day of the eclipse to record information about your location and what you hear, see or feel” during the total solar eclipse, according to the program’s website. Observations can be made from, near, or outside the path of the eclipse. The project is inclusive and designed for accessibility, inviting both sighted and visually impaired people to engage with the science of the eclipse through sensory experiences. You can register as an observer herebut first you need to take a free online training course.
Sunsketcher
of NASA SunSketcher project tasks volunteers with measuring the shape of the Sun during a solar eclipse using a free smartphone app. Participants are asked to take timed photos to capture Bailey’s Beadsrevealing insights into the structure of the Sun and testing theories of gravity. A video tutorial is available here. “The 2024 eclipse offers an unprecedented opportunity to measure the shape of the Sun and thereby infer its internal structure,” explains principal investigator Gordon Emslie. “The SunSketcher project will use smartphone observations by Citizen Scientists located along the two-thousand-mile eclipse path from Texas to Maine to reveal the exact shape of the Sun’s disk.”
Megafilm “Eclipse”.
The Project Eclipse Megamovie involves capturing the dynamics of the solar corona, including jets and jets, during a total solar eclipse using tripod-mounted DSLR cameras. Volunteers from different locations will collaborate to create a continuous movie of the eclipse, providing valuable data for scientific analysis. This project not only offers an opportunity for public participation in astronomical research, but also helps scientists better understand the solar corona and its changes during an eclipse. register here.
Citizen CATE 2024
This citizen science project aims to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, during a total solar eclipse. Volunteers will take pictures of the eclipse in polarized light, which will add to our understanding of the structures and changes in the corona.
The resulting clips, between two and three minutes long, “will be combined into a 60-minute film that reflects the magnetic structure of the Sun’s mid-corona, revealing electron density and showing how magnetic energy is converted to heat,” according to Citizen Cate 2024 website. Apply here.
Dynamic Eclipse Emission (DEB)
In this citizen science project led by Southern Illinois University Carbondale, small teams will use telescopes to capture detailed images of the eclipse, documenting the dynamic appearance of the Sun and its corona. These images will help scientists better understand the momentary changes of the Sun during the eclipse. Links to live streams will be available here.
Radio JOVE
This NASA-led citizen science project will allow participants to observe and study radio emissions from the Sun and Jupiter using a simple radio telescope. Radio JOVE aims to improve the understanding of solar and planetary radio emissions and to promote radio astronomy as a hobby. Volunteers can either build their own radio telescope using a kit provided by the project or use existing equipment. There are already practical classes completedbut you can catch some audible signs of the eclipse here live feed.
HamSCI
HamSCI, on Ham Radio Science Civil Investigation, is a project that brings together the radio amateur community and professional scientists. During the upcoming eclipse, radio amateurs will participate in experiments to study the ionosphere’s response to changes in solar radiation. Ham radio enthusiasts contribute by recording signal strength and communication ranges, providing data that helps scientists understand ionospheric variations. Request to join here.
The Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse Experiment (CATE) 2024
The US National Science Foundation (NSF) is organizing educational events and research activities for the total solar eclipse on April 8, which include public experiments and live streaming.
It is a key focus Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse 2024 Experiment, involving approximately 40 public teams of citizen scientists who will conduct continuous observations along the path of totality. In addition, NSF’s High Altitude Research Aircraft and Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope will conduct specialized observations, complemented by educational resources and programs for broader public and academic engagement.
The University of Texas at Dallas’ ScintPi sensor project
Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas are using ionospheric scintillation monitors, ScintPi sensors originally designed to study Earth’s upper atmosphere, for the upcoming total solar eclipse. These cheap sensors, adaptable for citizen science projects, collect ion density data by receiving radio signals from satellites. During the April 8 eclipse, these sensors will be deployed at various locations, including locations within the path of totality, to collect important data. Open to citizen scientists, this effort provides an affordable way to contribute to solar and ionospheric research. The resulting data will improve the understanding of the ionosphere and could even contribute to studies of solar events.
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