Science through Shadows
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Eclipses, Occultations and Transits
All three of these astronomical alignments provide astronomers with opportunities to study our solar system and galaxy.听And, all three involve shadows!听
What鈥檚 the difference between the three, you ask?听听It all has to do with the angular size of the two astronomical objects involved:
- When two objects that are roughly the same angular size in the sky line up (like our Moon and our Sun, for example), we call this an eclipse.
- When one object is much larger in angular size than the other (for example, when an asteroid听passes in front of a star, which is essentially a single point in the sky), we call this an occultation.
- If a small angular size object passes in front of a larger object (like when an exoplanet passes in front of its host star), we call this a transit.
Our NASA Science Activation project titled Science Through Shadows provides free fulldome and flat screen short films in English and Spanish on all three of these shadow phenomena, eclipses, occultations, and transits.听听All three help us learn about our universe:
- During solar eclipses, astronomer can observe the corona of our Sun, the upper atmosphere of the Sun that is a million times fainter than the solar disk and the birthplace of the solar wind that our planet is immersed in.
- During solar eclipses, we can learn about Earth鈥檚 atmosphere and how it responds to sudden changes in heating as the moon鈥檚 shadow block energy coming from the Sun.
- During lunar eclipses, we can detect meteoroids impacting the moon and measure the thermal inertia of the lunar surface.
- Through occultations, we can measure the sizes, shapes, and positions of asteroids with greater accuracy than听provided by space-based telescopes.
- Occultations can also be used to detect moons and rings around asteroids and planets.
- Transits are a core technique used by the Kepler and TESS space telescopes to detect planets around other stars.
- We can also study the composition of the atmospheres of extrasolar planets as they pass in front of their host stars.
Join us Science through Shadows to learn much, much more about the opportunities, challenges, and successes of eclipses, occultations, and transits!
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The Sun Touches Humanity
In early 2025, NASA is launching a Small Explorer mission called , the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere. This mission is a constellation of four suit-case sized satellites in low-Earth orbit that make global, 3D observations of the entire inner heliosphere between the Sun and Earth. These observations help to understand the origin and evolution of the solar wind, including the tracking of solar storms from the Sun. Join PUNCH science and outreach leads as they share how this mission provides a 鈥渂ig-picture鈥 view of how the Sun touches humanity.
The Sun Touches Humanity
El Sol Toca a la Humanidad
Humanity Touches The Sun
On December 24, 2024, will make its closest approach to the Sun. 鈥嬧婣t a speed of 430,000 miles per hour, or more than 100 miles per second, this spacecraft is the fastest object ever created by humans! Learn how Parker is helping scientists unravel the mysteries of the Sun鈥檚 corona in this episode of Science Through Shadows.
Humanity Touches The Sun
La humanidad toca al Sol
Chasing Polymele鈥檚 Shadow
Join us as we travel with citizen scientists playing a crucial role for .鈥
On February 3, 2023, over 100 telescopes across two continents were deployed to observe the Trojan asteroid Polymele and its satellite during an occultation. In this episode, we'll learn about occultations which occur when an object, like an asteroid, passes in front of a star, momentarily blocking its light and sending a shadow towards Earth听telescopes.鈥∣ccultation measurements听provide valuable data about听size, shape, and orbit, helping NASA plan for future flyby's of Jupiter鈥檚 trojan asteroids.
Chasing Polymele's Shadow
Persiguiendo la sombra de Polymele
Total Eclipse of the Sun
A total solar eclipse is one of nature鈥檚 most incredible events. On April 8th, 2024, observers across North America will have the opportunity to experience this phenomenon. This video will teach audience members what to expect on eclipse day, how to safely view the eclipse, and why it will be worth it to travel to the path of totality!
Total Eclipse of the Sun
Eclipse total del sol
What Causes Eclipses?
What is an eclipse? Why do they happen? This edition of Science Through Shadows will dive into the mechanisms that cause an eclipse, address common misconceptions surrounding eclipses, and shed light on the differences between types of eclipses.
What Causes Eclipses?
Qu茅 es un eclipse?
Ring of Fire
On October 14, 2023, individuals and communities across North America will have the chance to see an annular solar eclipse. This type of eclipse is commonly referred to as a 鈥渞ing of fire鈥 eclipse and is different from a 鈥渢otal鈥 solar eclipse. This video outlines the differences between the two, discusses best practices for viewing the eclipse, and prepares audience members to have an amazing experience on eclipse day!