Photos: NASA's eclipse-chasing jets and amazing images of solar eclipses

By Teena Maddox · August 4, 2017, 2:34 PM PST · teena_maddox

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Two WB-57 jets and a solar eclipse

The solar eclipse on August 21 will cross 14 states and will give millions of people a chance to see a once in a lifetime astronomical event. NASA will send up two WB-57 jets to photograph the eclipse so that a team of scientists can use the data for future research.
This illustration shows two NASA WB-57 jets flying during a solar eclipse.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Bardur Eklund
WB-57 jet preparing for a test run

One of the WB-57 jets is being prepared for a test run at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The instruments are underneath the silver casing on the plane's nose.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Norah Moran – NASA – Johnson Space Center
WB-57 jet with optical sensors on the nose

The two WB-57 jets will observe the total eclipse for about three and a half minutes each as they fly over Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky. The jets will cruise over Tennessee as the eclipse is ending the period of totality.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Amir Caspi
Twin telescopes are mounted on the nose of each plane

Twin telescopes are mounted on the nose of each WB-57.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Amir Caspi
Each WB-57 will cruise at 50,000 feet altitude

At a cruising altitude of 50,000 feet, the sky is 20-30 times darker than as seen from the ground, with less atmospheric turbulence so that allowing fine structures and motions in the sun's corona can be visible. These WB-57 jets will be chasing the eclipse in 2017.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Amir Caspi
Southern Research specialist will collect data from the stratosphere

Southern Research's Donald Darrow will operate the AIRS instrument on a NASA WB-57 aircraft during the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Southern Research
The AIRS/DyNAMITE optical sensor

Johanna Lewis, director of Engineering's Program Management Office at Southern Research, poses with the AIRS/DyNAMITE optical sensor that will provide a unique look at the stratosphere during the 2017 eclipse.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Southern Research
Three WB-57 jets flying over Houston

NASA has three WB-57 jets and two will be used to collect images and data from the solar eclipse. Here are the three WB-57 jets flying over Houston.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Southern Research
Total solar eclipse

A stunning view of a total solar eclipse.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: iStock/fotojog
Phases of a total solar eclipse

This shows each phase of a solar eclipse from partial to totality before and after the eclipse.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: iStock/Allexxandar
2016 solar eclipse in Indonesia

Here is a Citizen CATE (Continental America Telescopic Eclipse) experiment total solar eclipse 2016 low tide image in Indonesia. It was taken in March 2016.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Bob Baer
Partial solar eclipse

The moon is partially covering the sun in this image of a solar eclipse.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA
2016 solar eclipse in Indonesia

A view of totality in the Indonesian solar eclipse in 2016.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Bob Baer
2016 solar eclipse in Indonesia

A diamond-ring like effect is visible at the end of totality in a solar eclipse. This is from the 2016 eclipse in Indonesia.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Bob Baer
The mystical appearance of the sun's corona

The magnetic structures of the sun, seen here, appear smooth and well-organized, and scientists will use images captured by NASA's WB-57 jets to research the corona.

Image: NASA
Solar eclipse coming out of totality

This image shows a solar eclipse beginning to come out of totality, creating the much-photographed diamond-ring effect.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: iStock/solarseven
Solar eclipse

Solar eclipse image.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: iStock/solarseven
2016 solar eclipse in Indonesia

Another image from the Citizen CATE Experiment TSE2016 observations in Tanjung Pandan, Indonesia in March 2016.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: Bob Baer
A camera and solar filter for photographing an eclipse

It's important to use a solar filter when photographing a solar eclipse to prevent damage to your camera. It's also essential to have a filter in place so that you do not damage your eye by viewing the eclipse through the camera lens.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: iStock/ruksil
Schoolchildren in Spain wearing solar eclipse protective glasses

Schoolchildren in Barcelona, Spain are seen here wearing protective solar eclipse glasses at Barceloneta beach during the 2015 eclipse.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: iStock/Rosmi Duaso
Map of totality for 2017 solar eclipse

A map of the US showing the path of totality for the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA
1918 solar eclipse map

The last time a total solar eclipse spanned the continental US was in 1918. Here is a map of the 1918 total solar eclipse, from the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac for the Year 1918.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA
1979 solar eclipse map

The last total solar eclipse in the continental US was in 1979; totality was visible in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, as well as parts of Canada and Greenland. This 1979 map shows the solar eclipse path.
SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA
NASA's solar eclipse patch

NASA created a solar eclipse patch for the 2017 event.
Also see
- Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)
- Watch the solar eclipse of the century: When, where, and how (TechRepublic)
- How to take the best photos of a solar eclipse: Tips from the pros (TechRepublic)
- How to take video of a solar eclipse: Advice from the experts (TechRepublic)
- Video: How to be safe while viewing the 2017 solar eclipse (TechRepublic)
- Solar eclipse 101: This is why the sun disappears (CNET)
- How the total solar eclipse will steal your heart (CNET)
- NASA's unsung heroes: The Apollo coders who put men on the moon (PDF) (TechRepublic)
Image: NASA

Two WB-57 jets and a solar eclipse

The solar eclipse on August 21 will cross 14 states and will give millions of people a chance to see a once in a lifetime astronomical event. NASA will send up two WB-57 jets to photograph the eclipse so that a team of scientists can use the data for future research.

This illustration shows two NASA WB-57 jets flying during a solar eclipse.

SEE: Two NASA jets will chase the solar eclipse for never-before-seen images and massive data collection (TechRepublic)

Image: NASA/Bardur Eklund

By Teena Maddox

Teena Maddox is Associate Managing Editor at TechRepublic. She oversees TechRepublic's news team and TechRepublic Premium. She focuses on tech and business and how the two worlds intersect. Teena's lifelong journalism career has included writing on s...

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