On August 12, a total solar eclipse visible across northern Spain will provide scientists with a unique opportunity to investigate the Sun’s dynamic atmosphere and magnetic activity.

During the eclipse, the Moon will completely obscure the Sun for about one minute and 40 seconds, allowing researchers to observe the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, which is usually hidden by the Sun’s bright surface.

Probing the Sun’s Corona and Solar Activity

Astrophysicists aim to deepen understanding of the physical processes driving solar activity, including the generation of solar storms that can disrupt satellites and affect Earth’s magnetic environment.

"Our goal is to place the Sun’s behavior within its evolutionary timeline, from birth to eventual demise," explained Allan Sacha Brun of France’s Atomic Energy Commission.

The Sun emits charged particles and plasma, occasionally producing powerful storms that peak every 11 years. The last peak occurred in 2024 during the Sun’s 25th cycle.

Unique Viewing Conditions

The eclipse provides a rare chance to study the corona’s structure and temperature, which can reach up to two million degrees Celsius, far hotter than the Sun’s visible surface.

While satellites use coronagraphs to block out the Sun’s bright disk, total eclipses also reveal the chromosphere, the atmospheric layer between the photosphere and corona, offering additional scientific insights.

European Space Agency’s Ongoing Research

The European Space Agency (ESA) will leverage the event to refine models of solar winds and storm propagation.

  • Carole Mundell, ESA’s director of science, highlighted the importance of understanding solar storm structures and improving predictive capabilities.
  • ESA’s Solar Orbiter probe, launched in 2020, continues to collect valuable data on the Sun’s atmosphere.
  • Other missions like Proba-3 simulate mini-eclipses using synchronized spacecraft formations, while upcoming projects aim to extend eclipse observations from space.

Solar physicist Lucie Green from University College London described total eclipses as inspiring both scientists and artists, fueling advances in space science research.