by Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, register for free here.
Here comes the sun, as the Beatles famously sang.
On Monday, a total solar eclipse will hit the skies over Mexico, the United States and Canada as the moon obscures the face of the sun from view, instantly turning day into night.
Millions of people will be on the road to witness the celestial phenomenon. As the eclipse creates a syzygy, or three-body alignment in space, it will unite viewers in moments of wonder.
Fullness, when the sunlight is briefly softened, plays on the emotions. You know it’s coming, but the sudden change is still so unexpected – and it’s something I’m personally looking forward to experiencing first-hand as I report from my vantage point within the path
So, grab your eclipse glasses, sample eclipse-themed treats and cue up a star-themed playlist (“Total Eclipse of the Heart,” anyone?). Soon it will be time for a little cosmic wonder.
Defying gravity
High-altitude aircraft will fly within the path of Monday’s eclipse to solve some of the biggest unsolved mysteries about the sun.
Three sounding rockets are set to take off from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia before, during and after the eclipse to measure the sun’s influence on Earth’s upper atmosphere, known as the ionosphere.
Meanwhile, NASA is equipping its WB-57 aircraft with scientific instruments as they fly 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) above Earth’s surface to get a clear view of the sun’s outer atmosphere. Known as the corona, it is millions of degrees hotter than the surface of the sun, but scientists do not know why.
The faint corona will be visible during the eclipse when sunlight is blocked, allowing researchers a detailed look at its mysterious glowing structures.
Inquiries
Packing for eclipse travel or trying to decide what to wear on Monday? A nifty optical phenomenon that occurs during the celestial event may turn you more toward red and green.
More than two hundred years ago, physiologist Jan Evangelista Purkyně noticed how different red flowers appear on sunny days versus nights. The Purkinje effect explains why some colors appear differently depending on the lighting.
For example, in low light, bright reds appear dark or almost black, while blues and greens increase in vibrancy. And this effect is evident because of the rapid contrast of the eclipse.
Send us your eclipse stories and photos!
Are you watching the eclipse from the path of totality? Have you traveled far and gathered with family and friends to witness the event? Or is your hometown on the path that is a one-off show for many people? Everyone has their own eclipse story to tell, and we want to hear yours! Send images* and some details about your eclipse experience to sciencenewsletter@cnn.com , and it may end up in CNN’s ongoing coverage of Eclipse Across America. Share your full name and pronouns for credit and caption information.
A force of nature
With the eclipse approaching, many people are scrambling to make or change their plans – and the weather plays a big role by throwing out some unexpected curve balls.
Advance planning is key, but many have made travel reservations and booked flights to areas within the path of totality based on historical data about spring weather patterns.
Now, Mother Nature is doing a bit of a flip-flop, and the areas with cloud cover and bad weather are clearly visible, while the opposite is true in other parts of the country.
However, not all clouds will stick around on the big day. Shallow cumulus clouds largely dissipate even when only part of the sunlight is blocked, and new research has shown why they don’t reform until after the eclipse is over.
The surprise
Eclipse mania may seem commonplace, but these celestial events can be a more spiritual and meditative experience for some people, depending on religion or culture.
Hindus consider an eclipse to be a bad omen, while many Muslims view the phenomenon as a time for prayer and spiritual reflection.
Meanwhile, some Christians have interpreted the temporary darkening of the sky as a sign that the “end times” are approaching.
And Navajos view an eclipse with solemnity, marking it as a time to show reverence and respect to the sun and the Earth.
Explorations
When Columbia took off on its maiden flight in 1981, it launched NASA’s space shuttle program and ushered in a new era of exploration.
But nearly 22 years later, the aging shuttle’s 28th flight ended in disaster when it disintegrated over east Texas, killing all seven crew members.
The tragedy heralded the end of the shuttle program. How did a revolutionary idea go so wrong?
Explore new details that explain what ultimately led to disaster in the four-part CNN Original Series, “Space Shuttle Columbia: The Final Flight,” airing Sunday at 9 pm ET/PT.
Discoveries
Check out these fun reads before turning your focus to the eclipse:
– Scientists discovered dozens of new species, including a stranded pink Barbie whale, during a deep-sea expedition 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
— The endangered Indochinese leopard and the flat-headed cat are two of the wild falcons that roam tropical Malaysia. A new series of photographs contains a rare glimpse of some of the lesser-known species.
— A sunlit Asian elephant, sparring polar bears and blue breasts are among the images in a fine art photography sale inspired by the legacy of leading scientist Jane Goodall, who turned 90 on Wednesday.
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