Adrianna Nine
2024-03-25 10:45:00
www.extremetech.com
What the total solar eclipse should look like from Dallas, TX on April 8.
Credit: Predictive Science
A total solar eclipse is always worth seeking out, but next month’s could be magnificent. A company specializing in scientific computer models shared Friday that the magnetic field on the Sun’s surface could produce an exceptionally dazzling halo around the Moon’s silhouette, creating a rare, starburst-like effect for those in the path of totality.
Predictive Science used data related to the Sun’s photospheric (surface) magnetic field to model its appearance on April 8. As spacecraft like the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter and NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) orbit, their instruments—like SDO’s helioseismic and magnetic imager (HMI)—measure the strength and direction of magnetic fields on the Sun’s surface. This data informs models like Predictive Science’s magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model, which parses the dynamics of charged fluids among electromagnetic fields. Dynamics like these manifest as coronal activity.
To say the Sun is always fiercely energetic would be an understatement. But thanks to the way its magnetic poles flip every 11 years or so, our solar system’s favorite star is currently undergoing a period of peak activity, leading to a handful of jaw-dropping flares and solar prominences over just the last few months. This hyperactive period is expected to have some wacky consequences for next month’s eclipse, during which the Sun’s corona will be the star—no pun intended—of the show.
The Sun’s magnetic field during the April 8 eclipse as predicted by an MHD model on March 19, 2024.
Credit: Predictive Science
Predictive Science shared via X that the corona seen during totality will likely feature stunning prominences. Its model also predicts a few looping features just outside the edge of the Moon’s silhouette. The resulting starburst-like corona is vastly different from what’s typically seen during totality: a soft halo that diffuses relatively evenly from the Moon’s edge.
“By tracing magnetic field lines at extremely high resolution, we can calculate a 3D map of the so-called squashing factor: a scientific measure designed to indicate the presence of complex structuring in the magnetic field,” the Predictive Science eclipse web page reads. “We then integrate the map along the line-of-sight, with special weightings to create a composite that resembles solar eclipse images. This is intended to highlight the inherent complexity of the Sun’s magnetic field and its intimate connection to visible emission from the solar corona.”
Because the company’s MHD model runs continuously in near real time, these estimations might evolve in the coming weeks. Whether you live in the path of totality or are making a special trip to get there, it could be worth watching for fluctuations so you can adjust your expectations accordingly.