WEBVTT 00:02.401 --> 00:05.489 - So we're gonna show you what happens to create totality, 00:05.489 --> 00:07.889 to create this darkness in the middle of the day on 00:07.889 --> 00:11.323 the Earth's surface, as the result of a total solar eclipse. 00:11.323 --> 00:14.129 So basically I have a fictitious sun behind me 00:14.129 --> 00:17.056 which is the light source, pretending that it's the sun 00:17.056 --> 00:18.973 and we have the Earth and we have the moon. 00:18.973 --> 00:23.140 So the moon actually travels in front of the Earth, 00:24.209 --> 00:26.547 covering the sun, and that's what 00:26.547 --> 00:28.205 causes the total solar eclipse. 00:28.205 --> 00:29.422 Did you see that shadow? 00:29.422 --> 00:31.255 - I did. - There it is. 00:31.399 --> 00:34.070 And basically that shadow creates what is called 00:34.070 --> 00:37.502 a path of totality, which would be a strip of darkness. 00:37.502 --> 00:40.269 This is not exactly to scale, but it is 00:40.269 --> 00:42.047 helpful to see and it's very simple. 00:42.047 --> 00:43.641 The shadow of the moon is cast 00:43.641 --> 00:46.141 upon the surface of the Earth. 00:48.700 --> 00:51.964 The moon is indeed much smaller than the sun. 00:51.964 --> 00:54.955 400 of these little moons will actually 00:54.955 --> 00:57.083 cover the diameter of the sun, 00:57.083 --> 01:00.750 but the moon is also 400 times closer to us, 01:01.353 --> 01:03.593 and that is what creates the total solar eclipse, 01:03.593 --> 01:06.555 which is an amazing cosmic coincidence. 01:06.555 --> 01:08.483 So to illustrate what I'm talking about, 01:08.483 --> 01:10.044 I'm going to use my thumb, which is 01:10.044 --> 01:13.484 much smaller than your head, to try and cover it. 01:13.484 --> 01:17.071 So if I try to cover it here and close one eye, 01:17.071 --> 01:19.672 you're still very visible but if I bring my thumb 01:19.672 --> 01:22.339 very close to my eye, eventually 01:22.463 --> 01:25.221 your entire face is actually covered, 01:25.221 --> 01:28.057 and that is what's happening and you can try this at home. 01:28.057 --> 01:30.521 Do that with different objects and different distances, 01:30.521 --> 01:32.573 using your thumb and closing one eye 01:32.573 --> 01:35.131 and you'll be able to understand why the moon, 01:35.131 --> 01:38.381 which is 400 times smaller than the sun 01:38.707 --> 01:41.207 but is 400 times closer to us, 01:41.533 --> 01:44.200 can actually cause the sun to be 01:44.460 --> 01:48.210 completely obscured in a total solar eclipse. 01:49.222 --> 01:51.324 - If the moon goes around the Earth once a month, 01:51.324 --> 01:53.953 how come we don't have an eclipse once a month? 01:53.953 --> 01:55.583 - The orbit of the moon around the Earth 01:55.583 --> 01:58.267 is actually slanted, so most of the time 01:58.267 --> 01:59.795 the moon will actually travel 01:59.795 --> 02:03.628 above the plane of the Earth and the sun line, 02:04.294 --> 02:07.363 or below the plane of the Earth-sun line 02:07.363 --> 02:09.446 and not cause an eclipse. 02:15.128 --> 02:18.420 We are not going to have a total solar eclipse forever, 02:18.420 --> 02:20.311 and that is because the moon is actually 02:20.311 --> 02:23.279 receding from the Earth, the distance 02:23.279 --> 02:26.054 is actually increasing due to tidal forces 02:26.054 --> 02:29.284 and so of course, as the moon recedes from the Earth 02:29.284 --> 02:31.147 it covers a little bit less and less 02:31.147 --> 02:33.374 of the solar disk during an eclipse, 02:33.374 --> 02:36.791 but this will happen in 500 million years 02:36.959 --> 02:38.131 so we still have time to go out there 02:38.131 --> 02:41.040 and catch the beautiful total solar eclipse. 02:41.040 --> 02:43.790 (dramatic music) 03:01.229 --> 03:05.396 - [George Takei] As the darkness slowly encroaches, 03:05.397 --> 03:08.564 do not fear, the sun will shine again. 03:13.080 --> 03:16.163 On August 21st, a total solar eclipse 03:16.916 --> 03:21.083 will cross the United States from Oregon to South Carolina 03:22.016 --> 03:26.183 and for a couple of minutes, day will turn into night. 03:32.721 --> 03:36.221 Enjoy the show, but don't look at the sun. 03:36.329 --> 03:38.778 The only safe time to view an eclipse 03:38.778 --> 03:41.338 ^is if you're in the path of totality 03:41.338 --> 03:44.255 ^and during the minutes of totality. 03:44.336 --> 03:48.419 ^Otherwise, you'll need certified eclipse glasses. 03:48.628 --> 03:52.795 ^To learn more, go to eclipse2017.nasa.gov and NASA TV. 03:59.967 --> 04:01.155 - [Announcer] Watch NASA Television's 04:01.155 --> 04:03.244 pre-show coverage at 12 PM 04:03.244 --> 04:05.967 and the entire total solar eclipse coverage 04:05.967 --> 04:08.913 through the eyes of NASA at 1 PM Eastern, 04:08.913 --> 04:10.913 only on NASA Television. 04:13.350 --> 04:17.267 - [Woman] On August 21st, 2017, a solar eclipse 04:17.497 --> 04:20.497 will pass over all 50 United States. 04:20.993 --> 04:23.787 This will afford most of the country a glimpse 04:23.787 --> 04:25.490 of what it's like to have the moon 04:25.490 --> 04:27.613 slide between the sun and the Earth, 04:27.613 --> 04:30.280 casting shadow on us down below. 04:32.292 --> 04:33.913 The experience will look different 04:33.913 --> 04:36.231 depending on where you are located. 04:36.231 --> 04:38.380 If you are along the path of totality, 04:38.380 --> 04:41.243 you see the moon fully block the sun. 04:41.243 --> 04:44.373 If you are outside of the path, you will see the moon go by 04:44.373 --> 04:47.706 but the sun will never be fully covered. 04:48.024 --> 04:50.482 Wherever you are, you never want to look 04:50.482 --> 04:53.515 directly at the sun without protection 04:53.515 --> 04:56.598 like eclipse glasses, not sunglasses. 04:57.225 --> 05:01.392 The one exception is if you are able to see totality. 05:01.605 --> 05:04.644 Only when the moon has fully blocked the sun, 05:04.644 --> 05:07.634 you are safe to look at the eclipse directly. 05:07.634 --> 05:11.801 Before and after that moment, keep your eyes protected. 05:12.994 --> 05:15.161 Events like this are rare. 05:15.293 --> 05:19.460 The last total solar eclipse to cross the US coast to coast 05:19.906 --> 05:23.656 was in 1918, and the next total solar eclipse 05:24.553 --> 05:27.970 in the continental U.S. isn't until 2024. 05:29.738 --> 05:33.905 Don't miss this opportunity to experience a solar eclipse. 05:48.089 --> 05:50.839 (dramatic music) 05:56.785 --> 05:58.868 - Space Place, in a snap! 06:00.902 --> 06:03.652 Whoa, it's the middle of the day! 06:03.747 --> 06:06.330 So why is the sky getting dark? 06:06.430 --> 06:08.180 It's a solar eclipse. 06:10.746 --> 06:14.913 The solar eclipse happens when, at just the right moment, 06:14.925 --> 06:18.425 the moon passes between the sun and Earth. 06:19.947 --> 06:24.114 Sometimes the moon only blocks part of the sun's light, 06:24.198 --> 06:27.448 this is called a partial solar eclipse. 06:27.934 --> 06:32.091 Other times, the moon blocks all of the sun's light. 06:32.091 --> 06:35.174 This is called a total solar eclipse. 06:35.913 --> 06:37.947 As the moon blocks the sun's light, 06:37.947 --> 06:40.999 it casts a shadow on part of the Earth. 06:40.999 --> 06:45.166 The moon's shadow creates a trail as the Earth rotates. 06:45.362 --> 06:48.862 This trail is called the path of totality. 06:48.991 --> 06:52.741 If you want to experience total darkness during an eclipse, 06:52.741 --> 06:55.991 you have to be in the path of totality. 06:56.944 --> 06:59.676 In that path, the moon completely blocks 06:59.676 --> 07:02.365 the sun's light for a few minutes. 07:02.365 --> 07:04.214 It gets so dark that it looks like 07:04.214 --> 07:06.631 nighttime during a full moon. 07:07.531 --> 07:10.977 If you don't know what's happening, it can be confusing. 07:10.977 --> 07:13.394 Animals can get confused too. 07:13.430 --> 07:16.413 But this total darkness can also be kind of cool 07:16.413 --> 07:19.587 for scientists who study the sun's atmosphere, 07:19.587 --> 07:21.087 called the corona. 07:21.198 --> 07:23.281 The corona is very dense. 07:23.521 --> 07:25.753 It's usually hard to see because the sun 07:25.753 --> 07:28.920 is so much brighter, but when the moon 07:29.395 --> 07:32.046 blocks the sun's light during an eclipse, 07:32.046 --> 07:35.531 all you can see is the light from the corona. 07:35.531 --> 07:38.448 Total solar eclipses over the land, 07:38.624 --> 07:42.141 where people can see them, don't happen very often 07:42.141 --> 07:45.608 but when they do happen, the moon gives scientists 07:45.608 --> 07:48.641 and the rest of us a glimpse at the corona's 07:48.641 --> 07:51.141 beautiful strings and ribbons. 07:51.713 --> 07:52.796 Thanks, moon. 07:56.211 --> 08:00.211 Find out more about the sun at NASA Space Place. 08:02.885 --> 08:04.127 - [Announcer] Watch NASA Television's 08:04.127 --> 08:05.968 pre-show coverage at 12 PM, 08:05.968 --> 08:08.953 and the entire total solar eclipse coverage 08:08.953 --> 08:11.880 through the eyes of NASA at 1 PM Eastern 08:11.880 --> 08:13.880 only on NASA Television. 08:14.657 --> 08:17.740 ^(instrumental music) 09:29.155 --> 09:31.322 (beeping) 09:34.552 --> 09:37.860 Watch NASA Television's pre-show coverage at 12 PM, 09:37.860 --> 09:40.480 and the entire total solar eclipse coverage 09:40.480 --> 09:43.484 through the eyes of NASA at 1 PM Eastern 09:43.484 --> 09:45.484 only on NASA Television. 09:46.119 --> 09:48.619 (organ music) 09:52.159 --> 09:53.500 - Hi, I'm Noah Petro from NASA's 09:53.500 --> 09:54.984 Goddard Space Flight Center. 09:54.984 --> 09:56.387 The eclipse has just passed over us 09:56.387 --> 09:57.582 here at Volcanoes Stadium, 09:57.582 --> 10:00.932 you all in Charleston have a great show coming your way. 10:00.932 --> 10:03.296 Now because we've got NASA at both stadiums today, 10:03.296 --> 10:05.144 we wanted to connect the two events, 10:05.144 --> 10:08.012 creating a trans-continental eclipse double-header. 10:08.012 --> 10:10.327 Now I know Paul Hertz is there today, 10:10.327 --> 10:12.120 Paul's the Division Director of Astrophysics 10:12.120 --> 10:14.289 at NASA Headquarters, and Paul, 10:14.289 --> 10:17.539 we've got a ball here to send your way. 10:18.812 --> 10:21.452 Now Paul, I'm gonna throw it as hard as I can. 10:21.452 --> 10:23.452 I hope you can catch it. 10:24.482 --> 10:28.649 (organ playing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame") 10:34.658 --> 10:36.908 (cheering) 10:37.495 --> 10:39.504 - Great throw, Noah. Nut I don't think 10:39.504 --> 10:41.873 either one of us is ready for the majors. 10:41.873 --> 10:44.319 I'm here at Charleston RiverDogs Stadium 10:44.319 --> 10:46.816 and we're looking forward to a beautiful eclipse 10:46.816 --> 10:48.862 and an exciting ball game. 10:48.862 --> 10:51.648 And I hope everyone at Volcanoes Stadium enjoyed the eclipse 10:51.648 --> 10:54.466 and enjoys the rest of your ball game. 10:54.466 --> 10:58.070 Today is a great day for America, for baseball, 10:58.070 --> 11:02.237 for NASA and for anyone who enjoys a great American eclipse. 11:02.335 --> 11:03.168 Thank you. 11:17.401 --> 11:20.151 (dramatic music) 11:27.048 --> 11:30.881 (cheerful instrumental music) 12:07.960 --> 12:10.127 (beeping) 12:13.238 --> 12:14.407 Announcer] Watch NASA Television's 12:14.407 --> 12:16.532 pre-show coverage at 12 PM, 12:16.532 --> 12:19.236 and the entire total solar eclipse coverage 12:19.236 --> 12:22.220 through the eyes of NASA at 1 PM Eastern 12:22.220 --> 12:24.220 only on NASA Television. 12:29.363 --> 12:30.305 ^- [Ernie] What we're talking about 12:30.305 --> 12:33.388 ^is several visualizations of the path 12:33.542 --> 12:37.514 ^of the moon's shadow during the eclipse in 2017. 12:37.514 --> 12:39.357 Everything in it is driven by the data, 12:39.357 --> 12:41.427 so the color of the ground, 12:41.427 --> 12:43.965 the position of the path of totality, 12:43.965 --> 12:46.181 the lighting from the sun, the sun angle, 12:46.181 --> 12:49.043 all of those are things that are based on data. 12:49.043 --> 12:50.971 A lot of NASA products were used 12:50.971 --> 12:52.650 to create this visualiZation. 12:52.650 --> 12:55.219 I used the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, 12:55.219 --> 12:58.916 the laser altimetry data from that, which gives us 12:58.916 --> 13:01.319 a digital map of the elevations on the moon. 13:01.319 --> 13:03.883 For the Earth, I used something called SRTM, 13:03.883 --> 13:06.630 this is a radar that was flown on the space shuttle. 13:06.630 --> 13:09.632 For the positions of the Earth's moon and the sun, 13:09.632 --> 13:13.299 I used a JPL ephemeris, an ephemeris is just 13:13.468 --> 13:17.385 a list of positions, but it's the most accurate 13:17.707 --> 13:19.571 tabulation of those positions. 13:19.571 --> 13:21.446 This visualization is unique because it shows 13:21.446 --> 13:25.613 the effect of both the irregular edge of the moon, 13:25.966 --> 13:27.484 the limb of the moon, we call it, 13:27.484 --> 13:29.302 and the elevation of the observer. 13:29.302 --> 13:32.589 We've known for a long time that the elevation 13:32.589 --> 13:35.447 of the observer affects where the shadow is. 13:35.447 --> 13:38.398 We've also known that the mountains and valleys 13:38.398 --> 13:42.135 along the edge of the moon affect the shadow. 13:42.135 --> 13:44.576 So you may have seen on eclipse maps in the past 13:44.576 --> 13:46.909 that the image of the umbra, 13:47.442 --> 13:49.819 that shape of the shadow on the Earth, is drawn as 13:49.819 --> 13:52.979 a smooth oval, but we know that the moon isn't smooth. 13:52.979 --> 13:54.813 Around the edge of the moon, we have 13:54.813 --> 13:57.253 these sort of jagged peaks and valleys. 13:57.253 --> 14:00.026 And the peaks can block the sun a little bit earlier 14:00.026 --> 14:02.330 than we thought, and the valleys can let the sun in 14:02.330 --> 14:04.756 a few seconds longer than we thought. 14:04.756 --> 14:07.041 The combined effect of these peaks and valleys 14:07.041 --> 14:10.416 is to create a shape that's not really an oval, 14:10.416 --> 14:13.524 it's more like a polygon, but it hasn't actually been seen 14:13.524 --> 14:17.357 in exactly this way before, where we calculate 14:18.279 --> 14:20.807 those circumstances for every point on the map 14:20.807 --> 14:22.474 and draw that shape. 14:22.675 --> 14:26.445 Totality is that two minutes, or two and a half minutes 14:26.445 --> 14:29.445 when the moon completely covers the sun. 14:29.445 --> 14:32.571 The sudden darkness of totality is just something that 14:32.571 --> 14:35.790 a lot of people can't compare to anything else. 14:35.790 --> 14:38.394 I love the idea that I'm giving this kind of map 14:38.394 --> 14:41.358 to other people, and especially that it's 14:41.358 --> 14:43.235 more detailed and more accurate, 14:43.235 --> 14:47.402 so that people are actually in the right place to see it. 14:53.952 --> 14:56.119 (beeping) 14:58.797 --> 15:00.370 Announcer] Watch NASA Television's 15:00.370 --> 15:01.972 pre-show coverage at 12 PM, 15:01.972 --> 15:04.889 and the entire total solar eclipse coverage 15:04.889 --> 15:07.885 through the eyes of NASA at 1 PM Eastern 15:07.885 --> 15:09.885 only on NASA Television. 15:11.707 --> 15:13.910 - [Woman] Looking back at Earth from a million miles away, 15:13.910 --> 15:15.882 the Deep Space Climate Observatory 15:15.882 --> 15:19.012 will watch the August total solar eclipse in real time, 15:19.012 --> 15:21.222 giving scientists a unique opportunity 15:21.222 --> 15:24.055 to study our solar-powered planet. 15:24.587 --> 15:28.280 NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera, called EPIC, 15:28.280 --> 15:32.447 will capture images of the moon's shadow passing over Earth. 15:32.480 --> 15:34.932 Our team of scientists will combine data from EPIC 15:34.932 --> 15:36.810 with measurements taken on the ground 15:36.810 --> 15:38.779 to learn more about how the sun's energy 15:38.779 --> 15:42.585 is absorbed and reflected in Earth's atmosphere. 15:42.585 --> 15:46.019 Clouds affect how much of the sun's energy reaches Earth, 15:46.019 --> 15:48.315 which can be difficult to calculate without knowing 15:48.315 --> 15:52.049 how each cloud blocks, absorbs or transmits light. 15:52.049 --> 15:54.970 Like a giant cloud, the moon blocks out 15:54.970 --> 15:57.428 the sun's energy during the solar eclipse. 15:57.428 --> 15:59.100 Because we already know the exact shape 15:59.100 --> 16:01.471 and make-up of the moon, scientists can use 16:01.471 --> 16:04.262 a natural phenomenon to develop new calculations 16:04.262 --> 16:08.007 that could improve estimates of Earth's energy systems 16:08.007 --> 16:11.401 and answer questions about Earth's climate. 16:11.401 --> 16:13.772 NASA has studied the sun and Earth relationship 16:13.772 --> 16:15.689 for more than 40 years. 16:15.758 --> 16:18.074 This year, NASA's launching two instruments 16:18.074 --> 16:21.288 to further study Earth's energy systems. 16:21.288 --> 16:23.455 (beeping) 16:24.552 --> 16:27.302 (dramatic music) 16:34.716 --> 16:37.058 - [Woman] Studying total solar eclipses has revealed 16:37.058 --> 16:40.623 some of the most fundamental discoveries in science today. 16:40.623 --> 16:43.413 During these celestial events, scientists discovered 16:43.413 --> 16:46.278 the sun's structure, the first proof of Einstein's 16:46.278 --> 16:49.675 theory of general relativity, and the element helium, 16:49.675 --> 16:52.181 30 years before it was found on Earth. 16:52.181 --> 16:55.170 They also discovered huge solar explosions 16:55.170 --> 16:57.432 ^called coronal mass ejections, 16:57.432 --> 16:59.377 ^eruptions on the sun that continue to be 16:59.377 --> 17:02.303 ^an important component of NASA's research. 17:02.303 --> 17:06.208 Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are giant eruptions 17:06.208 --> 17:08.468 made up of hot gas and plasma. 17:08.468 --> 17:11.483 From the sun's surface, they propel immense clouds 17:11.483 --> 17:15.146 of solar material into space, speeding at up to 17:15.146 --> 17:17.153 a million miles per hour, and carrying 17:17.153 --> 17:20.919 enough energy to power the world for 10,000 years. 17:20.919 --> 17:23.269 Sometimes they're directed towards Earth, 17:23.269 --> 17:25.649 when they can affect our planet's space environment, 17:25.649 --> 17:27.482 causing space weather. 17:27.529 --> 17:30.127 Scientists track and study CMEs because they can trigger 17:30.127 --> 17:32.934 global changes in Earth's magnetic field. 17:32.934 --> 17:35.718 When intense, these can create magnetic storms 17:35.718 --> 17:38.547 that can cause aurora, but can also affect 17:38.547 --> 17:42.486 satellite electronics and power grids on the ground. 17:42.486 --> 17:45.294 Scientists discovered these eruptions in the 1970s 17:45.294 --> 17:47.871 during the beginning of the modern satellite era, 17:47.871 --> 17:50.682 a time when satellites in space were able to capture 17:50.682 --> 17:52.873 thousands of images of solar activity 17:52.873 --> 17:55.167 that had never been seen before. 17:55.167 --> 17:59.157 But in hindsight, these might not have been the first time 17:59.157 --> 18:01.877 scientists had noticed these solar features. 18:01.877 --> 18:04.690 Soon after they discovered CMEs, scientists came across 18:04.690 --> 18:08.023 reports of a total solar eclipse in 1860 18:08.281 --> 18:11.453 that looked very similar to their satellite images. 18:11.453 --> 18:14.395 On July 18th, 1860, the shadow of the moon 18:14.395 --> 18:18.018 traveled over north America, Spain and North Africa 18:18.018 --> 18:19.807 before departing Earth. 18:19.807 --> 18:23.316 Much of the path of totality traveled over populated lands, 18:23.316 --> 18:26.009 resulting in a wealth of observations. 18:26.009 --> 18:28.910 Back then, astronomical photography was still new, 18:28.910 --> 18:32.279 and many scientists recorded their observations by hand. 18:32.279 --> 18:35.496 The drawing show the large white fingers of the corona, 18:35.496 --> 18:38.815 and also, a distinctive arc-like feature. 18:38.815 --> 18:41.408 With multiple images drawn from different locations 18:41.408 --> 18:44.784 across Europe, it appears to evolve over time, 18:44.784 --> 18:47.135 but not all the images showed this. 18:47.135 --> 18:50.311 About two-thirds of people saw the tulip head-like shape 18:50.311 --> 18:52.908 but one-third didn't see anything at all, 18:52.908 --> 18:55.802 ^including renowned scientist Angelo Sacchi. 18:55.802 --> 18:57.816 ^It wasn't until over 100 years later, 18:57.816 --> 19:00.965 with regular satellite imagery that scientists re-opened 19:00.965 --> 19:04.334 the debate about what was seen in the 1860 eclipse. 19:04.334 --> 19:06.722 The strong resemblance shows that this eclipse 19:06.722 --> 19:09.472 may be the first record of a CME. 19:09.589 --> 19:11.149 While satellites and the space age 19:11.149 --> 19:13.801 exploded the field of CME research 19:13.801 --> 19:17.222 Total solar eclipses seen from the ground still provide 19:17.222 --> 19:20.394 unique views of the sun's atmosphere that helps 19:20.394 --> 19:23.594 our understanding of what causes these explosions. 19:23.594 --> 19:26.296 Current instruments in space studying the corona 19:26.296 --> 19:30.081 need to block the sun's bright body with an occulting disk. 19:30.081 --> 19:31.800 The disk covers up the sun and 19:31.800 --> 19:33.876 a portion of the lower corona, 19:33.876 --> 19:35.731 an important region that scientists believe 19:35.731 --> 19:38.359 is responsible for accelerating CMEs 19:38.359 --> 19:40.187 and forming solar winds. 19:40.187 --> 19:42.708 So when eclipses happen to fall on land, 19:42.708 --> 19:45.466 scientists take advantage of these rare events. 19:45.466 --> 19:48.060 With each new total eclipse, there's the chance 19:48.060 --> 19:50.773 for new information and new research, 19:50.773 --> 19:52.325 and the chance to reveal something 19:52.325 --> 19:55.075 as astronomical as the first CME. 20:03.599 --> 20:06.349 (dramatic music) 20:13.590 --> 20:16.007 ^(fast music) 21:39.971 --> 21:44.054 - [Woman] August 2017, a big month for astronomy. 21:45.381 --> 21:47.798 Presented by Science at NASA. 21:49.797 --> 21:51.726 Sky watchers in the United States 21:51.726 --> 21:54.158 have been waiting for this date for years. 21:54.158 --> 21:57.575 On August 21st, 2017, there's going to be 21:57.663 --> 21:59.913 a total eclipse of the sun. 22:00.380 --> 22:01.864 With the path of totality stretching 22:01.864 --> 22:04.206 from Oregon to South Carolina, 22:04.206 --> 22:07.145 people can see the eclipse from coast to coast. 22:07.145 --> 22:10.106 The timing of the eclipse will provide the opportunity 22:10.106 --> 22:12.149 for viewers to see one of the biggest 22:12.149 --> 22:14.904 astronomical events of the century, 22:14.904 --> 22:16.668 just a few weeks after enjoying 22:16.668 --> 22:20.202 one of the biggest meteor showers of the year. 22:20.202 --> 22:23.187 Every August, Earth passes through a stream of debris 22:23.187 --> 22:25.281 from Comet Swift-Tuttle, source of 22:25.281 --> 22:27.949 the annual Perseid meteor shower. 22:27.949 --> 22:29.473 This year, the shower will peak 22:29.473 --> 22:33.140 on the nights of August 11th, 12th and 13th. 22:33.271 --> 22:36.599 Although the comet is far away, currently located 22:36.599 --> 22:39.976 beyond the orbit of Uranus, a trail of debris from the comet 22:39.976 --> 22:42.780 stretches all the way around its orbit 22:42.780 --> 22:45.863 back to where it nears Earth's orbit. 22:46.504 --> 22:49.091 As our planet crosses the debris zone, 22:49.091 --> 22:51.238 the upper atmosphere will be pelted 22:51.238 --> 22:55.405 by specks of comet dust traveling 132,000 miles per hour. 22:56.951 --> 23:00.585 At that speed, even a flimsy speck of dust makes a vivid 23:00.585 --> 23:04.585 streak of light when it disintegrates, a meteor. 23:05.150 --> 23:07.035 Because Swift-Tuttle's meteors streak out of 23:07.035 --> 23:11.202 the constellation Perseus, they're called Perseids. 23:11.965 --> 23:16.066 ^Astronomer Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office 23:16.066 --> 23:18.399 ^offers these observing tips. 23:19.462 --> 23:22.731 If it's not cloudy, get away from the bright lights, 23:22.731 --> 23:25.123 lay on your back and look up. 23:25.123 --> 23:28.308 Remember to let your eyes get adjusted to the dark. 23:28.308 --> 23:32.475 It takes about 30 minutes, you'll see more meteors that way. 23:33.274 --> 23:35.962 You don't need to look in any particular direction, 23:35.962 --> 23:39.879 meteors can generally be seen all over the sky. 23:39.989 --> 23:41.857 Not all the meteors you'll see 23:41.857 --> 23:44.233 belong to the Perseid meteor shower. 23:44.233 --> 23:47.039 Some are sporadic background meteors, 23:47.039 --> 23:50.615 others are weaker showers, also active in August 23:50.615 --> 23:53.313 including the Alpha Capricornids, 23:53.313 --> 23:57.146 Southern Delta Aquarids, and the Kappa Cygnids 23:58.134 --> 24:01.384 but the vast majority will be Perseids. 24:01.916 --> 24:05.633 Cooke says if you see a meteor, try to trace it backwards. 24:05.633 --> 24:08.020 If you end up in the constellation Perseus, 24:08.020 --> 24:11.487 there's a good chance you've seen a Perseid. 24:11.487 --> 24:14.989 Under ideally dark skies, observers can often see 24:14.989 --> 24:18.624 dozens or even more than 100 Perseids per hour 24:18.624 --> 24:20.457 when the shower peaks. 24:20.707 --> 24:24.253 This year the glaring light of a bright waning gibbous moon 24:24.253 --> 24:28.420 will interfere, reducing the number of visible meteors. 24:29.639 --> 24:30.906 Now for the good thing. 24:30.906 --> 24:33.518 That same moon is heading toward the sun, 24:33.518 --> 24:36.604 narrowing as it goes until the thinning crecent 24:36.604 --> 24:39.064 disappears into a black disk that will 24:39.064 --> 24:42.314 perfectly cover the sun on August 21st. 24:43.038 --> 24:47.001 A meteor shower followed by a total solar eclipse. 24:47.001 --> 24:50.334 August doesn't get much better than that. 24:50.334 --> 24:52.553 For more news about backyard astronomy, 24:52.553 --> 24:55.136 stay tuned to science.nasa.gov. 24:57.896 --> 24:58.988 [Announcer] Watch NASA Television's 24:58.988 --> 25:01.238 pre-show coverage at 12 PM, 25:01.563 --> 25:03.945 and the entire total solar eclipse coverage 25:03.945 --> 25:06.790 through the eyes of NASA at 1 PM Eastern 25:06.790 --> 25:08.790 only on NASA Television. 25:11.007 --> 25:15.174 - [George Takei] As the darkness slowly encroaches, 25:15.180 --> 25:18.347 do not fear, the sun will shine again. 25:22.864 --> 25:25.947 On August 21st, a total solar eclipse 25:26.493 --> 25:30.660 will cross the United States from Oregon to South Carolina 25:30.700 --> 25:34.867 ^and for a couple of minutes, day will turn into night. 25:42.560 --> 25:45.848 Enjoy the show, but don't look at the sun. 25:45.848 --> 25:48.468 The only safe time to view an eclipse 25:48.468 --> 25:50.889 ^is if you're in the path of totality 25:50.889 --> 25:53.806 ^and during the minutes of totality. 25:53.982 --> 25:58.065 ^Otherwise, you'll need certified eclipse glasses. 25:58.442 --> 26:02.609 ^To learn more, go to eclipse2017.nasa.gov and NASA TV. 26:10.998 --> 26:13.065 - [Man] A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves 26:13.065 --> 26:16.578 between the Earth and the sun, blocks the sun's light 26:16.578 --> 26:19.144 and casts a shadow on the Earth. 26:19.144 --> 26:22.187 When the moon completely covers the bright disk of the sun, 26:22.187 --> 26:25.260 ^that's a total solar eclipse, and it happens 26:25.260 --> 26:28.234 roughly every year and a half somewhere on Earth. 26:28.234 --> 26:30.568 A partial solar eclipse is more common, 26:30.568 --> 26:33.235 happening at least twice a year. 26:33.465 --> 26:36.357 A lunar eclipse, on the other hand, is where the moon 26:36.357 --> 26:39.058 moves behind the Earth, so it's now the Earth 26:39.058 --> 26:41.329 blocking the sun's light from the moon, 26:41.329 --> 26:44.662 creating a shadow on it with a red tint. 26:44.988 --> 26:46.767 The easy way to remember the difference 26:46.767 --> 26:48.715 is to remember what gets darker. 26:48.715 --> 26:51.560 With a solar eclipse, the sun gets darker 26:51.560 --> 26:54.806 and during a lunar eclipse, the moon does. 26:54.806 --> 26:57.928 A solar eclipse is a rare event that not many get to see, 26:57.928 --> 27:01.097 because the moon's shadow is relatively small. 27:01.097 --> 27:04.144 This limits the locations on Earth that get to see it. 27:04.144 --> 27:06.406 You have to be on the sunny side of the planet, 27:06.406 --> 27:09.694 and you have to be in the path of the moon's shadow. 27:09.694 --> 27:12.951 So if you find your area in the path of totality one year, 27:12.951 --> 27:15.372 you've hit the jackpot, because on average, 27:15.372 --> 27:17.200 that same spot on Earth will only 27:17.200 --> 27:20.783 get to see a solar eclipse every 375 years. 27:22.787 --> 27:24.912 During a solar eclipse, the moon casts a shadow 27:24.912 --> 27:28.162 with two parts, the umbra and penumbra. 27:28.360 --> 27:30.206 The moon's umbra is part of the moon's shadow 27:30.206 --> 27:33.248 where the entire sun is blocked by the moon. 27:33.248 --> 27:35.192 In space, it's a cone extending from 27:35.192 --> 27:38.109 400,000 kilometers behind the moon. 27:38.620 --> 27:41.257 It's when the small end of this cone hits the Earth 27:41.257 --> 27:44.674 that we experience a total solar eclipse. 27:44.821 --> 27:46.827 Most eclipse maps depicting the path 27:46.827 --> 27:49.824 will show you a circle representing the shadow of the moon, 27:49.824 --> 27:52.788 but in actuality, the true shape of the umbra is more like 27:52.788 --> 27:56.479 an irregular polygon with slightly curved edges. 27:56.479 --> 27:59.572 This is because the moon isn't a perfect circle. 27:59.572 --> 28:01.811 It has mountains and valleys on its surface 28:01.811 --> 28:03.625 which all affect the passing sunlight 28:03.625 --> 28:06.542 and subsequent shape of the shadow. 28:06.664 --> 28:08.226 And scientists now have a greater understanding 28:08.226 --> 28:09.948 of the shape of the moon's surface, 28:09.948 --> 28:12.372 thanks to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. 28:12.372 --> 28:15.660 The unprecedented level of details on the topographic map, 28:15.660 --> 28:18.586 photos, and other data sets, has allowed us 28:18.586 --> 28:21.237 to more precisely pinpoint the regions on Earth 28:21.237 --> 28:25.404 falling within the path of totality of a solar eclipse. 28:25.466 --> 28:28.781 So if you get the chance to witness a solar eclipse, 28:28.781 --> 28:30.618 always remember that our little moon 28:30.618 --> 28:33.285 plays a role that's quite large. 28:37.137 --> 28:39.304 (beeping) 28:44.539 --> 28:47.289 (dramatic music) 28:52.946 --> 28:55.446 (organ music) 28:58.859 --> 29:00.007 - Hi, I'm Noah Petro from NASA's 29:00.007 --> 29:01.687 Goddard Space Flight Center. 29:01.687 --> 29:03.196 The eclipse has just passed over us 29:03.196 --> 29:04.338 here at Volcanoes Stadium, 29:04.338 --> 29:07.703 you all in Charleston have a great show coming your way. 29:07.703 --> 29:09.869 Now because we've got NASA at both stadiums today, 29:09.869 --> 29:11.893 we wanted to connect the two events, 29:11.893 --> 29:14.788 creating a trans-continental eclipse double-header. 29:14.788 --> 29:16.949 Now I know Paul Hertz is there today, 29:16.949 --> 29:18.814 Paul's the Division Director of Astrophysics 29:18.814 --> 29:20.897 at NASA Headquarters, and Paul, 29:20.897 --> 29:24.147 we've got a ball here to send your way. 29:25.538 --> 29:27.941 Now Paul, I'm gonna throw it as hard as I can. 29:27.941 --> 29:29.941 I hope you can catch it. 29:31.312 --> 29:35.479 (organ playing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame") 29:41.301 --> 29:43.551 (cheering) 29:44.259 --> 29:46.127 - Great throw, Noah. Nut I don't think 29:46.127 --> 29:48.600 either one of us is ready for the majors. 29:48.600 --> 29:51.051 I'm here at Charleston RiverDogs Stadium 29:51.051 --> 29:53.631 and we're looking forward to a beautiful eclipse 29:53.631 --> 29:55.553 and an exciting ball game. 29:55.553 --> 29:58.338 And I hope everyone at Volcanoes Stadium enjoyed the eclipse 29:58.338 --> 30:01.303 and enjoys the rest of your ball game. 30:01.303 --> 30:04.527 Today is a great day for America, for baseball, 30:04.527 --> 30:08.694 for NASA and for anyone who enjoys a great American eclipse. 30:09.142 --> 30:09.975 Thank you. 30:23.245 --> 30:27.078 (cheerful instrumental music) 30:52.242 --> 30:55.159 (orchestral music) 31:29.171 --> 31:31.421 - Through the eyes of NASA. 31:32.718 --> 31:36.487 Today, we start with a view of the coast of Oregon, 31:36.487 --> 31:39.203 from Guifstream III aircraft out of NASA's 31:39.203 --> 31:41.953 Armstrong Flight Research Center. 31:42.232 --> 31:45.874 This coastline is where the eclipse will soon begin. 31:45.874 --> 31:48.862 Starting on the West Coast, then tracking the eclipse 31:48.862 --> 31:52.251 as it moves to the East Coast, we will bring you 31:52.251 --> 31:56.084 the experience of 2017 eclipse across America. 31:57.314 --> 32:01.481 We invite you to join us for exclusive eclipse programming 32:03.383 --> 32:06.716 from coast to coast, across the country. 32:10.255 --> 32:12.051 ^Welcome to NASA's pre-show coverage 32:12.051 --> 32:14.634 ^of total solar eclipse of 2017. 32:15.730 --> 32:18.837 ^We're coming to you live from NASA Eclipse Central 32:18.837 --> 32:21.935 at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. 32:21.935 --> 32:23.544 (cheering) 32:23.544 --> 32:27.711 Over the next four hours, be prepared for an amazing journey 32:27.763 --> 32:29.846 through the eyes of NASA. 32:30.070 --> 32:34.237 Now, on to our pre-show hosts Karen Fox and Sean Potter. 32:35.131 --> 32:37.964 Guys, take it away, it's sun time. 32:43.165 --> 32:44.582 ^- Thanks, Dwayne. 32:44.794 --> 32:46.397 ^- Thank you, Dwayne! 32:46.397 --> 32:48.871 ^We have a great show for you today, I can't wait. 32:48.871 --> 32:51.114 ^- No, me either. - Can't wait. 32:51.114 --> 32:53.006 ^= Hear those bells, that means it's eclipse time, right? 32:53.006 --> 32:55.259 ^- Welcome to NASA TV's broadcast 32:55.259 --> 32:58.759 of the 2017 solar eclipse, I am Karen Fox, 32:59.071 --> 33:03.238 NASA's Communications lead for what we cal heliophysics. 33:03.325 --> 33:06.512 That's the study of the sun and how it affects space. 33:06.512 --> 33:09.427 ^- And I'm Sean Potter from NASA's Office of Communications. 33:09.427 --> 33:11.713 ^I'm also a certified broadcast meteorologist, 33:11.713 --> 33:15.060 ^so today, I'll also be tracking our eclipse weather for you. 33:15.060 --> 33:16.827 - [Karen] And as you can see, we are at 33:16.827 --> 33:19.297 the College of Charleston in South Carolina 33:19.297 --> 33:21.178 at NASA Eclipse Central. 33:21.178 --> 33:24.252 From right here, starting at 1 PM, we'll be tracking 33:24.252 --> 33:28.002 and covering today's big event, eclipse 2017. 33:29.076 --> 33:31.600 - [Sean] Today, millions of people across the United States 33:31.600 --> 33:35.767 will witness this spectacular event, a total solar eclipse. 33:36.315 --> 33:38.448 - [Karen[ As The mooncrosses the face of our sun, 33:38.448 --> 33:41.932 we're gonna be bringing you real-time, breathtaking images 33:41.932 --> 33:45.307 in locations across the country, NASA TV has cameras, 33:45.307 --> 33:48.630 telescopes, balloons, aircraft, and even spacecraft 33:48.630 --> 33:51.916 standing by to bring you views of this natural phenomenon. 33:51.916 --> 33:55.321 So get ready to look through the eyes of NASA. 33:55.321 --> 33:57.305 - Plus, coming up in our 1 PM broadcast, 33:57.305 --> 33:59.770 we have NASA experts standing by 33:59.770 --> 34:01.786 at locations across the country. 34:01.786 --> 34:03.628 They're gonna be highlighting views of the eclipse 34:03.628 --> 34:06.792 and also pointing out how NASA is using the eclipse 34:06.792 --> 34:08.971 to study not only the sun, but also 34:08.971 --> 34:11.388 our Earth and its atmosphere. 34:11.487 --> 34:13.199 - [Karen] Now, all of North America 34:13.199 --> 34:14.883 will experience a partial eclipse. 34:14.883 --> 34:17.522 That's where the moon blocks only part of the sun. 34:17.522 --> 34:20.790 A total solar eclipse is going to sweep across the nation 34:20.790 --> 34:22.852 along a 70-mile wide path, 34:22.852 --> 34:25.324 arcing from Oregon to South Carolina. 34:25.324 --> 34:27.384 This is called the path of totality, 34:27.384 --> 34:29.770 and people along that path are going to experience 34:29.770 --> 34:33.142 the glorious sight of a fully eclipsed sun. 34:33.142 --> 34:35.419 - First, I wanna take just a moment to remind you 34:35.419 --> 34:37.877 of some very important eclipse safety tips. 34:37.877 --> 34:41.015 First of all, never, ever look directly at the sun. 34:41.015 --> 34:44.099 It's not safe for your eyes and could cause damage. 34:44.099 --> 34:45.391 ^It's really important, and we're gonna 34:45.391 --> 34:48.056 ^keep sharing safety tips throughout the broadcast, 34:48.056 --> 34:50.403 ^but for now let's take a look at today's weather. 34:50.403 --> 34:51.394 ^- That's great, okay. 34:51.394 --> 34:52.621 So what we're gonna do right now is 34:52.621 --> 34:56.016 we're gonna show you an image from the GOES 16 satellite. 34:56.016 --> 34:58.176 This is the latest and greatest weather satellite 34:58.176 --> 35:01.296 that NASA built and launched for our partners at NOAA, 35:01.296 --> 35:03.387 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 35:03.387 --> 35:04.790 just last year, and it's gonna 35:04.790 --> 35:06.926 revolutionize weather forecasting. 35:06.926 --> 35:08.072 You can see the very detailed picture 35:08.072 --> 35:10.439 of cloud cover across the country and actually, 35:10.439 --> 35:12.547 for the path of totality, which remember, 35:12.547 --> 35:15.522 stretches from Oregon across the midsection through Nebraska 35:15.522 --> 35:18.314 and Missouri into parts of Kentucky and Tennessee 35:18.314 --> 35:21.078 and then exiting the U.S. here in Charleston, 35:21.078 --> 35:23.786 looks pretty good except for the midsection of the country, 35:23.786 --> 35:26.786 maybe Nebraska and parts of Missouri 35:27.296 --> 35:29.347 might see some cloud cover, and then as you get here 35:29.347 --> 35:31.270 toward the coast, Charleston, as we look up, 35:31.270 --> 35:33.411 we do see some clouds, so we'll keep an eye on that 35:33.411 --> 35:35.415 ^and have more for you later in the broadcast. 35:35.415 --> 35:37.569 ^- Crossing fingers for weather here. 35:37.569 --> 35:40.986 ^An eclipse is something called a transit. 35:41.691 --> 35:45.313 ^A transit is when one celestial body appears to move 35:45.313 --> 35:48.167 ^across the face of another celestial body, and today 35:48.167 --> 35:51.701 that is our moon moving across the face of the sun. 35:51.701 --> 35:53.783 - And it's almost time for that transit to begin. 35:53.783 --> 35:56.098 12:05 PM Eastern time, that's 9:05 AM Pacific time 35:56.098 --> 35:58.104 will mark the beginning of the eclipse over U.S. soil. 35:58.104 --> 36:01.521 - So let's go right now to Salem, Oregon, 36:01.913 --> 36:04.330 to hopefully catch a glimpse. 36:06.131 --> 36:07.845 There's a lot of celebration underway, 36:07.845 --> 36:11.883 coordinated by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. 36:11.883 --> 36:14.490 Jesse Carpenter from NASA's Ames Research Center 36:14.490 --> 36:15.740 is standing by. 36:17.967 --> 36:19.748 - That's like if you were standing next to a fireplace 36:19.748 --> 36:23.915 and as you moved away it got hotter, which is crazy 36:24.160 --> 36:26.170 but we know that it's from those 36:26.170 --> 36:30.087 dynamic magnetic fields that we're seeing here, 36:30.926 --> 36:34.926 - Okay, I just got word that we haven't started. 36:37.564 --> 36:40.814 Okay, I guess we're going from the top. 36:44.922 --> 36:47.339 - Alright, thank you to Ames. 36:47.803 --> 36:51.080 - Thanks Jesse, and so we begin our eclipse coverage. 36:51.080 --> 36:53.853 Also, coming to us from Oregon is this stunning image 36:53.853 --> 36:57.655 from a telescope located in the town of Madras. 36:57.655 --> 36:59.845 In partnership with NASA, the Exploratorium 36:59.845 --> 37:03.524 is providing telescope feeds available as a live stream. 37:03.524 --> 37:07.165 This makes spectacular views available to everyone. 37:07.165 --> 37:09.396 Now the Exploratorium is a public learning laboratory 37:09.396 --> 37:11.741 that explores the world through science, art, 37:11.741 --> 37:13.491 and human perception. 37:14.130 --> 37:16.758 - Let's talk a little more about that science 37:16.758 --> 37:20.358 and what it is that we're actually gonna be learning today. 37:20.358 --> 37:23.047 A lot of people think that space is completely empty, right? 37:23.047 --> 37:24.125 - Yep, a lot of people. 37:24.125 --> 37:26.311 - And it's not quite true, we actually live 37:26.311 --> 37:29.483 in the extended atmosphere of an active star. 37:29.483 --> 37:33.400 Heliophysics is the study of our star, the sun, 37:33.623 --> 37:35.108 and its effect on space. 37:35.108 --> 37:37.186 So the sun sends out solar material, 37:37.186 --> 37:39.668 and it helps size of this constantly writhing 37:39.668 --> 37:42.062 magnetic system throughout space. 37:42.062 --> 37:44.764 And the system surrounds Earth and the planets 37:44.764 --> 37:47.338 and extends far out into the solar system. 37:47.338 --> 37:50.412 So NASA studies this system not only to help us understand 37:50.412 --> 37:52.493 more about our place in the universe, 37:52.493 --> 37:54.519 but it also helps protect our technology 37:54.519 --> 37:56.383 and astronauts in space. 37:56.383 --> 37:58.550 - So now, let's go to Carbondale, Illinois 37:58.550 --> 38:01.434 where NASA Edge is standing by to tell us more. 38:01.434 --> 38:04.208 Actually we're gonna stay right here at Eclipse Central 38:04.208 --> 38:07.116 in Charleston, so Karen, I'm gonna send it back over to you. 38:07.116 --> 38:08.106 - This is a good time to take 38:08.106 --> 38:10.699 another moment to talk about safety. 38:10.699 --> 38:14.673 Now first and foremost, never look directly at the sun. 38:14.673 --> 38:16.673 It's not safe, and it can cause damage. 38:16.673 --> 38:18.924 ^- But there are lots of ways to safely view the eclipse 38:18.924 --> 38:21.356 ^without looking directly at the sun. 38:21.356 --> 38:24.439 ^Be sure to visit eclipse2017.nasa.gov 38:24.928 --> 38:27.270 ^for detailed instructions and advice. 38:27.270 --> 38:29.996 ^- Now you may have seen these eclipse glasses, right? 38:29.996 --> 38:31.054 ^- I've got my pair. 38:31.054 --> 38:34.813 ^They are designed with a special-purpose solar filter. 38:34.813 --> 38:37.309 ^- So ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, 38:37.309 --> 38:40.091 ^are not safe for looking at the sun. 38:40.091 --> 38:42.337 ^- Now, even if you don't have glasses, you have options. 38:42.337 --> 38:44.357 ^For one thing, you can share glasses. 38:44.357 --> 38:47.607 ^Like this event, here, take my glasses. 38:47.763 --> 38:50.013 ^This event lasts for hours. 38:50.570 --> 38:53.807 ^Now, you can also make a pinhole projector. 38:53.807 --> 38:55.042 ^It's so simple, you can literally just take 38:55.042 --> 38:58.947 ^a piece of paper, you take a pencil, you punch a hole in it, 38:58.947 --> 39:01.369 ^you put the sun behind you, you hold up your paper 39:01.369 --> 39:04.218 ^down like this, and you're gonna be able to see 39:04.218 --> 39:06.709 ^an image of the eclipse on the ground 39:06.709 --> 39:09.743 ^or maybe on a wall if you project it onto a wall. 39:09.743 --> 39:12.480 ^It's really simple to watch the sun safer. 39:12.480 --> 39:15.143 ^- Lots of options available to you, no matter where you are. 39:15.143 --> 39:17.419 ^There's lots more information about how to watch an eclipse, 39:17.419 --> 39:21.586 ^again, that website address is eclipse2017.nasa.gov. 39:22.745 --> 39:25.104 It's the only time, the only time it's safe 39:25.104 --> 39:28.083 to take these glasses off when you're looking at the eclipse 39:28.083 --> 39:31.214 is if you're in the path of totality during the brief 39:31.214 --> 39:34.299 few minutes that the moon completely blocks the sun. 39:34.299 --> 39:37.320 Let's watch this video to learn more. 39:37.320 --> 39:40.403 ^(instrumental music) 40:57.695 --> 41:00.112 - [Man] On August 21st, 2017, 41:00.295 --> 41:02.638 the Earth will cross the shadow of the moon, 41:02.638 --> 41:05.221 creating a total solar eclipse. 41:05.921 --> 41:08.035 Eclipses happen about every six months, 41:08.035 --> 41:09.952 but this one's special. 41:10.369 --> 41:12.978 For the first time in almost 40 years, 41:12.978 --> 41:15.526 the path of the moon's shadow passes through 41:15.526 --> 41:18.026 the continental United States. 41:18.605 --> 41:21.943 Everyone will see the moon at least partially block the sun. 41:21.943 --> 41:26.110 People within the path of totality, shown here in red, 41:26.517 --> 41:29.434 will witness a total solar eclipse. 41:30.262 --> 41:34.011 For them, the moon will cover the sun entirely. 41:34.011 --> 41:36.736 The sky will become twilight, the air will cool, 41:36.736 --> 41:40.399 the stars will appear, and the black disk of the moon 41:40.399 --> 41:43.415 will surrounded by the pale streaming halo 41:43.415 --> 41:45.082 of the sun's corona. 41:46.185 --> 41:49.282 Totality will last for two minutes, or a little more 41:49.282 --> 41:51.139 and it will be visible along a swath 41:51.139 --> 41:55.306 that crosses the continent, from Oregon to South Carolina. 41:55.954 --> 42:00.037 For some, it will be the spectacle of a lifetime. 42:03.096 --> 42:05.846 (cheerful music) 42:59.946 --> 43:01.481 - Coming up during our 1 PM broadcast, 43:01.481 --> 43:04.380 we will have a live demonstration with a pinhole viewer 43:04.380 --> 43:07.769 and more ways to safely view today's eclipse. 43:07.769 --> 43:09.343 - NASA TV is gonna be bringing you 43:09.343 --> 43:11.456 real-time breathtaking images. 43:11.456 --> 43:13.656 In locations across the country, we have cameras 43:13.656 --> 43:15.920 and telescopes and balloons and aircraft, 43:15.920 --> 43:18.319 and even spare spacecraft standing by 43:18.319 --> 43:20.642 to bring you views of this natural phenomenon. 43:20.642 --> 43:22.105 - We've got it all, I can't wait, but right now 43:22.105 --> 43:24.026 let's take a minute to learn about one of the 43:24.026 --> 43:25.569 aircraft being used today. 43:25.569 --> 43:28.245 NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center 43:28.245 --> 43:30.208 operate a Gulfstream III airplane 43:30.208 --> 43:33.232 for aerodynamic research and mission support. 43:33.232 --> 43:34.985 Today, their flight path is taking them 43:34.985 --> 43:38.357 over the Pacific Ocean to see the very first view of 43:38.357 --> 43:41.410 the total solar eclipse as it begins to cross the country. 43:41.410 --> 43:43.293 - Let's watch this video to learn more 43:43.293 --> 43:45.626 about their eclipse mission. 43:47.036 --> 43:48.803 - [Man] NASA's G-III aircraft out of 43:48.803 --> 43:51.777 Armstrong Flight Research Center will feed the world 43:51.777 --> 43:54.435 live video coverage of the eclipse 43:54.435 --> 43:55.968 from the West Coast of Oregon as it 43:55.968 --> 43:58.551 begins its path across America, 43:58.837 --> 44:03.004 and we hope to bring that view through the eyes of NASA. 44:03.015 --> 44:05.677 - We go out there and modify aircraft all the time, 44:05.677 --> 44:08.661 so we can go out there and do NASA science. 44:08.661 --> 44:09.969 It's what we do. 44:09.969 --> 44:13.219 (power tools whirring) 44:15.313 --> 44:17.241 In the case of this aircraft, we've gone out there 44:17.241 --> 44:19.590 and taken the normal passenger windows 44:19.590 --> 44:23.192 and replaced them with optical-grade windows, 44:23.192 --> 44:25.461 plus put in a telemetry system so we can go out there 44:25.461 --> 44:27.794 and provide real-time video. 44:29.438 --> 44:31.277 With these optical-grade windows, 44:31.277 --> 44:34.640 ^it allows our photo and video teams to go out there 44:34.640 --> 44:38.640 ^and capture high-resolution video at 35,000 feet 44:39.743 --> 44:42.566 ^to present to the world this rare event. 44:42.566 --> 44:45.511 And using this event to go out there and educate people, 44:45.511 --> 44:47.255 I think is an exciting proposition. 44:47.255 --> 44:50.088 (airplane engine) 44:50.775 --> 44:52.595 - Alright, they're just about to turn, we'll be almost-- 44:52.595 --> 44:54.929 From a pilot's perspective, we want to make sure 44:54.929 --> 44:57.490 we get to the right spot, and also there are limitations 44:57.490 --> 45:00.323 for what our photographers can do. 45:01.176 --> 45:03.844 We pushed it as far west as we could go, 45:03.844 --> 45:05.726 so we could get that as early as possible 45:05.726 --> 45:07.892 and as low on the horizon as possible, 45:07.892 --> 45:11.339 ^and that put at about Lincoln City, Oregon, 45:11.339 --> 45:14.446 ^which is the farthest west point, right on the West Coast 45:14.446 --> 45:17.394 so we set up a holding pattern or a racetrack pattern 45:17.394 --> 45:18.830 right over Lincoln City. 45:18.830 --> 45:22.248 We know exactly the width of the totality swath, 45:22.248 --> 45:24.679 and with that we did some mission planning, again, 45:24.679 --> 45:26.585 to make sure we know what the stall speeds are, 45:26.585 --> 45:29.120 the slowest speed, the safest speed to fly. 45:29.120 --> 45:31.417 The speed that will give us the most time 45:31.417 --> 45:34.789 inside the totality region, we can slip the airplane, 45:34.789 --> 45:36.994 that'll give us some more bank angle, 45:36.994 --> 45:39.482 which lets our cameras see a little bit higher, 45:39.482 --> 45:42.532 so all of those kinds of things were what went into, 45:42.532 --> 45:46.198 from a pilot's standpoint, planning this out. 45:46.198 --> 45:47.079 - [Man] Alright, are you guys ready 45:47.079 --> 45:48.363 to turn it again for a partial? 45:48.363 --> 45:50.202 - [Troy] I think it makes us proud of what we do, 45:50.202 --> 45:52.483 that we're able to share it with everybody 45:52.483 --> 45:54.379 around the world in this case, due to 45:54.379 --> 45:56.871 the modifications to the airplane we made. 45:56.871 --> 45:58.371 That's what we do. 46:01.685 --> 46:03.483 - [Karen] Great, I can't wait to see what 46:03.483 --> 46:05.911 that G-III is gonna show us today. 46:05.911 --> 46:07.938 - [Sean] That was amazing, and I see the incredible view, 46:07.938 --> 46:10.419 the first view of the solar eclipse 46:10.419 --> 46:12.959 as it's literally crossing into the United States. 46:12.959 --> 46:15.774 - [Karen] But basically it is off the West Coast right now, 46:15.774 --> 46:18.053 so it's getting a view of the eclipse before we even 46:18.053 --> 46:19.654 get a view from land, of that partial effect. 46:19.654 --> 46:21.272 - [Sean] That's right, and that G-III 46:21.272 --> 46:23.878 is just one of a fleet of NASA aircraft 46:23.878 --> 46:27.128 and observation platforms that we have. 46:28.048 --> 46:30.447 We mentioned earlier satellites, both ours 46:30.447 --> 46:32.628 and some from our partner agencies, 46:32.628 --> 46:35.599 aircraft or balloons that we've got, and we can tell you 46:35.599 --> 46:38.047 more about that in our 1 PM broadcast as well, 46:38.047 --> 46:41.130 but we've got you covered in terms of 46:41.465 --> 46:43.665 not only looking at it from the ground, 46:43.665 --> 46:47.573 looking at it from the sky, looking at it even from space. 46:47.573 --> 46:48.987 I know we'll get a little preview of that. 46:48.987 --> 46:50.553 - [Karen] Great, you know what I just heard? 46:50.553 --> 46:52.411 We've got the Salem, Oregon eclipse starting, 46:52.411 --> 46:54.355 this is the partial transit, and we're going 46:54.355 --> 46:57.855 to the G-III now to see what they can see. 46:58.981 --> 47:02.231 We've got an exclusive feed as they fly 47:02.550 --> 47:03.383 over the Pacific Ocean, and Kevin Rohrer 47:03.383 --> 47:06.322 from NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center is standing by. 47:06.322 --> 47:07.739 Do we have Kevin? 47:09.827 --> 47:12.284 Oh right, he's gonna be up soon? 47:12.284 --> 47:13.974 - [Sean] As you can see, and we actually have a monitor 47:13.974 --> 47:15.669 here on-set in Charleston, so we can see what they're 47:15.669 --> 47:19.157 seeing live, and you can see the transit beginning 47:19.157 --> 47:21.804 as the moon is just starting to eclipse the sun. 47:21.804 --> 47:23.557 Isn't that an incredible image, Karen? 47:23.557 --> 47:25.330 - [Karen] No, it's beautiful, and so just to be clear, 47:25.330 --> 47:26.670 what you see on the screen right now 47:26.670 --> 47:28.608 is that partial transit. 47:28.608 --> 47:32.088 A partial transit, the partial eclipse can take 47:32.088 --> 47:35.819 up to three hours or a little bit longer in any one location 47:35.819 --> 47:38.463 whereas the total eclipse, that's only about 47:38.463 --> 47:39.787 a minute and a half, two minutes. 47:39.787 --> 47:41.603 - [Sean] Right, a lot of people talk about the totality 47:41.603 --> 47:43.891 only lasting maybe at most two minutes or so, 47:43.891 --> 47:46.213 but sometimes people don't realize that 47:46.213 --> 47:49.361 in terms of the entire eclipse, from the very beginning 47:49.361 --> 47:51.575 of when the moon starts to cross over the sun's surface 47:51.575 --> 47:54.825 until the end, is actually much longer. 47:57.655 --> 48:00.253 - Great, so let's talk a little more about these eclipses, 48:00.253 --> 48:02.222 'cause I wanna tell you one of the things that I think 48:02.222 --> 48:04.113 is one of the cool things about total solar eclipses. 48:04.113 --> 48:07.509 We're the only planet in the entire solar system 48:07.509 --> 48:08.691 that can see them. - The only one. 48:08.691 --> 48:09.524 ^- The only one. 48:09.524 --> 48:11.056 ^Earth is the only planet where the moon 48:11.056 --> 48:14.185 ^appears to be the same size in the sky as the sun, 48:14.185 --> 48:16.973 and that's really just a great cosmic coincidence. 48:16.973 --> 48:17.972 - [Sean] That's right, Karen. 48:17.972 --> 48:19.257 The sun, believe it or not, is about 48:19.257 --> 48:22.322 400 times wider than the moon, but it's also 48:22.322 --> 48:24.606 about 400 times farther away. 48:24.606 --> 48:27.567 That geometry means that when they line up just right, 48:27.567 --> 48:31.052 as they are today, the moon blocks the sun's entire surface, 48:31.052 --> 48:33.450 creating a total solar eclipse. 48:33.450 --> 48:37.617 Let's take a moment to learn more about that geometry. 48:40.912 --> 48:42.911 - [Man] A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves 48:42.911 --> 48:46.394 between the Earth and the sun, blocks the sun's light 48:46.394 --> 48:49.055 and casts a shadow on the Earth. 48:49.055 --> 48:52.062 When the moon completely covers the bright disk of the sun, 48:52.062 --> 48:54.763 ^that's a total solar eclipse, and it happens 48:54.763 --> 48:58.167 roughly every year and a half somewhere on Earth. 48:58.167 --> 49:00.343 A partial solar eclipse is more common, 49:00.343 --> 49:03.010 happening at least twice a year. 49:04.081 --> 49:06.276 A lunar eclipse, on the other hand, is where the moon 49:06.276 --> 49:08.827 moves behind the Earth, so it's now the Earth 49:08.827 --> 49:11.111 blocking the sun's light from the moon, 49:11.111 --> 49:14.444 creating a shadow on it with a red tint. 49:14.780 --> 49:16.504 The easy way to remember the difference` 49:16.504 --> 49:18.614 is to remember what gets darker. 49:18.614 --> 49:21.160 With a solar eclipse, the sun gets darker 49:21.160 --> 49:24.660 and during a lunar eclipse, the moon does. 49:24.668 --> 49:27.562 A solar eclipse is a rare event that not many get to see, 49:27.562 --> 49:30.570 because the moon's shadow is relatively small. 49:30.570 --> 49:34.070 This limits the locations on Earth that get to see it. 49:34.070 --> 49:36.329 You have to be on the sunny side of the planet, 49:36.329 --> 49:39.617 and you have to be in the path of the moon's shadow. 49:39.617 --> 49:42.849 So if you find your area in the path of totality one year, 49:42.849 --> 49:45.347 you've hit the jackpot, because on average, 49:45.347 --> 49:47.188 that same spot on Earth will only 49:47.188 --> 49:50.771 get to see a solar eclipse every 375 years. 49:52.698 --> 49:54.770 During a solar eclipse, the moon casts a shadow 49:54.770 --> 49:58.020 with two parts, the umbra and penumbra. 49:58.331 --> 50:00.159 The moon's umbra is part of the moon's shadow 50:00.159 --> 50:03.015 where the entire sun is blocked by the moon. 50:03.015 --> 50:05.150 In space, it's a cone extending from 50:05.150 --> 50:08.067 400,000 kilometers behind the moon. 50:08.583 --> 50:10.940 It's when the small end of this cone hits the Earth 50:10.940 --> 50:14.357 that we experience a total solar eclipse. 50:14.783 --> 50:17.011 Most eclipse maps depicting the path 50:17.011 --> 50:19.880 will show you a circle representing the shadow of the moon, 50:19.880 --> 50:22.882 but in actuality, the true shape of the umbra is more like 50:22.882 --> 50:26.601 an irregular polygon with slightly curved edges. 50:26.601 --> 50:29.526 This is because the moon isn't a perfect circle. 50:29.526 --> 50:31.989 It has mountains and valleys on its surface 50:31.989 --> 50:33.842 which all affect the passing sunlight 50:33.842 --> 50:36.196 and subsequent shape of the shadow. 50:36.196 --> 50:38.154 And scientists now have a greater understanding 50:38.154 --> 50:39.938 of the shape of the moon's surface, 50:39.938 --> 50:42.652 thanks to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. 50:42.652 --> 50:45.808 The unprecedented level of details on the topographic map, 50:45.808 --> 50:48.831 photos, and other data sets, has allowed us 50:48.831 --> 50:51.317 to more precisely pinpoint the regions on Earth 50:51.317 --> 50:55.484 falling within the path of totality of a solar eclipse. 50:55.652 --> 50:58.636 So if you get the chance to witness a solar eclipse, 50:58.636 --> 51:00.564 always remember that our little moon 51:00.564 --> 51:03.231 plays a role that's quite large. 51:07.164 --> 51:09.747 - [Sean] Wow, that was amazing. 51:10.410 --> 51:13.410 So now we've got a live shot from that G-III aircraft, 51:13.410 --> 51:17.009 looking out the window at the eclipse again. 51:17.009 --> 51:18.232 - [Karen] And we're gonna be seeing the eclipse 51:18.232 --> 51:19.741 live from this G-III. 51:19.741 --> 51:22.324 It's 35,000 feet up in the air. 51:22.594 --> 51:25.849 - [Sean] Over the Pacific Ocean as the eclipse begins, 51:25.849 --> 51:28.270 it's very interesting to see how they had the crew 51:28.270 --> 51:30.505 retrofit it with the special glass 51:30.505 --> 51:33.255 to get the best viewing possible, 51:33.934 --> 51:36.598 and I'm sure it's an exciting moment up there. 51:36.598 --> 51:38.115 I can only imagine what the folks 51:38.115 --> 51:40.377 inside the G-III are feeling right now. 51:40.377 --> 51:41.230 - [Karen] Great, and coming up, we will have 51:41.230 --> 51:43.869 some live interviews from the G-III, 51:43.869 --> 51:46.869 and now we are once again looking at 51:46.907 --> 51:48.928 the eclipse in Salem, Oregon. 51:48.928 --> 51:50.849 So to all the people who are our there in Oregon, 51:50.849 --> 51:53.012 this is what they are getting to see right now, 51:53.012 --> 51:56.179 that first little glimpse of the moon. 51:56.687 --> 51:58.473 It almost looks like a bite out of a cookie, right? 51:58.473 --> 51:59.510 (chuckling) 51:59.510 --> 52:01.857 So first glimpse of the moon passing in front of the sun. 52:01.857 --> 52:03.989 Now Salem is in the path of totality, 52:03.989 --> 52:07.788 so they will have a chance to see the full eclipse. 52:07.788 --> 52:09.771 - [Sean] And they've got great weather from what I can tell. 52:09.771 --> 52:13.089 Certainly a good shot from the telescope there on the ground 52:13.089 --> 52:16.145 looking at the eclipse, it's amazing. 52:16.145 --> 52:18.720 And just a reminder for folks, again, can't say it enough, 52:18.720 --> 52:21.404 stress it enough, the safety aspect. 52:21.404 --> 52:24.320 If you are anywhere, whether you're in the path of totality 52:24.320 --> 52:26.591 or not, you've gotta have those glasses 52:26.591 --> 52:28.778 even if you're looking at the partial eclipse, 52:28.778 --> 52:30.445 even if it's cloudy. 52:33.786 --> 52:35.902 When depicting an eclipse path, 52:35.902 --> 52:38.720 data visualizers have traditionally represented 52:38.720 --> 52:40.776 the moon's shadow as an oval. 52:40.776 --> 52:43.562 - For today's eclipse, for the first time, 52:43.562 --> 52:46.684 NASA visualizers were able to show that the moon's shadow 52:46.684 --> 52:49.220 is actually better represented as a polygon. 52:49.220 --> 52:50.870 And it's a complicated shape that's based on 52:50.870 --> 52:53.688 several NASA observations, including information 52:53.688 --> 52:56.286 from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, 52:56.286 --> 52:59.495 which is currently orbiting the moon as we speak, right now. 52:59.495 --> 53:01.650 The spacecraft has a unique view of the mountains 53:01.650 --> 53:05.351 and valleys that form the moon's jagged horizon. 53:05.351 --> 53:07.522 - Let's learn more now about mapping today's eclipse 53:07.522 --> 53:10.022 using NASA's unique data sets. 53:18.780 --> 53:19.755 ^- [Ernie] What we're talking about 53:19.755 --> 53:22.575 ^is several visualizations of the path 53:22.575 --> 53:26.575 ^of the moon's shadow during the eclipse in 2017. 53:26.965 --> 53:29.046 Everything in it is driven by the data, 53:29.046 --> 53:30.873 so the color of the ground, 53:30.873 --> 53:33.633 the position of the path of totality, 53:33.633 --> 53:35.643 the lighting from the sun, the sun angle, 53:35.643 --> 53:38.528 all of those are things that are based on data. 53:38.528 --> 53:40.379 A lot of NASA products were used 53:40.379 --> 53:42.040 to create this visualiZation. 53:42.040 --> 53:44.583 I used the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, 53:44.583 --> 53:48.227 the laser altimetry data from that, which gives us 53:48.227 --> 53:50.631 a digital map of the elevations on the moon. 53:50.631 --> 53:53.394 For the Earth, I used something called SRTM, 53:53.394 --> 53:55.695 this is a radar that was flown on the space shuttle. 53:55.695 --> 53:59.025 For the positions of the Earth's moon and the sun, 53:59.025 --> 54:02.692 I used a JPL ephemeris, an ephemeris is just 54:02.895 --> 54:06.805 a list of positions, but it's the most accurate 54:06.805 --> 54:08.747 tabulation of those positions. 54:08.747 --> 54:10.756 This visualization is unique because it shows 54:10.756 --> 54:14.923 the effect of both the irregular edge of the moon, 54:15.698 --> 54:16.959 the limb of the moon, we call it, 54:16.959 --> 54:18.914 and the elevation of the observer. 54:18.914 --> 54:21.825 We've known for a long time that the elevation 54:21.825 --> 54:24.547 of the observer affects where the shadow is. 54:24.547 --> 54:27.786 We've also known that the mountains and valleys 54:27.786 --> 54:31.528 along the edge of the moon affect the shadow. 54:31.528 --> 54:33.951 So you may have seen on eclipse maps in the past 54:33.951 --> 54:36.284 that the image of the umbra, 54:36.589 --> 54:39.266 that shape of the shadow on the Earth, is drawn as 54:39.266 --> 54:42.326 a smooth oval, but we know that the moon isn't smooth. 54:42.326 --> 54:44.333 Around the edge of the moon, we have 54:44.333 --> 54:46.682 these sort of jagged peaks and valleys. 54:46.682 --> 54:49.601 And the peaks can block the sun a little bit earlier 54:49.601 --> 54:52.264 than we thought, and the valleys can let the sun in 54:52.264 --> 54:54.252 a few seconds longer than we thought. 54:54.252 --> 54:56.456 The combined effect of these peaks and valleys 54:56.456 --> 54:59.848 is to create a shape that's not really an oval, 54:59.848 --> 55:03.019 it's more like a polygon, but it hasn't actually been seen 55:03.019 --> 55:06.697 in exactly this way before, where we calculate 55:06.697 --> 55:10.044 those circumstances for every point on the map 55:10.044 --> 55:11.711 and draw that shape. 55:11.930 --> 55:15.922 Totality is that two minutes, or two and a half minutes 55:15.922 --> 55:18.881 when the moon completely covers the sun. 55:18.881 --> 55:21.974 The sudden darkness of totality is just something that 55:21.974 --> 55:25.211 a lot of people can't compare to anything else. 55:25.211 --> 55:27.872 I love the idea that I'm giving this kind of map 55:27.872 --> 55:30.652 to other people, and especially that it's 55:30.652 --> 55:32.604 more detailed and more accurate, 55:32.604 --> 55:36.771 so that people are actually in the right place to see it. 55:37.926 --> 55:40.435 - There's a lot of great science being done today, 55:40.435 --> 55:43.347 and this eclipse provides an opportunity for researchers 55:43.347 --> 55:46.564 to test innovations for future NASA missions too. 55:46.564 --> 55:49.229 Our NASA scientist Nat Gopalswamy and his team 55:49.229 --> 55:53.396 pursue eclipses because when the moon really blocks 55:53.773 --> 55:56.464 the bright light of the sun, it reveals the corona, 55:56.464 --> 55:59.225 which is our star's faint outer atmosphere. 55:59.225 --> 56:00.319 - And this year, scientists will 56:00.319 --> 56:02.374 test a special kind of camera. 56:02.374 --> 56:04.469 The team will only have 120 seconds 56:04.469 --> 56:07.249 to complete an experiment that may one day change 56:07.249 --> 56:09.780 the design of sun-observing spacecraft. 56:09.780 --> 56:11.281 - Let's learn more about how this team 56:11.281 --> 56:14.448 of NASA scientists is chasing the sun. 56:14.902 --> 56:17.985 (instrumental music) 56:24.617 --> 56:27.924 ^- The corona can be studied from ground-based telescopes 56:27.924 --> 56:30.310 ^only when during the eclipse. 56:30.310 --> 56:32.378 Whenever an eclipse happens, we make use of it 56:32.378 --> 56:35.211 and try to test some of our ideas. 56:35.407 --> 56:39.240 We have only two minutes to do the experiment, 56:40.172 --> 56:43.919 and we've been preparing for maybe more than a year. 56:43.919 --> 56:45.038 - Nothing can go wrong. 56:45.038 --> 56:46.619 ^Your cameras aren't shut down, 56:46.619 --> 56:48.803 ^you can't press the wrong button, and because 56:48.803 --> 56:50.755 there's no time to change your mind 56:50.755 --> 56:53.088 or make alternate decisions. 56:53.944 --> 56:57.880 - We want to set up the telescope and observe the 56:57.880 --> 57:01.488 total solar eclipse at four different wavelengths. 57:01.488 --> 57:04.689 And the images taken in these four different wavelengths 57:04.689 --> 57:07.910 will be used to determine the temperature 57:07.910 --> 57:09.433 and flow speed of the corona. 57:09.433 --> 57:10.827 - We are planning to take these images 57:10.827 --> 57:13.010 using a polarization camera. 57:13.010 --> 57:14.954 This will be a first for us. 57:14.954 --> 57:18.690 I think it's a first for the solar physics community. 57:18.690 --> 57:21.681 So once the moon completely covers the sun, 57:21.681 --> 57:23.452 the experiment begins. 57:23.452 --> 57:25.021 It's my job to make sure that 57:25.021 --> 57:29.188 the image is in the field of view, so at the correct time 57:30.774 --> 57:34.941 one person has to give the command to turn the filter wheel, 57:35.117 --> 57:38.858 and for each filter there's a different exposure time. 57:38.858 --> 57:42.941 So another person has to enter the exposure time. 57:42.982 --> 57:46.815 It's a combined effort of six different hands. 57:46.910 --> 57:49.660 No one person can make any error. 57:51.995 --> 57:53.670 - We do feel the pressure and also 57:53.670 --> 57:55.141 the excitement of the eclipse, 57:55.141 --> 57:57.178 it's gonna be hard to focus on all the experiments. 57:57.178 --> 57:58.289 Okay, all done. 57:58.289 --> 58:02.456 - It's a tense feeling, but I believe we'll succeed. 58:06.240 --> 58:08.128 - [Karen] Alright, we've got another beautiful shot here 58:08.128 --> 58:11.376 of Oregon, and we're getting ready to start 58:11.376 --> 58:14.008 showing you imagery from around the country. 58:14.008 --> 58:15.687 - [Sean] That's an amazing shot, 58:15.687 --> 58:18.292 and right now we're gonna toss it to NASA Edge 58:18.292 --> 58:21.875 who is standing by In Carbondale, Illinois. 58:24.540 --> 58:28.040 (talking over each other) 58:29.222 --> 58:30.810 - You have the data point to respond to that. 58:30.810 --> 58:34.329 - Yeah, you know, honestly when I first saw the eclipse, 58:34.329 --> 58:36.191 before the eclipse, I was like 58:36.191 --> 58:39.429 "Well, I've seen lunar eclipses, I've seen partial eclipses. 58:39.429 --> 58:40.767 "It's probably similar in experience." 58:40.767 --> 58:43.458 - Looks like Troy's been a real eclipse shadow, 58:43.458 --> 58:44.583 I didn't know this about you. 58:44.583 --> 58:46.916 - I'm an eclipse chaser now. 58:46.979 --> 58:50.699 But the first one I saw was in Turkey, in Cizre, Turkey, 58:50.699 --> 58:52.793 and the next one was in Micronesia. 58:52.793 --> 58:56.779 And when the eclipse happened, it was about 85% coverage 58:56.779 --> 59:00.071 as I could see with my pinhole projectors and my glasses. 59:00.071 --> 59:02.834 At about that moment, I noticed the sky around me 59:02.834 --> 59:05.167 started getting noticeably dark, and the temperature 59:05.167 --> 59:06.510 dropped about 10 degrees. 59:06.510 --> 59:07.562 - We could use it. 59:07.562 --> 59:09.959 - We're totally gonna love that. 59:09.959 --> 59:14.126 And right as the disk of the moon covered the sun, 59:14.417 --> 59:16.366 it was phenomenal, you're overwhelmed with an 59:16.366 --> 59:18.788 amazing feeling of being connected 59:18.788 --> 59:21.510 to the universe around you because your vision, 59:21.510 --> 59:25.426 you're seeing things differently, the shadows are changing, 59:25.426 --> 59:27.066 the animals are acting differently. 59:27.066 --> 59:28.774 - Yeah, we know about that. 59:28.774 --> 59:31.883 I do want to take a quick moment to say 59:31.883 --> 59:33.219 welcome our friends from NASA TV, 59:33.219 --> 59:35.621 who are joining us from Charleston. 59:35.621 --> 59:38.222 I hope they have clear sight there, we clearly are-- 59:38.222 --> 59:39.716 (cheering) 59:39.716 --> 59:41.251 Clearly are having clear weather here. 59:41.251 --> 59:44.193 A little bit of clouds, but easy to manage. 59:44.193 --> 59:46.339 Great to have you guys joining us. 59:46.339 --> 59:49.170 Now, like I said, you have time to check this out, 59:49.170 --> 59:51.420 to see these eclipse views. 59:53.096 --> 59:56.226 What other strategies could you share with our fans 59:56.226 --> 59:58.096 to prepare for that eclipse? 59:58.096 --> 01:00:01.113 - Just to basically, when the eclipse happens, 01:00:01.113 --> 01:00:03.737 spend all of your time with the different devices 01:00:03.737 --> 01:00:06.952 and pinhole projectors before and after totality. 01:00:06.952 --> 01:00:08.541 The biggest thing that I would recommend is 01:00:08.541 --> 01:00:10.850 when totality happens, unless you have a camera 01:00:10.850 --> 01:00:14.603 set up on automatic, don't miss a second of the event. 01:00:14.603 --> 01:00:17.759 Make sure you are looking at the eclipse. 01:00:17.759 --> 01:00:20.603 Now one of the things, some people forget to 01:00:20.603 --> 01:00:22.649 take their eclipse glasses off during totality, and 01:00:22.649 --> 01:00:25.537 they miss the whole thing because they think it's unsafe. 01:00:25.537 --> 01:00:28.626 But you're not actually looking at the sun during totality, 01:00:28.626 --> 01:00:30.738 you're looking at the back side of the moon, 01:00:30.738 --> 01:00:32.829 which is pretty dark, and it's the 01:00:32.829 --> 01:00:34.809 darkest blackness you've ever seen. 01:00:34.809 --> 01:00:37.721 And at that moment you will see the corona of the sun 01:00:37.721 --> 01:00:40.804 just magically appear across the sky, 01:00:41.206 --> 01:00:44.955 and you'll see several stars today, and planets. 01:00:44.955 --> 01:00:47.438 We have the potential to see four or five, 01:00:47.438 --> 01:00:48.961 I believe, planets and stars. 01:00:48.961 --> 01:00:50.581 - Okay, but you have to be pretty strategic 01:00:50.581 --> 01:00:53.029 at that point, right, 'cause that's during totality. 01:00:53.029 --> 01:00:55.049 And you've got to get your solar experience 01:00:55.049 --> 01:00:56.504 and you've gotta swing your telescope around, 01:00:56.504 --> 01:00:58.567 or will you be seeing them with the naked eye? 01:00:58.567 --> 01:01:00.667 - You can see it with the naked eye during totality. 01:01:00.667 --> 01:01:02.564 I recommend everybody look at it with a naked eye 01:01:02.564 --> 01:01:05.632 during totality, but as soon as one bit of sunlight 01:01:05.632 --> 01:01:07.733 starts to come around the sun, trust me, 01:01:07.733 --> 01:01:11.353 it is super bright, and immediately put on those glasses 01:01:11.353 --> 01:01:13.322 and start using your pinhole projectors again. 01:01:13.322 --> 01:01:15.291 - That's a great point, and it's awesome 01:01:15.291 --> 01:01:17.021 because we're getting lots and lots of good science 01:01:17.021 --> 01:01:19.919 and good observational data to prepare everyone 01:01:19.919 --> 01:01:21.738 for how they can experience the event. 01:01:21.738 --> 01:01:23.348 - And there's something I have to tell you. 01:01:23.348 --> 01:01:25.483 We have a Flickr gallery that people are uploading 01:01:25.483 --> 01:01:27.612 many, many pictures to right now, 01:01:27.612 --> 01:01:30.120 so we would recommend, highly recommend 01:01:30.120 --> 01:01:33.751 that you go to the eclipse2017.nasa.gov site. 01:01:33.751 --> 01:01:35.557 You'll see the Flicker links there, 01:01:35.557 --> 01:01:37.925 and these beautiful images that you're seeing right now 01:01:37.925 --> 01:01:39.459 are images that were already uploaded 01:01:39.459 --> 01:01:41.169 just over the last several days. 01:01:41.169 --> 01:01:42.610 - What's interesting is it's not just 01:01:42.610 --> 01:01:44.954 photos from previous eclipses, 01:01:44.954 --> 01:01:48.659 we're seeing lots of artwork, lots of really creative work. 01:01:48.659 --> 01:01:50.809 I think that's spectacular, and a great part 01:01:50.809 --> 01:01:52.919 of what's going on during the eclipse. 01:01:52.919 --> 01:01:54.983 - People of all ages are ready for this. 01:01:54.983 --> 01:01:55.831 - It's fantastic. 01:01:55.831 --> 01:01:57.291 Well I'll tell you what, Troy, 01:01:57.291 --> 01:01:58.483 thanks so much for coming on. 01:01:58.483 --> 01:02:01.213 When you come back later, you're gonna share with us 01:02:01.213 --> 01:02:03.613 the results, right, and we're gonna talk abut that. 01:02:03.613 --> 01:02:04.446 - That's right. 01:02:04.446 --> 01:02:05.862 - We'll get more questions, great. 01:02:05.862 --> 01:02:08.779 Well, right now, we're gonna go inside the stadium 01:02:08.779 --> 01:02:11.052 to Kevin Boucher who's with Greg Guzik 01:02:11.052 --> 01:02:14.552 from the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium, 01:02:15.069 --> 01:02:17.916 and they're going to talk about this balloon launch 01:02:17.916 --> 01:02:18.749 that they're gonna provide for us, 01:02:18.749 --> 01:02:19.973 so take it away, Kevin. 01:02:19.973 --> 01:02:21.950 - I sure will, thank you very much. 01:02:21.950 --> 01:02:25.638 Again, we are standing on about the 30-yard line 01:02:25.638 --> 01:02:29.361 in Saluki Stadium, and of course the stadium is filling up 01:02:29.361 --> 01:02:32.361 and with me now is Dr. Gregory Guzik 01:02:33.464 --> 01:02:36.731 and introduce yourself, who are you with? 01:02:36.731 --> 01:02:39.444 - My name is Greg Guzik, I'm a professor of physics 01:02:39.444 --> 01:02:41.549 for the department of physics and astronomy 01:02:41.549 --> 01:02:43.642 at Louisiana State University. 01:02:43.642 --> 01:02:45.478 More importantly, I'm actually the director 01:02:45.478 --> 01:02:48.103 of the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium. 01:02:48.103 --> 01:02:50.949 - Okay, what is that consortium, who is it composed of 01:02:50.949 --> 01:02:52.949 and what is its mission? 01:02:53.140 --> 01:02:57.250 - So the National Space Grant college and fellowship program 01:02:57.250 --> 01:02:59.807 was established by Congress in 1987. 01:02:59.807 --> 01:03:01.947 It's a nation-wide effort, every state in the Union 01:03:01.947 --> 01:03:05.041 plus Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. has a consortium, 01:03:05.041 --> 01:03:08.124 and for this project, there's a team, 01:03:09.131 --> 01:03:12.198 a collection of about 55 student teams 01:03:12.198 --> 01:03:14.350 placed from Oregon to South Carolina 01:03:14.350 --> 01:03:16.333 who are gonna fly balloon pails very similar 01:03:16.333 --> 01:03:19.931 to what we're gonna fly here from Saluki Stadium. 01:03:19.931 --> 01:03:22.996 - When I think of weather balloons I have this image, 01:03:22.996 --> 01:03:27.042 I think of one of my old Time-Life series of books, 01:03:27.042 --> 01:03:29.800 the National Weather Service was launching a monstrous 01:03:29.800 --> 01:03:33.646 balloon that in my memory was like 100 feet long, 01:03:33.646 --> 01:03:35.602 but yours are a little bit different, 01:03:35.602 --> 01:03:38.855 can you talk about the structure of these balloons? 01:03:38.855 --> 01:03:42.686 - So these are normal balloons that the Weather Service 01:03:42.686 --> 01:03:45.209 actually uses, hence the name weather balloons. 01:03:45.209 --> 01:03:47.678 They're made out of latex rubber, when they're 01:03:47.678 --> 01:03:49.507 fully inflated here on the ground, they're about 01:03:49.507 --> 01:03:53.674 eight foot in diameter, and as we go up in the stratosphere 01:03:54.275 --> 01:03:57.942 they'll expand to about 40 feet in diameter. 01:03:57.983 --> 01:04:01.364 - [Kevin] I believe right now, on your television screen, 01:04:01.364 --> 01:04:03.814 you are actually seeing some data and video 01:04:03.814 --> 01:04:05.568 from these weather balloons. 01:04:05.568 --> 01:04:07.553 Also earlier, you told me-- 01:04:07.553 --> 01:04:10.886 - Alright, thank you NASA Edge from Carbondale, Illinois. 01:04:10.886 --> 01:04:13.121 I know you guys were asking about the cloud cover 01:04:13.121 --> 01:04:14.536 here in Charleston, and unfortunately 01:04:14.536 --> 01:04:16.361 it is starting to increase as predicted 01:04:16.361 --> 01:04:19.141 and we can see it over our shoulders here 01:04:19.141 --> 01:04:20.659 that it's pretty cloudy right now 01:04:20.659 --> 01:04:24.158 but that has not done anything to the enthusiasm 01:04:24.158 --> 01:04:25.681 of the crowd that's building here. 01:04:25.681 --> 01:04:26.847 (crowd chanting) 01:04:26.847 --> 01:04:28.726 - And now we've got that G-III aircraft, 01:04:28.726 --> 01:04:30.804 the one we talked about earlier, it's ready. 01:04:30.804 --> 01:04:34.137 They are 35,000 feet up and ready for us 01:04:34.290 --> 01:04:37.006 with an exclusive feed as they fly over the pacific ocean. 01:04:37.006 --> 01:04:39.908 Kevin Rohrer from NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center 01:04:39.908 --> 01:04:41.741 is standing by, Kevin. 01:04:48.316 --> 01:04:49.256 - Hi, welcome aboard. 01:04:49.256 --> 01:04:51.401 We're on NASA Armstrong's G-III aircraft, 01:04:51.401 --> 01:04:53.293 ^right above the Pacific coast. 01:04:53.293 --> 01:04:55.324 ^I'm Kevin Rohrer and I 'll be your host on the aircraft, 01:04:55.324 --> 01:04:58.040 ^and a big howdy and thanks to everybody on the ground 01:04:58.040 --> 01:05:00.767 ^that's making this flight happen. 01:05:00.767 --> 01:05:02.840 We've got a fantastic look out the window right now. 01:05:02.840 --> 01:05:04.517 We're circling above Lincoln City, 01:05:04.517 --> 01:05:06.411 we've got a little bit of cloud cover down there 01:05:06.411 --> 01:05:08.554 but we're gonna have a fantastic view of the eclipse 01:05:08.554 --> 01:05:11.761 and this should prove to be a wonderful day. 01:05:11.761 --> 01:05:14.327 With me today is Robert Lightfoot, administrator of NASA 01:05:14.327 --> 01:05:16.786 as well as Dr. Zurbuchen, head of science. 01:05:16.786 --> 01:05:18.792 And what we're gonna do is cut to them really quickly 01:05:18.792 --> 01:05:20.327 so we can have a little discussion and 01:05:20.327 --> 01:05:23.312 what are your impressions today, Robert? 01:05:23.312 --> 01:05:24.897 - Thanks Kevin, What a great morning so far 01:05:24.897 --> 01:05:26.768 ^over the Pacific ocean. 01:05:26.768 --> 01:05:30.935 ^We got to see the first bites out of the sun from the moon, 01:05:31.032 --> 01:05:33.092 just an incredible view so far. 01:05:33.092 --> 01:05:34.755 I really wanna thank all the teams that are out there 01:05:34.755 --> 01:05:37.469 all over the country, helping us to get the science, 01:05:37.469 --> 01:05:39.335 the most science we can get from here. 01:05:39.335 --> 01:05:40.932 Really gonna be an inspirational day, 01:05:40.932 --> 01:05:42.396 and hopefully inspire the next generation 01:05:42.396 --> 01:05:44.568 of scientists and engineers, like me even, in the 01:05:44.568 --> 01:05:47.671 current generation, pretty inspirational from my standpoint. 01:05:47.671 --> 01:05:49.304 Volunteers everywhere, so we're excited 01:05:49.304 --> 01:05:51.583 about what's going on, you know. 01:05:51.583 --> 01:05:53.293 I gotta turn it over to my buddy Thomas here, 01:05:53.293 --> 01:05:56.460 this is his field of study, so Thomas, 01:05:56.741 --> 01:05:57.669 what do you think so far? 01:05:57.669 --> 01:05:59.852 ^- Oh it's amazing, we're already seeing it happening. 01:05:59.852 --> 01:06:02.024 ^Why do you think this is important 01:06:02.024 --> 01:06:04.449 ^to NASA and the United States? 01:06:04.449 --> 01:06:05.770 - Well first, it's a great opportunity 01:06:05.770 --> 01:06:08.017 with the totality across the continent, 01:06:08.017 --> 01:06:10.212 we're gonna learn as much as we can. 01:06:10.212 --> 01:06:13.222 We study heliophysics and astrophysics in NASA 01:06:13.222 --> 01:06:15.940 and it's a great opportunity for us to learn even more 01:06:15.940 --> 01:06:19.252 and have every instrument we have out there available to us 01:06:19.252 --> 01:06:21.292 to try to understand what we're gonna see 01:06:21.292 --> 01:06:23.061 for the first time in 99 years, 01:06:23.061 --> 01:06:26.710 so it's very, very exciting to see what we can do here 01:06:26.710 --> 01:06:28.639 and the observations that we're gonna get. 01:06:28.639 --> 01:06:29.821 I can't wait to see the science come in 01:06:29.821 --> 01:06:31.892 and all the different science we're gonna get from here. 01:06:31.892 --> 01:06:33.630 Everybody's gonna learn something, 01:06:33.630 --> 01:06:36.064 so you tell me what you think you're gonna learn, Thomas, 01:06:36.064 --> 01:06:38.516 having been studying this for your whole career. 01:06:38.516 --> 01:06:40.772 - Look, my field of study is the sun 01:06:40.772 --> 01:06:43.815 and what's really unique about this time, 01:06:43.815 --> 01:06:47.361 it's the opportunity to see the solar corona, 01:06:47.361 --> 01:06:49.722 the atmosphere of the sun, during the entire 01:06:49.722 --> 01:06:51.950 time of the eclipse stitched together 01:06:51.950 --> 01:06:54.801 for one and a half hours, and the sun of course is important 01:06:54.801 --> 01:06:56.151 because it's the most important star. 01:06:56.151 --> 01:06:59.459 Everything we learn about other stars we learn here first, 01:06:59.459 --> 01:07:02.545 but it's also a source of this weather and radiation 01:07:02.545 --> 01:07:05.333 and actually on board this aircraft we have two instruments, 01:07:05.333 --> 01:07:08.242 one from Los Alamos and one from Space Environment 01:07:08.242 --> 01:07:11.004 Technologies that make those very measurements 01:07:11.004 --> 01:07:13.754 of how this radiation affects us. 01:07:14.587 --> 01:07:16.470 - I think it's important, the more we know about the sun, 01:07:16.470 --> 01:07:17.506 the more we know about space weather, 01:07:17.506 --> 01:07:20.416 it'll help us protect our own spacecraft in the future. 01:07:20.416 --> 01:07:22.614 It'll also help us protect our astronauts 01:07:22.614 --> 01:07:25.079 as we send crew further, and our home planet 01:07:25.079 --> 01:07:26.094 in terms of what's going on here, 01:07:26.094 --> 01:07:27.758 so why don't you tell me what you think 01:07:27.758 --> 01:07:28.987 we're gonna see today and what we're gonna learn today 01:07:28.987 --> 01:07:31.904 through this just incredible event? 01:07:32.532 --> 01:07:35.497 - So one of the most amazing parts of this is really 01:07:35.497 --> 01:07:38.414 to see the star as a magnetic star, 01:07:38.959 --> 01:07:42.131 and what I'm showing here is actually a prediction 01:07:42.131 --> 01:07:45.009 of the space environment of the sun today 01:07:45.009 --> 01:07:47.192 by predictive sciences and 3d printed 01:07:47.192 --> 01:07:49.817 by Applied Physics Lab, and it basically shows 01:07:49.817 --> 01:07:52.304 that these magnetic fields are there, 01:07:52.304 --> 01:07:54.391 and what's really gonna be great today 01:07:54.391 --> 01:07:57.224 is we're able to test these models 01:07:57.806 --> 01:08:00.073 using observations from the ground that we normally 01:08:00.073 --> 01:08:03.906 don't have, so this is really exciting for us. 01:08:04.551 --> 01:08:06.605 - Very good, we've got over 11 spacecraft 01:08:06.605 --> 01:08:08.253 and over 50 balloons going up, 01:08:08.253 --> 01:08:11.077 we've got airborne science like we're even doing here 01:08:11.077 --> 01:08:14.241 on the G-III, can you explain what we expect to 01:08:14.241 --> 01:08:15.742 get out of this spectrograph we're gonna have 01:08:15.742 --> 01:08:17.742 here on the plane today? 01:08:18.062 --> 01:08:20.608 - So a spectrograph is basically taking the light of the sun 01:08:20.608 --> 01:08:23.344 which is white, and spreads it into its colors 01:08:23.344 --> 01:08:25.844 and what we're gonna see is during the time 01:08:25.844 --> 01:08:28.761 of now at partial, we basically see 01:08:31.515 --> 01:08:33.070 during the partial eclipse, we see the radiation 01:08:33.070 --> 01:08:34.875 from the surface of the sun, the photosphere, 01:08:34.875 --> 01:08:36.275 and all colors are there. 01:08:36.275 --> 01:08:38.426 Well, when we're in total eclipse what we're gonna see 01:08:38.426 --> 01:08:40.115 is the radiation from the atmosphere 01:08:40.115 --> 01:08:42.751 that we normally really don't see that up-close, 01:08:42.751 --> 01:08:46.023 and that radiation actually has two predominant lines. 01:08:46.023 --> 01:08:49.440 One is really hot iron and the other one, 01:08:49.495 --> 01:08:51.985 it's hot because it's a million degrees 01:08:51.985 --> 01:08:54.549 because of that magnetic field, the other one is helium. 01:08:54.549 --> 01:08:56.993 Called helium because of Helios, the sun in Greek, 01:08:56.993 --> 01:08:58.815 so it was actually discovered during an eclipse 01:08:58.815 --> 01:09:00.148 much like today. 01:09:01.086 --> 01:09:03.519 - Very cool, so here we are, about 30 minutes 01:09:03.519 --> 01:09:07.269 away from totality, but you can explain to me 01:09:07.761 --> 01:09:09.655 what you think from a spectrograph perspective. 01:09:09.655 --> 01:09:12.586 Look out the window, what are you gonna see there? 01:09:12.586 --> 01:09:16.753 - For me, the amazing part really is that we're able 01:09:17.849 --> 01:09:20.886 to of course, see our star and its beauty. 01:09:20.886 --> 01:09:24.007 I'm already kind of emotionally touched even now, 01:09:24.007 --> 01:09:27.888 but also we're gonna see how that eclipse, the lack of 01:09:27.888 --> 01:09:30.986 radiation, this perfect cloud that the moon makes 01:09:30.986 --> 01:09:33.083 affects the Earth and its turbulence. 01:09:33.083 --> 01:09:36.214 I'm really gonna see, we're gonna feel it up here. 01:09:36.214 --> 01:09:37.347 - Pretty cool. 01:09:37.347 --> 01:09:38.352 Alright, thanks Thomas and thanks 01:09:38.352 --> 01:09:39.848 for sharing, everybody out there. 01:09:39.848 --> 01:09:42.502 I'll tell you, about 30 minutes away, 01:09:42.502 --> 01:09:44.335 we're gonna measure as much as we can here 01:09:44.335 --> 01:09:46.564 and I'm about to fight this man for a window seat. 01:09:46.564 --> 01:09:48.046 So when you get on an airplane and you 01:09:48.046 --> 01:09:50.014 look for a window seat, get your glasses on. 01:09:50.014 --> 01:09:52.723 We're gonna look out here and we're gonna wrap up here 01:09:52.723 --> 01:09:56.102 from the G-III and sent it back to Solar Eclipse Central. 01:09:56.102 --> 01:09:57.602 See you guys soon. 01:09:59.002 --> 01:10:00.669 - Wow, that's great. 01:10:01.004 --> 01:10:03.723 Thank you to those of you on the G-III, to fill us in 01:10:03.723 --> 01:10:05.456 on what you're gonna be seeing from there. 01:10:05.456 --> 01:10:08.325 Here we are, on the other side of the country, 01:10:08.325 --> 01:10:11.063 here at Charleston, South Carolina. 01:10:11.063 --> 01:10:12.531 I wanna give a shout-out to the college, 01:10:12.531 --> 01:10:16.698 the students here have been so incredibly great for us 01:10:17.267 --> 01:10:19.538 and we are actually gonna have a chance 01:10:19.538 --> 01:10:22.030 to go back to Salem, Oregon and find out 01:10:22.030 --> 01:10:25.959 a little bit more about what they are seeing there. 01:10:25.959 --> 01:10:30.126 They're talking about this moon picture right here. 01:10:30.890 --> 01:10:31.723 - [Sean] We've got a live picture right now 01:10:31.723 --> 01:10:33.338 from Salem, Oregon which we were showing you 01:10:33.338 --> 01:10:35.500 earlier in the broadcast, and as you can see, 01:10:35.500 --> 01:10:37.133 we've been sort of describing it as the moon 01:10:37.133 --> 01:10:41.074 taking a bite out of the sun, that's continued to happen 01:10:41.074 --> 01:10:44.879 and what it looks like, Karen, it's almost like the sun, 01:10:44.879 --> 01:10:48.010 what we see, is almost like a crescent moon, but it's not. 01:10:48.010 --> 01:10:49.203 The moon is actually the black portion 01:10:49.203 --> 01:10:52.895 and the upper right-hand portion of the sun is being 01:10:52.895 --> 01:10:56.354 blocked out as we get closer and closer toward totality, 01:10:56.354 --> 01:11:00.521 which as Robert and Thomas said on the G-III aircraft, 01:11:01.184 --> 01:11:03.413 is only about 30 minutes away for folks in Oregon. 01:11:03.413 --> 01:11:06.746 - [Karen] And we will go right to Madras 01:11:07.187 --> 01:11:08.821 which is right near Oregon. 01:11:08.821 --> 01:11:11.821 This is another view of the eclipse. 01:11:12.353 --> 01:11:14.360 One of the greatest things about this particular eclipse, 01:11:14.360 --> 01:11:18.365 Sean, is that the totality will be over land for so long. 01:11:18.365 --> 01:11:20.745 So we're about to start seeing it in Oregon, 01:11:20.745 --> 01:11:23.447 but normally, most times we have an eclipse, 01:11:23.447 --> 01:11:25.918 a lot of it happens over the ocean, 01:11:25.918 --> 01:11:27.114 the ocean gets to see it. 01:11:27.114 --> 01:11:28.383 - [Sean] Right, so for folks, especially here 01:11:28.383 --> 01:11:30.512 in the United States, this is the first time 01:11:30.512 --> 01:11:33.626 from coast to coast that we've seen a total solar eclipse 01:11:33.626 --> 01:11:36.538 since 1979, and so that's why for a lot of folks, 01:11:36.538 --> 01:11:37.884 they're talking about this being 01:11:37.884 --> 01:11:40.135 a once in a lifetime opportunity. 01:11:40.135 --> 01:11:43.583 Remember, it takes about 90 minutes for the totality 01:11:43.583 --> 01:11:46.831 portion of the eclipse to cross the United States, 01:11:46.831 --> 01:11:49.200 the continental United States, so they mentioned earlier 01:11:49.200 --> 01:11:52.103 from the G-III, about 30 minutes from now 01:11:52.103 --> 01:11:54.599 'til the totality there, about 90 minutes 01:11:54.599 --> 01:11:56.912 to get to where we are here in Charleston, 01:11:56.912 --> 01:11:59.888 so that means, what, in about two hours 01:11:59.888 --> 01:12:01.084 we'll be in totality here. 01:12:01.084 --> 01:12:03.582 - [Karen] And we are now going to go to Salem, Oregon 01:12:03.582 --> 01:12:06.689 where Jesse Carpenter will be talking to Nicky VialL, 01:12:06.689 --> 01:12:09.022 a solar scientist from NASA. 01:12:14.993 --> 01:12:16.470 - Welcome back to Salem, Oregon. 01:12:16.470 --> 01:12:19.620 It is clear, but yes, it is a little bit breezy here today. 01:12:19.620 --> 01:12:20.870 - Breezy, yeah. 01:12:21.459 --> 01:12:25.626 ^- I'm joined again with NASA solar physicist Nicoleen Viall. 01:12:27.014 --> 01:12:28.264 ^- Hi. - Hey, so, 01:12:29.268 --> 01:12:31.891 why don't we just take a look at what we've got 01:12:31.891 --> 01:12:34.919 going on here now that transit is deep underway. 01:12:34.919 --> 01:12:37.102 ^- Yeah, so the moon is crossing in front of the sun 01:12:37.102 --> 01:12:38.515 ^and it's kinda looking like the moon 01:12:38.515 --> 01:12:40.282 ^is taking a bite out of the sun, 01:12:40.282 --> 01:12:42.712 ^and if you guys have any colanders with you, 01:12:42.712 --> 01:12:45.184 like a kitchen colander strainer, 01:12:45.184 --> 01:12:48.057 you can actually see, if you let the sunlight 01:12:48.057 --> 01:12:49.578 come through that colander and look at the shadow 01:12:49.578 --> 01:12:52.265 on the ground below, you'll actually be able to see 01:12:52.265 --> 01:12:55.029 the projected image of the moon taking a bit out of the sun 01:12:55.029 --> 01:12:57.531 down on the ground in front of you. 01:12:57.531 --> 01:12:59.550 - God that's cool. - Yeah. 01:12:59.550 --> 01:13:02.421 - You can just get something from the kitchen and share that 01:13:02.421 --> 01:13:05.028 with everyone who you're watching this with, that's great. 01:13:05.028 --> 01:13:06.728 - That's right, now's the time to take out 01:13:06.728 --> 01:13:08.218 your pinhole cameras, if you have those, 01:13:08.218 --> 01:13:10.918 or if you have the safety eclipse glasses, 01:13:10.918 --> 01:13:13.144 now's the time to get these out 01:13:13.144 --> 01:13:16.267 and make sure to look at the sun with these on. 01:13:16.267 --> 01:13:18.418 - That's right, you wanna be watching safely. 01:13:18.418 --> 01:13:19.464 I know we've been talking about it, 01:13:19.464 --> 01:13:21.947 but we really can't stress it enough. 01:13:21.947 --> 01:13:25.034 It's very important to be wearing these glasses. 01:13:25.034 --> 01:13:26.599 - It's just so amaZing though, to see the moon 01:13:26.599 --> 01:13:27.950 crossing in front of the sun, I mean, 01:13:27.950 --> 01:13:31.283 you never get to see anything like this. 01:13:31.682 --> 01:13:35.849 - So are there some basics that you could share with us, 01:13:36.144 --> 01:13:37.931 I know that we were trying to present some of that 01:13:37.931 --> 01:13:39.657 a little bit earlier in the show, 01:13:39.657 --> 01:13:42.541 but are there some things that maybe you could talk 01:13:42.541 --> 01:13:44.649 a little bit about the layers of the sun? 01:13:44.649 --> 01:13:48.164 - Yeah, yeah, there's sort of three outer layers of the sun, 01:13:48.164 --> 01:13:50.483 there's the photosphere, that's the part we're seeing now, 01:13:50.483 --> 01:13:53.093 there's the chromosphere and the corona above that. 01:13:53.093 --> 01:13:54.340 The chromosphere and the corona, 01:13:54.340 --> 01:13:56.246 that's the solar atmosphere. 01:13:56.246 --> 01:13:59.390 Now what's cool about today is that usually we get to see 01:13:59.390 --> 01:14:01.899 the photosphere, the visible surface of the sun 01:14:01.899 --> 01:14:04.743 but today during totality, we're gonna get to see 01:14:04.743 --> 01:14:06.714 the atmosphere, that's the chromosphere and the corona 01:14:06.714 --> 01:14:08.545 of the sun, and we don't usually get to see those 01:14:08.545 --> 01:14:11.570 because they're so much less bright than the sun. 01:14:11.570 --> 01:14:14.528 It takes something special like today's total solar eclipse 01:14:14.528 --> 01:14:16.445 to be able to see them. 01:14:16.861 --> 01:14:20.778 So that's really amazing, we're gonna see that. 01:14:20.797 --> 01:14:21.991 - It is so cool. 01:14:21.991 --> 01:14:25.324 So I think what we're gonna be doing now 01:14:26.363 --> 01:14:30.530 is sending it back to NASA's Eclipse Central in Charleston. 01:14:31.267 --> 01:14:32.550 Take it away, guys. 01:14:32.550 --> 01:14:33.383 - Thanks. 01:14:35.538 --> 01:14:37.415 - And welcome back to Charleston. 01:14:37.415 --> 01:14:39.665 (cheering) 01:14:40.775 --> 01:14:43.685 You can hear these students are really excited for us. 01:14:43.685 --> 01:14:46.235 I've gotta tell you, I had the chance to interview 01:14:46.235 --> 01:14:48.894 some of them just a few days ago. 01:14:48.894 --> 01:14:50.203 The College of Charleston students are excited, 01:14:50.203 --> 01:14:52.861 and I wanted to find out what they knew about the eclipse. 01:14:52.861 --> 01:14:54.528 Let's run the video. 01:14:54.684 --> 01:14:56.934 (cheering) 01:15:01.140 --> 01:15:02.581 - [Sean] Right now what we're looking at-- 01:15:02.581 --> 01:15:05.164 (bell ringing) 01:15:07.968 --> 01:15:11.051 - Hello, I am Karen Fox with NASA TV. 01:15:11.176 --> 01:15:13.593 I'm here at the College of Charleston, 01:15:13.593 --> 01:15:15.725 in Charleston, South Carolina 01:15:15.725 --> 01:15:18.648 and we are going to spend some time interviewing students 01:15:18.648 --> 01:15:22.815 to find out what they know about the total eclipse of 2017. 01:15:23.263 --> 01:15:25.221 (cheering) 01:15:25.221 --> 01:15:26.293 - What's happening on Monday? 01:15:26.293 --> 01:15:28.606 - The solar eclipse is happening. 01:15:28.606 --> 01:15:30.439 - Monday, the eclipse. 01:15:30.728 --> 01:15:31.561 (bell rings) 01:15:31.561 --> 01:15:32.904 - That's the right answer, the eclipse. 01:15:32.904 --> 01:15:34.216 Are you ready for the eclipse? 01:15:34.216 --> 01:15:36.972 - Oh, I'm pumped, I've been talking about it all summer. 01:15:36.972 --> 01:15:38.722 - What is an eclipse? 01:15:40.244 --> 01:15:43.558 - When the moon gets in front of the sun. 01:15:43.558 --> 01:15:45.438 - It's when the moon passes in front of the sun 01:15:45.438 --> 01:15:47.628 and creates a shadow on Earth. 01:15:47.628 --> 01:15:50.628 - What is the closest star to Earth? 01:15:50.677 --> 01:15:51.510 - The sun. 01:15:51.510 --> 01:15:52.343 - The sun. 01:15:52.343 --> 01:15:53.176 - The sun. 01:15:53.176 --> 01:15:54.009 - The sun. 01:15:54.288 --> 01:15:56.304 - Yes, the sun, very nice. 01:15:56.304 --> 01:15:59.096 Will you demonstrate for me putting these on? 01:15:59.096 --> 01:16:02.120 - You've gotta put them over the glasses. 01:16:02.120 --> 01:16:04.163 - The music do you associate with the eclipse? 01:16:04.163 --> 01:16:05.096 What have you been listening to, 01:16:05.096 --> 01:16:06.306 what are you going to listen to? 01:16:06.306 --> 01:16:07.938 ♫ Here comes the sun 01:16:07.938 --> 01:16:09.925 ♫ Total eclipse of my heart 01:16:09.925 --> 01:16:12.092 (humming) 01:16:12.756 --> 01:16:16.013 ♫ I saved every letter you wrote me 01:16:16.013 --> 01:16:18.596 (bell ringing) 01:16:19.613 --> 01:16:20.710 - [Karen] I was really impressed with 01:16:20.710 --> 01:16:24.863 how much these students knew, we had a great time here. 01:16:24.863 --> 01:16:29.030 And now you can once again see the imagery we are pulling in 01:16:29.269 --> 01:16:32.036 of a white light telescope of two eclipses 01:16:32.036 --> 01:16:32.970 happening as we speak. 01:16:32.970 --> 01:16:34.121 We've began the partial eclipse 01:16:34.121 --> 01:16:37.121 in Salem, Oregon and Madras, Oregon. 01:16:37.509 --> 01:16:39.420 - [Sean] Right, as you can see, it's quite an image 01:16:39.420 --> 01:16:43.231 as that moon continues to progress, transit is the term, 01:16:43.231 --> 01:16:47.398 over the surface of the sun, getting closer and closer 01:16:48.188 --> 01:16:51.367 toward totality, and again, this is an opportunity 01:16:51.367 --> 01:16:53.396 to remind folks, regardless of whether 01:16:53.396 --> 01:16:54.614 you're watching this right now in Oregon 01:16:54.614 --> 01:16:57.256 or if you're anticipating the beginning of the eclipse 01:16:57.256 --> 01:16:59.464 from another location in the U.S. or really 01:16:59.464 --> 01:17:02.129 across North America, wherever you're able to view it from, 01:17:02.129 --> 01:17:05.380 it's important that you have to have those safety glasses. 01:17:05.380 --> 01:17:07.030 We cannot stress that enough, we've been getting 01:17:07.030 --> 01:17:10.390 a lot of questions on social media, and people emailing us 01:17:10.390 --> 01:17:12.975 asking about that, you must have the glasses 01:17:12.975 --> 01:17:15.636 unless you are in the path of totality 01:17:15.636 --> 01:17:17.542 and during those brief moments of totality. 01:17:17.542 --> 01:17:20.405 - [Karen] Right, and so on excepting the glasses, 01:17:20.405 --> 01:17:23.403 but of course you can also watch the sun indirectly. 01:17:23.403 --> 01:17:25.100 There are a lot of ways. 01:17:25.100 --> 01:17:27.727 Nicky Viall, a solar scientist, just told us 01:17:27.727 --> 01:17:29.546 that you can even pull out a colander 01:17:29.546 --> 01:17:31.650 because it's got little pinholes in it. 01:17:31.650 --> 01:17:34.493 You can use a Ritz cracker that has a hole in it. 01:17:34.493 --> 01:17:38.639 The other thing is, you might even see the eclipse 01:17:38.639 --> 01:17:42.516 in it filtering through the space between leaves on a tree. 01:17:42.516 --> 01:17:45.156 There are some really wonderful ways 01:17:45.156 --> 01:17:48.323 of attaching imagery of it, so be safe 01:17:49.933 --> 01:17:52.195 but don't think you absolutely have to have the glasses. 01:17:52.195 --> 01:17:54.262 That is not your only option. 01:17:54.262 --> 01:17:55.250 Should we talk a little bit about the science? 01:17:55.250 --> 01:17:57.129 (hosts talking over each other) 01:17:57.129 --> 01:17:58.617 - [Sean] Before we do, I just wanna get a shout-out 01:17:58.617 --> 01:18:00.016 to our website because we're talking about all these 01:18:00.016 --> 01:18:01.485 great ways to indirectly view it, and again, 01:18:01.485 --> 01:18:05.235 just a plug for the eclipse2017.nasa.gov site 01:18:05.275 --> 01:18:07.039 where you can find all kinds of information 01:18:07.039 --> 01:18:10.272 but especially some do-it-yourself instructions 01:18:10.272 --> 01:18:13.486 on how to create some of those indirect viewing methods. 01:18:13.486 --> 01:18:14.581 - [Karen] Great, we've talked a lot here 01:18:14.581 --> 01:18:16.023 about the partial eclipse. 01:18:16.023 --> 01:18:19.325 Nicky Viall, who you just heard talking, she studies 01:18:19.325 --> 01:18:22.819 the corona, that is the atmosphere around the sun 01:18:22.819 --> 01:18:24.352 and she was telling me just the other day 01:18:24.352 --> 01:18:26.812 how excited she is that she's going to be able 01:18:26.812 --> 01:18:28.846 to see that with her naked eye 01:18:28.846 --> 01:18:31.075 during the actual total solar eclipse 01:18:31.075 --> 01:18:32.011 so that's what's impressive. 01:18:32.011 --> 01:18:35.428 We can only see that normally from space, 01:18:36.019 --> 01:18:36.924 with our space telescopes. 01:18:36.924 --> 01:18:37.830 - [Sean] Right, and even with that, 01:18:37.830 --> 01:18:40.575 I was talking to one of the heliophysicists 01:18:40.575 --> 01:18:43.193 back at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. recently 01:18:43.193 --> 01:18:47.126 about this, that even with those artificial eclipses 01:18:47.126 --> 01:18:49.563 that they create from the coronagraph, they're called, 01:18:49.563 --> 01:18:53.382 in space, it doesn't give you the same viewing opportunities 01:18:53.382 --> 01:18:55.939 that we have with a natural eclipse like we're seeing now. 01:18:55.939 --> 01:18:58.098 There's actually a couple different layers 01:18:58.098 --> 01:19:00.544 of the sun's corona, we have the outer corona 01:19:00.544 --> 01:19:02.460 and the inner corona, and because of 01:19:02.460 --> 01:19:06.627 the way those coronagraphs work, they do not allow 01:19:07.283 --> 01:19:09.946 a good image of the inner corona, the part that's 01:19:09.946 --> 01:19:12.855 really close to the sun's surface, only the outer corona. 01:19:12.855 --> 01:19:17.022 It's only during an actual, natural total solar eclipse 01:19:17.285 --> 01:19:19.412 like we're viewing today across the country, 01:19:19.412 --> 01:19:22.321 that scientists, heliophysicists and others 01:19:22.321 --> 01:19:24.920 and just the general public are able to see 01:19:24.920 --> 01:19:26.653 the entire corona and that really gives them 01:19:26.653 --> 01:19:28.824 a lot more information, and remember, 01:19:28.824 --> 01:19:30.506 for these scientists no matter where they are, 01:19:30.506 --> 01:19:32.996 they only have that brief maybe two minutes, 01:19:32.996 --> 01:19:35.141 maybe three if you're really lucky, 01:19:35.141 --> 01:19:36.687 right in center of the line of totality, 01:19:36.687 --> 01:19:40.854 to see the entire corona and get those measurements. 01:20:03.793 --> 01:20:06.371 So again, Karen, as folks are looking at their screen 01:20:06.371 --> 01:20:08.691 right now, you can see that double image. 01:20:08.691 --> 01:20:10.235 Salem, Oregon there on the left, 01:20:10.235 --> 01:20:12.659 and nearby Madras on the right. 01:20:12.659 --> 01:20:15.259 Two different images with two different types of telescope 01:20:15.259 --> 01:20:17.509 using to view this eclipse. 01:20:18.246 --> 01:20:20.075 It's still in the partial stages, starting to get 01:20:20.075 --> 01:20:23.825 closer and closer toward totality in just a few minutes. 01:20:23.825 --> 01:20:25.350 - [Karen] And stick with us, because we are going to be 01:20:25.350 --> 01:20:28.486 tracing this eclipse all the way across the country. 01:20:28.486 --> 01:20:31.913 Not only does everybody in the country have a great view, 01:20:31.913 --> 01:20:35.118 but we have some views from the sky, don't we Sean? 01:20:35.118 --> 01:20:35.969 - [Sean] That's right. 01:20:35.969 --> 01:20:37.384 Looking up from the ground is how 01:20:37.384 --> 01:20:39.216 most of us will experience the eclipse. 01:20:39.216 --> 01:20:41.267 Researches at Southern Illinois University 01:20:41.267 --> 01:20:43.077 wanted a different perspective. 01:20:43.077 --> 01:20:45.011 They wanted to look down at Earth 01:20:45.011 --> 01:20:46.941 to image the moon's shadow. 01:20:46.941 --> 01:20:50.077 In Illinois and across the United States, teams are using 01:20:50.077 --> 01:20:53.144 high-altitude balloons for a unique perspective. 01:20:53.144 --> 01:20:54.314 - [Karen] Right now they're getting ready 01:20:54.314 --> 01:20:56.132 to launch a research balloon from 01:20:56.132 --> 01:20:58.549 Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. 01:20:58.549 --> 01:21:00.769 We're gonna go back to Carbondale, Illinois. 01:21:00.769 --> 01:21:02.050 The primary payload will be a 01:21:02.050 --> 01:21:05.038 real-time high-definition video system, 01:21:05.038 --> 01:21:09.121 so let's check in on the progress of that launch. 01:21:10.308 --> 01:21:13.108 (both talking at once) 01:21:13.108 --> 01:21:14.598 - An eclipse in 4D, that's what it's like 01:21:14.598 --> 01:21:15.895 being on the surface. 01:21:15.895 --> 01:21:17.197 - You know, to actually understand 01:21:17.197 --> 01:21:18.896 the corona's very important because 01:21:18.896 --> 01:21:20.466 all sun-like stars have that corona. 01:21:20.466 --> 01:21:22.134 We need to understand why the energy's 01:21:22.134 --> 01:21:23.838 released in the way it is. 01:21:23.838 --> 01:21:25.231 - Alright, look, we're getting a call, 01:21:25.231 --> 01:21:27.115 we need to go inside the stadium right now. 01:21:27.115 --> 01:21:28.921 They're about to launch the balloon 01:21:28.921 --> 01:21:31.658 for the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium, 01:21:31.658 --> 01:21:34.991 so let's go to Kevin, who's standing by. 01:21:38.332 --> 01:21:39.393 - [Woman] Over there, you see that balloon 01:21:39.393 --> 01:21:42.192 and the parachute attached, that is what's 01:21:42.192 --> 01:21:45.228 gonna let that get safely down to the ground. 01:21:45.228 --> 01:21:46.877 - [Man] And all those instruments. 01:21:46.877 --> 01:21:50.234 (both talking over each other) 01:21:50.234 --> 01:21:52.651 - Okay, can you hear me okay? 01:21:53.989 --> 01:21:57.009 This is Kevin Boucher, sorry about the little mix-up. 01:21:57.009 --> 01:22:00.403 I was too enthralled, I was too enthralled 01:22:00.403 --> 01:22:02.826 looking at this fantastic weather balloon 01:22:02.826 --> 01:22:06.993 that has just launched, you can probably see it behind me 01:22:07.298 --> 01:22:10.084 and it's pandemonium here, but it's good pandemonium. 01:22:10.084 --> 01:22:12.350 One of the weather balloons has launched, 01:22:12.350 --> 01:22:15.029 and with me is one of the team members. 01:22:15.029 --> 01:22:18.172 Introduce yourself to the entire world, no pressure. 01:22:18.172 --> 01:22:20.672 - Hi, my name is Colleen Fava, 01:22:20.717 --> 01:22:22.166 I'm the Program Manager for the 01:22:22.166 --> 01:22:25.698 Louisiana Space Grant Consortium based at LSU. 01:22:25.698 --> 01:22:27.912 - Okay, so just to kinda keep a scorecard for people 01:22:27.912 --> 01:22:29.926 if they're wondering, we talked to, I guess, 01:22:29.926 --> 01:22:32.347 the program director, Dr. Gregory Guzik. 01:22:32.347 --> 01:22:33.680 He is your boss. 01:22:33.766 --> 01:22:35.217 - Yep, he is my boss. 01:22:35.217 --> 01:22:36.882 - [Kevin- What exactly does your job 01:22:36.882 --> 01:22:38.836 entail with this consortium? 01:22:38.836 --> 01:22:40.971 - [Colleen] I manage the programs, 01:22:40.971 --> 01:22:43.559 I write grants and reports and organize students 01:22:43.559 --> 01:22:46.935 and keep them on track and I do communications training. 01:22:46.935 --> 01:22:49.822 - [Kevin] Sounds like you do a lot of outreach as well, 01:22:49.822 --> 01:22:52.248 and it thrills my heart and I'm sure it thrills your heart 01:22:52.248 --> 01:22:54.840 seeing so many of these young people. 01:22:54.840 --> 01:22:57.808 You probably did not have to drag these young people 01:22:57.808 --> 01:23:00.687 kicking and screaming to do this, did you? 01:23:00.687 --> 01:23:02.680 - [Colleen] No, no, we brought four institutions with us 01:23:02.680 --> 01:23:06.474 and LSU is the home team, so they were always coming 01:23:06.474 --> 01:23:08.718 but we actually had a competition to figure out 01:23:08.718 --> 01:23:10.585 which other students we'd bring, 01:23:10.585 --> 01:23:12.982 and we brought a team of 46 people. 01:23:12.982 --> 01:23:14.905 - [Kevin] Okay, and right behind you now 01:23:14.905 --> 01:23:18.418 I had forgotten they're launching two balloons. 01:23:18.418 --> 01:23:21.793 Now the first balloon, I think we have a video 01:23:21.793 --> 01:23:23.543 of the first balloon. 01:23:26.251 --> 01:23:29.857 Okay, we're getting ready to launch the second balloon. 01:23:29.857 --> 01:23:31.180 - [Colleen] Both of our balloons launched already, 01:23:31.180 --> 01:23:33.066 they're doing another... 01:23:33.066 --> 01:23:36.853 - [Kevin] The first balloon, Colleen, that was launched. 01:23:36.853 --> 01:23:39.762 Where is it right now, maybe 2,000 feet, you think? 01:23:39.762 --> 01:23:42.781 - They go up a thousand feet a minute, 01:23:42.781 --> 01:23:46.147 so a few thousand's probably been a couple minutes now. 01:23:46.147 --> 01:23:47.328 - There it goes! 01:23:47.328 --> 01:23:51.271 This other one has launched, it's a big yellow balloon 01:23:51.271 --> 01:23:55.438 filled with helium, and the next time we see this balloon 01:23:55.937 --> 01:24:00.028 will be down on the ground, it'll have wonderful data. 01:24:00.028 --> 01:24:02.830 Can you tell us about what goes into 01:24:02.830 --> 01:24:06.330 studying the winds and the weather reports 01:24:06.597 --> 01:24:08.427 trying to calculate where this will land 01:24:08.427 --> 01:24:11.193 so you can quickly retrieve it and get your data? 01:24:11.193 --> 01:24:13.430 That's a whole nother science. 01:24:13.430 --> 01:24:16.277 - Yeah, I'm not an expert on it, I can just tell you 01:24:16.277 --> 01:24:20.444 that we do our predict, we started our predicts months ago, 01:24:21.722 --> 01:24:23.620 doing them maybe every other week or so, 01:24:23.620 --> 01:24:26.006 and the last few weeks we've been doing predicts 01:24:26.006 --> 01:24:28.263 every single day, so we have a good idea, 01:24:28.263 --> 01:24:30.756 we think it'll go about 36 kilometers, 01:24:30.756 --> 01:24:34.521 about 22 miles due east, somewhere near Marion 01:24:34.521 --> 01:24:38.409 and we'll have several chase vehicles staged and ready to go 01:24:38.409 --> 01:24:41.577 and I'm not sure if they decided to leave 01:24:41.577 --> 01:24:44.464 before or after totality, but we have some local people 01:24:44.464 --> 01:24:47.207 helping us to make sure we have access 01:24:47.207 --> 01:24:51.374 and we're hoping, expecting to be a pretty easy recovery. 01:24:51.843 --> 01:24:55.659 - Will you actually be on the chase team yourself? 01:24:55.659 --> 01:24:57.516 - No, I'm not gonna be on the chase team. 01:24:57.516 --> 01:24:59.627 I need to do logistics here on the ground. 01:24:59.627 --> 01:25:02.285 I have been on a chase though, and it's very exciting. 01:25:02.285 --> 01:25:05.240 - Oh I'm sure, can you tell me about it, 01:25:05.240 --> 01:25:07.875 and please get as specific as you can, 01:25:07.875 --> 01:25:10.346 what are some of the most eventful ones? 01:25:10.346 --> 01:25:13.263 Has the balloon ever come down in-- 01:25:13.931 --> 01:25:16.377 - The Pontchartrain River? - How did you know? 01:25:16.377 --> 01:25:17.840 You're not kidding me. 01:25:17.840 --> 01:25:19.011 - I'm not kidding you, 01:25:19.011 --> 01:25:21.460 we did have a landing in the Pontchartrain River, 01:25:21.460 --> 01:25:24.345 which is not a great recovery but it was definitely 01:25:24.345 --> 01:25:27.082 better than landing in the airport, 01:25:27.082 --> 01:25:29.111 which we were afraid was gonna happen. 01:25:29.111 --> 01:25:31.235 - [Kevin] I was gonna say I'd rather land in an airport 01:25:31.235 --> 01:25:33.874 because the Pontchartrain River, you have the water 01:25:33.874 --> 01:25:36.678 that might damage some of your instruments, 01:25:36.678 --> 01:25:38.415 but you're the expert then. 01:25:38.415 --> 01:25:39.641 - [Colleen] I think we'd rather not 01:25:39.641 --> 01:25:41.655 interfere with Air Traffic Control. 01:25:41.655 --> 01:25:42.884 - [Kevin] That's true. 01:25:42.884 --> 01:25:44.858 Landing in the Pontchartrain River, and I assume 01:25:44.858 --> 01:25:47.819 the alligators did not make a meal out of your 01:25:47.819 --> 01:25:50.326 several thousand dollars worth of instruments. 01:25:50.326 --> 01:25:51.844 - [Colleen] We didn't recover that payload, 01:25:51.844 --> 01:25:53.751 but we have done water recoveries in the past 01:25:53.751 --> 01:25:57.457 and we actually just invested in an inflatable kayak. 01:25:57.457 --> 01:25:59.218 - [Kevin] My producer just told me 01:25:59.218 --> 01:26:02.468 we are seeing first contact, everybody. 01:26:02.668 --> 01:26:04.978 We have people putting on their glasses, 01:26:04.978 --> 01:26:08.879 the first contact, we are seeing the first contact 01:26:08.879 --> 01:26:11.369 and we've got about four minutes left. 01:26:11.369 --> 01:26:14.830 How many total solar eclipses have you seen, Colleen? 01:26:14.830 --> 01:26:17.080 - [Colleen] This is my first. 01:26:17.080 --> 01:26:18.704 - [Kevin] I assume you have your glasses, 01:26:18.704 --> 01:26:21.141 feel free to do ahead and put your glasses on. 01:26:21.141 --> 01:26:21.974 - [Colleen] Do you want a pair? 01:26:21.974 --> 01:26:23.626 - [Kevin] Yes, please. 01:26:23.626 --> 01:26:25.732 (announcer speaking in background) 01:26:25.732 --> 01:26:28.315 If you don't mind, I'm gonna... 01:26:34.337 --> 01:26:36.920 Right, okay, my glasses are on. 01:26:37.063 --> 01:26:39.063 Are your glasses on too? 01:26:39.375 --> 01:26:42.792 Okay, and the sun, we are turning around. 01:26:43.485 --> 01:26:45.897 Would it be okay if I turned my back to the cameras 01:26:45.897 --> 01:26:47.397 so I can see the-- 01:26:47.881 --> 01:26:51.142 Oh, okay, I'm gonna turn my back to the camera. 01:26:51.142 --> 01:26:52.059 Oh my gosh! 01:26:52.480 --> 01:26:55.980 There is a small bite starting in the sun. 01:26:58.818 --> 01:27:00.005 What are your comments? 01:27:00.005 --> 01:27:03.317 - [Colleen] I said that is gorgeous, isn't it? 01:27:03.317 --> 01:27:04.962 - [Kevin] It is fantastic. 01:27:04.962 --> 01:27:09.129 The total solar eclipse in Carbondale, Illinois has begun. 01:27:10.189 --> 01:27:12.658 A small bite is being taken out of the sun 01:27:12.658 --> 01:27:15.049 by our satellite called the moon. 01:27:15.049 --> 01:27:17.132 This, this is incredible. 01:27:17.571 --> 01:27:21.005 Earlier, they were telling people to talk about 01:27:21.005 --> 01:27:23.129 in one word to describe the eclipse. 01:27:23.129 --> 01:27:25.462 The word for me is majestic. 01:27:25.806 --> 01:27:27.046 A lot of times, I don't know about you, 01:27:27.046 --> 01:27:30.567 sometimes if I want to take a break on my computer-- 01:27:30.567 --> 01:27:32.650 Oh, I can take these off. 01:27:33.185 --> 01:27:36.710 I will go to the solar, I think it's the dynamic observatory 01:27:36.710 --> 01:27:40.009 that often will give videos of the rotating sun, 01:27:40.009 --> 01:27:41.211 and Colleen, I don't know about you 01:27:41.211 --> 01:27:45.378 but when I see that giant ball of gas just rotating, 01:27:46.072 --> 01:27:49.905 majestic is the word that comes to my mind, would you agree? 01:27:49.905 --> 01:27:51.986 - I absolutely agree, it's amazing. 01:27:51.986 --> 01:27:55.416 I think that we're really fortunate to have this opportunity 01:27:55.416 --> 01:27:58.807 and to be in community with our students and faculty 01:27:58.807 --> 01:28:02.292 and staff from multiple institutions here at SIU 01:28:02.292 --> 01:28:04.118 has been wonderful and very welcoming. 01:28:04.118 --> 01:28:05.631 It's just extraordinary. 01:28:05.631 --> 01:28:06.464 - It sure is. 01:28:06.464 --> 01:28:08.177 Thank you very much for your time, 01:28:08.177 --> 01:28:09.098 keep up the great work. 01:28:09.098 --> 01:28:11.598 Thank you for talking with us. 01:28:11.836 --> 01:28:14.426 That was Colleen Fava, with the LSU-- 01:28:14.426 --> 01:28:17.156 - Thank you so much to Carbondale. 01:28:17.156 --> 01:28:18.069 - That was amazing. 01:28:18.069 --> 01:28:20.278 - And I love looking at those images 01:28:20.278 --> 01:28:21.719 and how you can see different things 01:28:21.719 --> 01:28:23.804 at different parts of the country. 01:28:23.804 --> 01:28:26.508 It's wonderful to be sharing this imagery with all of you. 01:28:26.508 --> 01:28:29.393 We will have more from Carbondale later today. 01:28:29.393 --> 01:28:33.274 Please stick with us, we have so much coming up. 01:28:33.274 --> 01:28:36.248 - From there and from here at NASA's Eclipse Central 01:28:36.248 --> 01:28:39.081 here at the College of Charleston. 01:31:33.498 --> 01:31:35.364 - Looking out toward the horizon, 01:31:35.364 --> 01:31:39.362 we await the first glimpse of a total solar eclipse 01:31:39.362 --> 01:31:41.959 when the movement of our moon completely blocks 01:31:41.959 --> 01:31:43.626 our view of the sun. 01:31:44.034 --> 01:31:47.490 Starting in the air, from NASA's Gulfstream III aircraft 01:31:47.490 --> 01:31:50.039 off the coast of Oregon, we anticipate 01:31:50.039 --> 01:31:52.956 this awe-inspiring celestial event. 01:31:53.860 --> 01:31:56.992 Over the next three hours, we will track the solar eclipse 01:31:56.992 --> 01:32:00.143 as it moves across the entire United States 01:32:00.143 --> 01:32:03.519 from coast to coast, observing this incredible event 01:32:03.519 --> 01:32:05.602 through the eyes of NASA. 01:32:06.706 --> 01:32:09.623 ^(fast-paced music) 01:32:21.308 --> 01:32:23.284 ^Hello and welcome, I'm Dwayne Brown from NASA's 01:32:23.284 --> 01:32:26.926 ^Office of Communications, and over the next three hours 01:32:26.926 --> 01:32:29.477 we're going to look through the eyes of NASA 01:32:29.477 --> 01:32:33.060 and experience today's total solar eclipse. 01:32:34.054 --> 01:32:35.758 I have a great team here on stage. 01:32:35.758 --> 01:32:39.522 Joining me to my immediate left is Yari Collado-Vega. 01:32:39.522 --> 01:32:40.635 - Hi, everybody. 01:32:40.635 --> 01:32:43.443 - Who is a space weather scientist. 01:32:43.443 --> 01:32:45.961 Solar scientist next to her, Alex Young. 01:32:45.961 --> 01:32:48.896 Over to my right, John Yembrick who will be taking 01:32:48.896 --> 01:32:50.781 your social media questions today, 01:32:50.781 --> 01:32:53.234 plus media specialist and meteorologist, 01:32:53.234 --> 01:32:56.234 very important man today I must say, 01:32:56.637 --> 01:32:58.755 tracking the weather conditions across 01:32:58.755 --> 01:33:01.295 the path of totality, Sean Potter. 01:33:01.295 --> 01:33:03.528 Today we're coming to you from NASA Eclipse Central 01:33:03.528 --> 01:33:06.003 here at the College of Charleston. 01:33:06.003 --> 01:33:07.875 Now, Charleston is the last stop 01:33:07.875 --> 01:33:10.238 of the total solar eclipse on U.S. soil, 01:33:10.238 --> 01:33:12.391 so we will track this eclipse as it 01:33:12.391 --> 01:33:14.891 moves east and heads this way. 01:33:14.982 --> 01:33:17.758 We're tracking the eclipse across the entire country 01:33:17.758 --> 01:33:19.923 to bring you the best images with the 01:33:19.923 --> 01:33:23.590 most compelling stories, along with science experts. 01:33:23.590 --> 01:33:25.632 Here from NASA Eclipse Central, we have views 01:33:25.632 --> 01:33:29.549 from ground telescopes, high-altitude balloons, 01:33:30.348 --> 01:33:33.689 airplanes and from several NASA spacecraft, 01:33:33.689 --> 01:33:36.978 and I want you to remember this, audience out there, 01:33:36.978 --> 01:33:41.145 we even have live, live, no one else, only here at NASA, 01:33:41.315 --> 01:33:42.966 the International Space Station. 01:33:42.966 --> 01:33:45.524 If you want to see the eclipse as never before, 01:33:45.524 --> 01:33:49.150 stay with us, Through The Eyes of NASA on NASA television. 01:33:49.150 --> 01:33:51.150 This is the place to be. 01:33:52.785 --> 01:33:54.618 Yari, hola, como esta? 01:33:55.484 --> 01:33:56.401 - Da gusta. 01:33:57.365 --> 01:34:00.625 - Okay, this is a win-win situation for America. 01:34:00.625 --> 01:34:03.346 We have a partial eclipse and a total eclipse. 01:34:03.346 --> 01:34:05.263 Explain the difference. 01:34:05.317 --> 01:34:08.528 ^- So today, pretty much, the moon is gonna come across 01:34:08.528 --> 01:34:12.695 ^the Earth and the sun, so North America, Central America 01:34:13.452 --> 01:34:15.594 and parts of South America are gonna see 01:34:15.594 --> 01:34:18.388 a partial solar eclipse, which means 01:34:18.388 --> 01:34:21.080 that the moon's gonna partially block the sun. 01:34:21.080 --> 01:34:23.481 It's gonna look like the moon took a bite of the sun, 01:34:23.481 --> 01:34:26.087 like you have seen on the previous images. 01:34:26.087 --> 01:34:29.564 A total solar eclipse is gonna happen in a very narrow path. 01:34:29.564 --> 01:34:32.813 70 miles wide, that comes all the way from Oregon 01:34:32.813 --> 01:34:35.003 crossing the whole continent of the United States 01:34:35.003 --> 01:34:37.809 and getting out here in South Carolina. 01:34:37.809 --> 01:34:39.999 You're gonna see a total solar eclipse, 01:34:39.999 --> 01:34:42.886 which means that the moon's gonna completly block 01:34:42.886 --> 01:34:44.822 the surface of the sun, and you're gonna be able to see 01:34:44.822 --> 01:34:48.691 the solar atmosphere, the solar corona with your own eyes. 01:34:48.691 --> 01:34:51.434 Day will turn into night, which means the stars 01:34:51.434 --> 01:34:54.224 and the brightest planets are gonna come out. 01:34:54.224 --> 01:34:55.652 - [Dwayne] Yari, Alex, you guys have been 01:34:55.652 --> 01:34:57.062 waiting for this for a long time. 01:34:57.062 --> 01:34:58.520 As all the other scientists around here mentioned, 01:34:58.520 --> 01:34:59.887 this is the day we've been waiting for. 01:34:59.887 --> 01:35:01.746 We're here, Eclipse Cental. 01:35:01.746 --> 01:35:04.576 You guys, if you're here, this is the place to be. 01:35:04.576 --> 01:35:06.723 We have remote NASA TV broadcast sites 01:35:06.723 --> 01:35:09.787 along the path of totality, so that anyone watching along 01:35:09.787 --> 01:35:12.819 with us can also experience the total solar eclipse. 01:35:12.819 --> 01:35:14.484 We'll also share information about 01:35:14.484 --> 01:35:17.281 how to experience the eclipse safely 01:35:17.281 --> 01:35:19.339 wherever you are, and give you a peek 01:35:19.339 --> 01:35:23.506 at all the exciting plans NASA experts have today. 01:35:23.609 --> 01:35:26.026 Alex, okay so, Mr. Solar Man. 01:35:27.548 --> 01:35:30.470 What is so unique about the solar eclipse? 01:35:30.470 --> 01:35:32.144 - Well, this is an amazing opportunity. 01:35:32.144 --> 01:35:34.312 ^The last time we had a total solar eclipse 01:35:34.312 --> 01:35:36.232 ^in the continental U.S was '79, 01:35:36.232 --> 01:35:40.399 but the last time we had one that went from coast to coast 01:35:40.423 --> 01:35:42.340 was 1918, 99 years ago. 01:35:44.678 --> 01:35:48.410 So we are having a total solar eclipse that's covering 01:35:48.410 --> 01:35:52.077 a huge portion of populated accessible land, 01:35:52.139 --> 01:35:54.686 this is giving us an unprecedented opportunity 01:35:54.686 --> 01:35:58.436 to study, to look at the impact on the Earth, 01:35:58.752 --> 01:36:01.535 to see the corona, and give us science 01:36:01.535 --> 01:36:02.830 that we've never had before. 01:36:02.830 --> 01:36:06.333 The last time we had this kind of connection 01:36:06.333 --> 01:36:09.494 to where we are and who we are was actually 01:36:09.494 --> 01:36:11.994 really the Apollo 8 Earthrise. 01:36:12.004 --> 01:36:16.129 That gave us a perspective outside of just the Earth, 01:36:16.129 --> 01:36:19.069 it showed us that we were part of something bigger. 01:36:19.069 --> 01:36:21.835 That's what this total solar eclipse brings for us, 01:36:21.835 --> 01:36:24.918 it allows a window into the universe, 01:36:25.631 --> 01:36:29.721 and this is the most connected, most well-observed event 01:36:29.721 --> 01:36:33.653 that we've ever had in terms of a total solar eclipse. 01:36:33.653 --> 01:36:37.820 The data and the experiences are going to be amazing. 01:36:39.458 --> 01:36:41.928 - Okay, we're certainly witnessing a monumental 01:36:41.928 --> 01:36:45.011 celestial and historical event today. 01:36:45.221 --> 01:36:47.029 We would like to take a moment to talk about safety, 01:36:47.029 --> 01:36:48.987 so Yari, can you help me out here? 01:36:48.987 --> 01:36:50.321 - I'll help you out. 01:36:50.321 --> 01:36:52.669 - You can never, never look directly at the sun 01:36:52.669 --> 01:36:55.511 and you may have seen these eclipse glasses. 01:36:55.511 --> 01:36:59.264 They're designed with special-purpose solar filters. 01:36:59.264 --> 01:37:02.001 Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, 01:37:02.001 --> 01:37:05.001 are not safe for looking at the sun. 01:37:05.768 --> 01:37:08.256 Now, if you're in the path of totality. there is a 01:37:08.256 --> 01:37:11.227 short time-frame that you can take your glasses off. 01:37:11.227 --> 01:37:14.786 This is only, only when the moon completely blocks the sun 01:37:14.786 --> 01:37:17.119 and that is during totality. 01:37:17.215 --> 01:37:20.298 Let's watch this video to learn more. 01:37:25.274 --> 01:37:28.357 ^(instrumental music) 01:38:36.452 --> 01:38:40.119 Okay, so, Alex and Yari, it's very fortunate 01:38:40.888 --> 01:38:43.981 that I have glasses, and a lot of people have glasses 01:38:43.981 --> 01:38:46.413 but a lot of people don't have glasses. 01:38:46.413 --> 01:38:49.024 So what are other options, let me start with you Alex, 01:38:49.024 --> 01:38:51.227 on how they can view this eclipse. 01:38:51.227 --> 01:38:52.415 - Well the simplest thing to remember 01:38:52.415 --> 01:38:55.673 to look at it indirectly is a pinhole viewer. 01:38:55.673 --> 01:38:58.328 ^There's a lot of ways you can make a pinhole. 01:38:58.328 --> 01:39:00.984 ^You can take a simple piece of paper, poke a hole in it. 01:39:00.984 --> 01:39:05.151 ^In fact, I've got here a 3D map of the path across the U.S. 01:39:05.425 --> 01:39:08.778 ^With a hole in it that I can use as a pinhole 01:39:08.778 --> 01:39:11.959 ^to project the circular sun down on the ground 01:39:11.959 --> 01:39:14.096 ^and then you can see the moon move across it. 01:39:14.096 --> 01:39:15.974 ^As a matter of fact, anything with holes, 01:39:15.974 --> 01:39:19.459 ^including this colander, is something you can use 01:39:19.459 --> 01:39:21.376 ^to look at the eclipse. 01:39:21.391 --> 01:39:23.205 ^You can also use something a little 01:39:23.205 --> 01:39:25.519 ^more sophisticated if you want, 01:39:25.519 --> 01:39:28.262 ^- So you can actually make a box. 01:39:28.262 --> 01:39:31.457 ^You actually just do two holes in one side of the box 01:39:31.457 --> 01:39:34.157 ^and then put white paper on the inside. 01:39:34.157 --> 01:39:37.902 ^Then put aluminum foil, do a hole in the middle, not too big 01:39:37.902 --> 01:39:41.182 ^so that you can actually project the sun inside the box. 01:39:41.182 --> 01:39:43.822 ^Make sure that the sun is actually behind you 01:39:43.822 --> 01:39:46.340 ^so you can actually look at it inside of the box. 01:39:46.340 --> 01:39:48.792 ^You will get an amazing projector. 01:39:48.792 --> 01:39:51.269 ^- Okay, so before I toss to social, I gotta do this 01:39:51.269 --> 01:39:53.789 ^because we're on the College of Charleston 01:39:53.789 --> 01:39:55.942 ^and College of Charleston students, make some noise! 01:39:55.942 --> 01:39:58.192 ^(cheering) 01:39:59.582 --> 01:40:01.400 that's what I'm talking about, okay. 01:40:01.400 --> 01:40:04.517 So, the social media world is going to break records, 01:40:04.517 --> 01:40:08.600 so let me talk to my man John on the social part, 01:40:08.664 --> 01:40:09.617 what's going on? 01:40:09.617 --> 01:40:10.536 - Thanks Dwayne. 01:40:10.536 --> 01:40:11.876 There are literally millions of people 01:40:11.876 --> 01:40:13.590 ^watching this broadcast right now. 01:40:13.590 --> 01:40:15.651 ^We're gonna be monitoring the conversation online 01:40:15.651 --> 01:40:18.018 ^and taking your questions as the total solar eclipse 01:40:18.018 --> 01:40:19.760 treks across the United States, 01:40:19.760 --> 01:40:21.628 There's a tremendous amount of excitement online 01:40:21.628 --> 01:40:23.591 and we want to share it with you at home 01:40:23.591 --> 01:40:25.022 so we will show you images of the eclipse 01:40:25.022 --> 01:40:26.706 from your unique vantage point. 01:40:26.706 --> 01:40:29.230 Submit your pictures and questions using the hashtag 01:40:29.230 --> 01:40:33.230 #Eclipse2017 and follow the conversation online. 01:40:33.236 --> 01:40:35.041 For updates, be sure to follow, 01:40:35.041 --> 01:40:36.595 let's see if I can remember all these, 01:40:36.595 --> 01:40:39.176 NASA on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, 01:40:39.176 --> 01:40:41.926 Instagram, Snapchat and LinkedIn. 01:40:42.353 --> 01:40:44.064 Additionally, we're providing live coverage 01:40:44.064 --> 01:40:48.077 during the eclipse on Facebook Live on NASA's Facebook page. 01:40:48.077 --> 01:40:50.257 You can ask your questions in the comment thread, 01:40:50.257 --> 01:40:51.960 check out the the streaming sites 01:40:51.960 --> 01:40:54.203 like NASA Periscope account on Twitter, 01:40:54.203 --> 01:40:57.036 Twitch.tv, ustream and on YouTube. 01:40:57.519 --> 01:41:00.575 And of course you can watch it on nasa.gov 01:41:00.575 --> 01:41:04.742 and nasa.gov/eclipselive, and on the NASA app. 01:41:06.841 --> 01:41:08.726 And er have a special feature for you, 01:41:08.726 --> 01:41:09.888 if you visit our Facebook Live page, 01:41:09.888 --> 01:41:12.463 along with this broadcast we have a 360 view 01:41:12.463 --> 01:41:14.886 from right here in Charleston, South Carolina. 01:41:14.886 --> 01:41:16.828 With this tool, you can pan around on your computer 01:41:16.828 --> 01:41:20.080 and mobile device and even look up to the sky 01:41:20.080 --> 01:41:22.719 as the moon transits the sun during the eclipse. 01:41:22.719 --> 01:41:24.785 It'll be like you're right here with us in Charleston, 01:41:24.785 --> 01:41:26.611 minus the sweltering heat. 01:41:26.611 --> 01:41:29.312 Visit the NASA Facebook page and check it out. 01:41:29.312 --> 01:41:31.226 And, finally, share images of the eclipse with us. 01:41:31.226 --> 01:41:35.143 Use the hashtag #Eclipse2017 on our Flickr page 01:41:35.702 --> 01:41:37.220 which is up here online right now. 01:41:37.220 --> 01:41:38.878 Share your images with us and we'll share them 01:41:38.878 --> 01:41:42.784 right here in the broadcast and also on social media. 01:41:42.784 --> 01:41:44.400 Finally, enjoy your eclipse viewing and remember to 01:41:44.400 --> 01:41:47.722 ask your questions with the hashtag #Eclipse2017. 01:41:47.722 --> 01:41:49.389 Back to you, Dwayne. 01:41:49.631 --> 01:41:52.115 - Well John, social media's gonna break some records 01:41:52.115 --> 01:41:54.402 and we're gonna be coming back to you more and more. 01:41:54.402 --> 01:41:58.569 So you gotta know that one of the most important things here 01:41:58.792 --> 01:42:01.625 for today is the weather, so Sean, 01:42:02.537 --> 01:42:05.508 looking at Charleston skies, we got clouds. 01:42:05.508 --> 01:42:06.507 I hope that's gonna get better, 01:42:06.507 --> 01:42:08.229 but what's going on around the nation? 01:42:08.229 --> 01:42:09.112 Over to you. 01:42:09.112 --> 01:42:10.270 - That's right Dwayne, yes. 01:42:10.270 --> 01:42:12.092 The weather is the key factor for 01:42:12.092 --> 01:42:14.201 viewing today's total solar eclipse. 01:42:14.201 --> 01:42:16.028 Right here in Charleston, it's about 86 degrees 01:42:16.028 --> 01:42:18.982 but with the humidity it feels more like 99 right now. 01:42:18.982 --> 01:42:20.757 But what we want to do right now is show you 01:42:20.757 --> 01:42:23.498 a satellite image from our friends at NOAA, 01:42:23.498 --> 01:42:25.622 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 01:42:25.622 --> 01:42:27.640 This is from the GOES-16 satellite, it's a 01:42:27.640 --> 01:42:30.283 brand-new weather satellite that NASA built for NOAA 01:42:30.283 --> 01:42:32.535 and was launched last year that's gonna give you 01:42:32.535 --> 01:42:35.300 the latest and greatest, very detailed imagery 01:42:35.300 --> 01:42:37.187 of cloud cover across the country and what you can see 01:42:37.187 --> 01:42:38.996 is that things are looking really good 01:42:38.996 --> 01:42:42.210 dor the early part of the path of totality. 01:42:42.210 --> 01:42:44.564 Places like Oregon and Idaho and Wyoming 01:42:44.564 --> 01:42:47.350 and then as you get into parts of the middle section 01:42:47.350 --> 01:42:51.077 of the country, more places like Beatrice, Nebraska 01:42:51.077 --> 01:42:53.386 maybe into Kansas City, Jefferson City. 01:42:53.386 --> 01:42:56.155 There's some cloud cover there that may hinder your ability 01:42:56.155 --> 01:42:58.603 to view the eclipse, and looks like if you 01:42:58.603 --> 01:43:01.928 get into Carbondale, skies are still pretty good there. 01:43:01.928 --> 01:43:03.868 There are some storm systems developing to the north 01:43:03.868 --> 01:43:06.318 in other parts of Illinois, and really 01:43:06.318 --> 01:43:08.129 things are looking clear again until 01:43:08.129 --> 01:43:09.256 you get back here in Charleston. 01:43:09.256 --> 01:43:11.086 As you said Dwayne, I'm looking up here at the clouds 01:43:11.086 --> 01:43:13.174 to where the sun will be in about an hour, 01:43:13.174 --> 01:43:14.677 and there is significant cloud cover 01:43:14.677 --> 01:43:15.899 but we're keeping our fingers crossed. 01:43:15.899 --> 01:43:18.702 I do see some pockets of blue in there, 01:43:18.702 --> 01:43:20.605 so hopefully we'll get to see something 01:43:20.605 --> 01:43:23.681 but we'll have more for you later in the broadcast, Dwayne. 01:43:23.681 --> 01:43:25.212 - I'm hoping that you can use some of your connections 01:43:25.212 --> 01:43:27.074 to get us some good weather here in Charleston. 01:43:27.074 --> 01:43:29.860 So the moon is already moving across the face of the sun, 01:43:29.860 --> 01:43:31.175 we're getting close to viewing 01:43:31.175 --> 01:43:33.994 our first total eclipse of the day. 01:43:33.994 --> 01:43:36.207 We're minutes away, and remember, the total solar eclipse 01:43:36.207 --> 01:43:38.957 starts on the West Coast of the United States in Oregon, 01:43:38.957 --> 01:43:42.744 and we will be bringing you live images as it occurs. 01:43:42.744 --> 01:43:46.001 NASA's Ames Research Center's Jesse Carpenter is standing by 01:43:46.001 --> 01:43:48.903 in Salem, Oregon at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. 01:43:48.903 --> 01:43:51.486 Jesse, give us a status report. 01:43:53.070 --> 01:43:54.967 - Oh wow, thanks Dwayne. 01:43:54.967 --> 01:43:58.967 Totality is almost here, oh this is so exciting. 01:43:59.411 --> 01:44:00.958 Just before we get to that though, 01:44:00.958 --> 01:44:03.316 I want to introduce Andrea Edgecomb again, 01:44:03.316 --> 01:44:05.623 from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, hey. 01:44:05.623 --> 01:44:06.456 - Hi! 01:44:06.781 --> 01:44:08.038 - So tell us just quickly, tell us a little bit about 01:44:08.038 --> 01:44:11.455 this really fun, cool viewing event that's going on here, 01:44:11.455 --> 01:44:14.293 - Yeah, we are here with almost 9,000 people 01:44:14.293 --> 01:44:16.136 here at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, 01:44:16.136 --> 01:44:18.719 and we've had some cool stage presentations. 01:44:18.719 --> 01:44:22.249 We heard from NASA astronaut Don Pettit, he's an Oregonian. 01:44:22.249 --> 01:44:24.684 We had a University of Oregon professor, and behind us 01:44:24.684 --> 01:44:26.924 we have some space science partners who've been doing 01:44:26.924 --> 01:44:29.231 some cool educational activities and really interacting 01:44:29.231 --> 01:44:31.533 with the crowd, so it's been an awesome morning 01:44:31.533 --> 01:44:33.738 and we can't wait for totality in a few minutes. 01:44:33.738 --> 01:44:35.275 - This is such a great event. 01:44:35.275 --> 01:44:37.410 Thank you for joining us again, we really appreciate it. 01:44:37.410 --> 01:44:38.508 I know you've gotta get going, so-- 01:44:38.508 --> 01:44:39.480 - Yeah, thank you. 01:44:39.480 --> 01:44:41.063 - It's coming soon. 01:44:41.131 --> 01:44:43.458 And joining us now to talk to us about the sun 01:44:43.458 --> 01:44:46.175 and give us more information is NASA Lead Scientist 01:44:46.175 --> 01:44:49.508 for Eclipse 2017, Madhulika Guhathakurta 01:44:49.565 --> 01:44:51.732 from Ames Research Center. 01:44:51.870 --> 01:44:53.703 Hi, Lika. - Hey, Jesse. 01:44:53.826 --> 01:44:55.952 - Hey, it's almost here, it's almost here. 01:44:55.952 --> 01:45:00.119 So how many of these, how many eclipses have you seen? 01:45:00.410 --> 01:45:03.887 - I went to see nine eclipses and I actually 01:45:03.887 --> 01:45:08.054 ended up seeing six, the other three had inclement weather. 01:45:08.983 --> 01:45:10.456 We don't have that here today. 01:45:10.456 --> 01:45:13.284 - [Jesse] No, we don't, it's gonna be seven. 01:45:13.284 --> 01:45:15.584 So what can you tell us about the sun that'll 01:45:15.584 --> 01:45:18.245 help our audience understand better? 01:45:18.245 --> 01:45:20.991 - [Lika] I just want to start by saying I'm in awe 01:45:20.991 --> 01:45:24.658 at this moment right now, and whatever I say 01:45:24.853 --> 01:45:26.662 kind of take it with that filter 01:45:26.662 --> 01:45:28.768 because we are very close to totality. 01:45:28.768 --> 01:45:32.018 We live in the outer atmosphere of this 01:45:32.340 --> 01:45:36.340 magnificent, dynamic, magnetically variable star 01:45:36.389 --> 01:45:40.556 that dominates ever cubic inch of space in our solar system 01:45:42.724 --> 01:45:45.577 and if I could get the video, what you would see 01:45:45.577 --> 01:45:48.825 in the video is that the sun produces storms 01:45:48.825 --> 01:45:51.908 that can be all-engulfing, generating 01:45:52.009 --> 01:45:55.101 this environment called space weather. 01:45:55.101 --> 01:45:58.601 The inner edge of the corona that you see, 01:45:58.713 --> 01:46:01.717 that black in the video, it's because 01:46:01.717 --> 01:46:05.050 the sun is so intense that it overwhelms 01:46:05.172 --> 01:46:07.839 the dim brightness of the corona 01:46:08.354 --> 01:46:11.687 and so even from space, we can't observe 01:46:13.068 --> 01:46:15.485 the inner part of the corona. 01:46:15.613 --> 01:46:19.446 And not only Earth but the entire solar system 01:46:20.126 --> 01:46:23.793 as you can see lives with this dynamic star. 01:46:23.893 --> 01:46:27.040 The corona is the region where space weather is born 01:46:27.040 --> 01:46:31.207 and conditions are set for a supersonic solar wind 01:46:31.846 --> 01:46:36.013 and a super-hot corona, two of our outstanding questions 01:46:36.194 --> 01:46:39.194 in heliophysics and physics, really. 01:46:39.255 --> 01:46:41.068 To understand the corona better, 01:46:41.068 --> 01:46:44.745 NASA is actually going to be launching a mission next year, 01:46:44.745 --> 01:46:47.799 almost a year from now, how coincidental, 01:46:47.799 --> 01:46:49.882 for a Parker Solar Probe. 01:46:50.083 --> 01:46:53.500 It is actually going to go touch the sun. 01:46:53.840 --> 01:46:57.128 And it's going to get closer to any other spacecraft 01:46:57.128 --> 01:47:01.128 has gone before to the sun, to study the corona, 01:47:02.119 --> 01:47:04.164 to actually sample the very corona 01:47:04.164 --> 01:47:06.914 that we will be seeing very soon. 01:47:07.165 --> 01:47:09.026 - Yes we will, it's almost here 01:47:09.026 --> 01:47:11.313 Thank you, thank you Lika for joining us 01:47:11.313 --> 01:47:13.376 and thank you for sharing that. 01:47:13.376 --> 01:47:17.543 So now we're gonna take it back to NASA Eclipse Central 01:47:18.583 --> 01:47:21.500 in Charleston, take it away Dwayne. 01:47:21.927 --> 01:47:24.090 - Okay now, just now coming in, we have an exclusive 01:47:24.090 --> 01:47:26.518 picture of the total solar eclipse 01:47:26.518 --> 01:47:28.908 as it is arriving at the United States. 01:47:28.908 --> 01:47:31.571 It's over the Pacific Ocean and about to reach Oregon. 01:47:31.571 --> 01:47:33.965 This is the celestial event that we've all been 01:47:33.965 --> 01:47:36.532 waiting and anticipating for years. 01:47:36.532 --> 01:47:38.229 We'll begin looking through the eyes of NASA 01:47:38.229 --> 01:47:41.312 out the window of our G-III aircraft. 01:47:42.013 --> 01:47:43.930 Let's take in the view. 01:47:57.244 --> 01:47:58.077 Wow. 01:48:01.110 --> 01:48:04.610 And now we're looking at the first glimpse 01:48:05.537 --> 01:48:07.226 of the total eclipse from the ground. 01:48:07.226 --> 01:48:10.243 Wait, let's see, that's still the G-III, there we go. 01:48:10.243 --> 01:48:12.147 Now we're looking at the first glimpse of the solar eclipse 01:48:12.147 --> 01:48:14.414 from the ground on United States soil. 01:48:14.414 --> 01:48:17.747 This is coming to us from Salem, Oregon, 01:48:17.776 --> 01:48:20.475 where thousands of people are gathered and experiencing 01:48:20.475 --> 01:48:24.175 this monumental event, a total solar eclipse. 01:48:24.175 --> 01:48:27.508 Let's take a look and take in the view.