Total solar eclipse gives scientists rare Sun study chance

Scientists plan to use the August 12 total solar eclipse, visible along a narrow path including northern Spain, as a rare chance to study the Sun's atmosphere, magnetic field and solar weather.

The eclipse will briefly darken a route from northern Russia through Greenland, Iceland, Spain and the northeastern tip of Portugal. In Spain, where totality will occur near sunset, the Moon is expected to cover the Sun for less than two minutes.

Teams from France's Atomic Energy Commission plan to focus on the corona, the Sun's outer atmosphere. Astrophysicist Allan Sacha Brun said the work aims to understand the physical mechanisms behind solar activity.

The corona is normally difficult to observe because it is far less bright than the Sun's surface. During a total eclipse, the Moon blocks the Sun's light while leaving the outer atmosphere visible.

European Space Agency scientists also plan to study the eclipse to learn more about solar winds and the movement of solar storms. ESA science director Carole Mundell said researchers want to understand the structure of solar storms and improve models for predicting them.

A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a narrow shadow across the planet. NASA says the effect is possible because the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon but also about 400 times farther away.

The event is the first total solar eclipse visible in mainland Europe since 2006. Partial eclipses will also be visible in most of Europe, Canada, the northern United States and northwest Africa.

Experts warn people not to look directly at the Sun during an eclipse because it can cause serious eye damage. They recommend eclipse glasses designed to filter ultraviolet rays and meeting the ISO 12312-2:2015 standard.