During the highly anticipated 2023 annular solar eclipse, scientists made an exciting discovery using APEP sounding rockets. These rockets were launched to study the effects of the eclipse on Earth’s atmosphere, specifically looking at the density of charged particles.
As the shadow of the eclipse passed over the atmosphere, a sharp reduction in the density of charged particles was observed by the scientists. This unexpected finding could have significant implications for radio communications, as perturbations were seen in the second and third rockets, but not in the first rocket that was launched before the peak of the eclipse.
Lead scientist, Dr. Barjatya, expressed his enthusiasm for the research, stating that the team plans to relaunch the rockets during the upcoming total eclipse. This follow-up study aims to observe if the perturbations begin at the same altitude and if their magnitude and scale remain consistent.
The findings from this study could provide valuable insights into the impact of solar eclipses on Earth’s atmosphere and help improve our understanding of space weather phenomena. Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking research as scientists continue to explore the mysteries of the universe.
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