Mercer Times

Princeton astrophysicists are eagerly anticipating the upcoming solar eclipse scheduled for April 8, 2024. The event, where the moon will pass between the Earth and the sun, will offer a unique opportunity for observers to witness the sun's corona and other phenomena.

Jo Dunkley, Princeton’s Joseph Henry Professor of Physics and Astrophysical Sciences, expressed excitement about the eclipse, stating, “Because we’re in a period of high solar activity, everyone in the path of totality has a chance to see beautiful loops and streams of plasma coming off of the sun.”

Jamey Szalay, a research scholar in astrophysical sciences at Princeton, highlighted the significance of the solar wind visible during an eclipse, describing it as "the constant stream of material pouring outward from the sun in all directions."

David McComas, the leader of the space physics group at Princeton, emphasized the impact of the solar wind during this solar maximum period on the entire solar system. McComas noted, “We’re living in an extraordinary time, learning more about the sun, its corona and the heliosphere than previous generations could have dreamed of.”

In preparation for the eclipse, Princeton students and community members are organizing eclipse-watching parties around the University. Experts from Princeton’s Department of Astrophysical Sciences will be on hand at Palmer Square to provide viewers and engage in discussions about the event.

Astrophysics graduate student Josef Zimmerman is among those planning to travel to the path of totality to witness the eclipse. Zimmerman aims to replicate the experiment conducted during a 1919 solar eclipse that confirmed Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Reflecting on the significance of observing the eclipse, David McComas stated, “Taking a moment to appreciate the awe and beauty of a solar eclipse, seeing the corona with our own eyes, helps us pause from the hectic and stressful schedule of building a complex cutting-edge science mission and reflect on the incredible opportunity we have to be able to study our closest star.”