Total solar eclipse prediction

The wispy ring that we see around the Sun during a total solar eclipse is its corona. Solar Orbiter data collected during the week preceding the 8 April 2024 total solar eclipse will be used to predict the shape that the corona will take during the eclipse.

Researchers from Predictive Science Inc. use data from telescopes on and around Earth to create a 3D model of the solar corona. In advance of every total solar eclipse, they use this data to predict what the Sun’s corona will look like from Earth.

For the first time, Predictive Science will incorporate data from Solar Orbiter’s Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) instrument. This will allow them to add information on the Sun’s magnetic field from a unique vantage point to improve their prediction.

The latest prediction is available here. It will evolve in real time as we approach the eclipse and Solar Orbiter data is added.