Position of Solar Orbiter on 8 April 2024
On 8 April 2024, a great swath of the United States and Mexico will experience a total solar eclipse, with viewers getting the rare chance to see the Sun’s stunning outer atmosphere.
On the day of the eclipse, Solar Orbiter will be in a great location. Today, 4 April 2024, marks the spacecraft’s closest approach to the Sun in its egg-shaped orbit. These closest approaches happen roughly every six months. During the days before and after, all ten of the spacecraft’s scientific instruments are on high alert.
What’s more, Solar Orbiter will be observing the Sun side-on compared to our perspective on Earth. This means that the structures in the corona (the Sun’s outer atmosphere) that we see at the right-hand side of the Sun from Earth will be seen directly face-on by the spacecraft.
The team will take the opportunity to run an 'eruption watch' campaign, watching the Sun for bursts of material, possibly sent in the direction of Earth.
