The South American Total Solar Eclipse of 2 July 2019: An Opportunity for Undergraduate Engagement in Research
Abstract
On 2 July 2019, a total solar eclipse was visible across South America. Because the corona is a million times fainter than the photosphere, total solar eclipses provide vital opportunities to make coronal observations essential for providing insight into mechanisms behind coronal heating and the solar wind. An international team of 25 scientists, engineers, technicians and students (The Solar Wind Sherpas) dispersed into 4 teams across Chile and Argentina to make white light, spectroscopic, and several narrow band (Ar X, Fe IX, FeX, Fe XI, Fe XIII, Fe XIV, and Ni XV) observations of the solar corona. With support from NSF, four undergraduates from underserved populations (one from the University of Hawai'i and three from Bridgewater State University (BSU) in Massachusetts) were part of the expedition team. The goal for including undergraduates was to expose them to field work in eclipse science, help them network with professionals in the field, and better prepare them for careers in solar physics. This research experience has already had a positive impact on these students' opportunities and preparation for future research work. Eclipse expedition travel support for students and M. Arndt was provided by NSF AGS-1834662 awarded to the University of Hawaíi, Institute for Astronomy. BSU Students received summer stipends through BSU's ATP program as well as the Massachusetts NASA Space Grant Consortium. A BSU CARS grant provided additional travel support for M. Arndt.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #235
- Pub Date:
- January 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AAS...23522002A