NASA scientist explains how this total solar eclipse will differ from 2017

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — We are just days away from a total eclipse of the sun on Monday, April 8.

WGNO’s Kenny Lopez spoke to a NASA scientist about this celestial event, and where you can see it best.

Solar eclipses happen somewhere in the world about every year and a half, but most of them aren’t in our own backyard. From Texas to Maine, people across 15 states will have a front row seat to see the moon covering the bright disk of the sun briefly turning day into night.

“It will be a life-changing experience,” NASA Direct Deputy of Heliophysics, Dr. Gina DiBraccio said.

DiBraccio witnessed the last total solar eclipse back in 2017, but this year her anticipation is still out of this world.

“I understand that every eclipse is a little different. There are a lot of differences. The first thing, we have more people in the path of totality, so this time we have 31-million people in the path. In 2017, the totality didn’t last as long as it will this time. Now we are looking at a time of four to five minutes. So longer time, and more people experiencing this eclipse,” she said.

While Louisiana isn’t in the path of totality it will still be a sight to see.

“For a partial solar eclipse what that means is as you look up into the sky, you will get to see the moon moving over the sun. It won’t block it completely, but you will be left with a Pac-man like moon taking a bite out of the sun,” DiBraccio said.

She went on to say, “You’ll still feel the temperature drop, the atmosphere will change a bit.”

For NASA the total solar eclipse is an opportunity to further their research for future missions.

“We are able to study the solar corona, the upper atmosphere of the sun. What we’re trying to do with some of our upcoming missions is to discover how do physics operate on the sun,” she said.

This December, the parker solar probe will make its closest approach to the sun.

“I’m really interested in how the sun impacts the planets of our solar system, so of course on Earth how it impacts our atmosphere, that’s something we can study with the eclipse as well,” she said.

This time is proving to be a great time in outer space.

‘We won’t have another eclipse crossing through for another 20 years in 2045, so this really is an opportunity coming up on Monday,” she said.

As always when viewing a solar eclipse make sure to wear you safety glasses to protect your eyes.

Here in Louisiana, expect to see the eclipse around 3 p.m.

Here’s a fun fact: during a solar eclipse back in 1919, Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was proven by observing the positions of the stars in relation to the sun.

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