NASA and Libyan Scientists Make Historic Study of Total Solar EclipseBureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific AffairsWashington, DC March 28, 2006 For the first time, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with the support of State Department personnel, and Libyan scientists will conduct joint scientific activities as they observe and study the March 29, 2006, total eclipse of the sun. The eclipse will be visible within a narrow corridor, crossing half of the Earth, with the best visibility in the desert of Libya. The United States is moving forward on establishing more cooperative science activities with the Libyan government. The historic solar eclipse expedition is the latest example of such activities between the U.S. and Libya that have taken root in the more than two years since Libya renounced its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs and terrorism. Other scientific cooperation efforts include collaboration in the areas of nuclear medicine, biology, water desalination, and mechanical engineering, and more are planned. Total solar eclipses are of special interest to astronomers around the world because it is the only time the sun’s corona can easily be seen from the surface of the Earth. Scientists still don’t understand why the corona is so hot. Its temperature is 1 to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit (F) while the sun’s bright surface is only 10,000 F. Careful measurements and experiments made during a total eclipse help to unravel this enigma. Most eclipses last just a minute or two. The 2006 eclipse’s total phase will last over 4 minutes at the center of the path. The next total eclipse is August 1, 2008, observable in northern Canada, Greenland, Siberia, Mongolia, and northern China. The next total eclipse visible from the U.S. will occur August 21, 2017. To give the public a first-hand look at this year's total eclipse from anywhere in the world, NASA is also partnering with the University of California (UC) at Berkeley and the Exploratorium in celebration of Sun-Earth Day. The eclipse will be webcast, podcast, and broadcast on NASA TV to media, schools, and museums as part of the Sun-Earth Day program. As part of the webcast, NASA will contact scientists who will observe the eclipse in Libya along the path of totality. For more information, please contact |
 | |||
|
