Can't Step Out To See The Eclipse? NASA Has A Live Stream For You

NASA plans to send two specially equipped jets airborne to follow the path of today's solar eclipse. Scientists have retrofitted telescopes to the noses of two NASA research jets. The jets tracking the eclipse will fly one behind the other 70 miles apart.  

NASA says the jets will chase the moon's shadow on Earth as it passes along the diagonal eclipse track from Oregon to South Carolina.  Flying at 50-thousand feet, the jets will be high enough to give scientists quality, cloud-free footage without actually going into space and just low enough so pilots don't have to wear pressure suits. Each jet will carry two telescopes. They'll swivel on turrets.  

NASA says one will watch visible light and the other will observe infrared light.  As the jets fly the telescopes will alternate between two targets -- the sun's corona and the planet Mercury which is often impossible to watch anytime other than a solar eclipse.  Mercury is the planet closest to the sun. 

Photo: Getty Images


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