A team of NASA-funded scientists will be chasing next month’s solar eclipse across America in a pair of retrofitted WB-57F jets. Scientists will use twin telescopes mounted on the noses of the research planes to ­­­­­capture crystal–clear images of the Sun’s corona, or its outer atmosphere. The telescopes will also be used to capture the first-ever thermal images of Mercury, according to NASA, with the images showing how temperature varies across the planet’s surface. SOLAR ECLIPSE 2017: NASA ISSUES SAFETY WARNINGThe eclipse on Aug. 21 will last just two-and-a-half minutes for most people, but for the researchers in the WB-57F jets, it is expected to last over seven minutes. The space agency is funding 11 solar eclipse-related science projects across the country.

Source: Fox News July 28, 2017 19:30 UTC