NASA is launching three rockets as part of the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to study the impacts that this event will have on Earth's atmosphere.
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over North America.
On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will pass over North America. NASA is launching three rockets as part of the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to study the impacts that this event will have on Earth's atmosphere. The ionosphere, which is between 55 and 400 miles above ground, plays a crucial role in communication systems as radio and GPS signals bounce off it to reach their destinations. NASA has carefully planned these rocket launches to be in the path of totality instead of relying on satellites that may not be at the right place at the right time. The ionosphere is essentially where Earth's atmosphere meets space, making it an important region for communication systems. Understanding this phenomenon and developing models to predict disturbances is crucial for ensuring our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly.
The corona of the sun during the April 8th total solar eclipse is expected to be especially magnificent due to its dynamic nature caused by changes in magnetic field lines.
During totality on April 8th, viewers can expect a darker sky with stars and planets more visible, as well as potentially seeing comets such as Pons-Brooks near Jupiter.
Accuracy
If you are in the path of totality for this eclipse, expect it to last about 4 minutes. If not, there are plenty of other things to observe.
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that this solar eclipse will be better than the one in 2017 when it factually states that it was comparatively dull due to unremarkable magnetic field. Secondly, the author uses sensationalism by stating 'it’s last total solar eclipse visible from the United States until Aug. 23, 2044' which is not entirely true as there will be another one in April 8th of this year itself.
The author claims that this solar eclipse will be better than the one in 2017 when it factually states that it was comparatively dull due to unremarkable magnetic field. This is a lie by omission as the article does not disclose any information about the quality of the corona during either eclipse.
The author uses sensationalism by stating 'it’s last total solar eclipse visible from the United States until Aug. 23, 2044' which is not entirely true as there will be another one in April 8th of this year itself.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that each eclipse is said to have its own personality based on the sun's magnetic field. This statement implies that there are experts who agree with this assessment, but no sources or evidence are provided to support it. Additionally, the article contains several examples of inflammatory rhetoric when describing the corona and streamers as being more dynamic and dramatic during this eclipse compared to previous ones.
The sun's magnetic field
more dynamic
dull since the magnetic field was unremarkable
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the upcoming solar eclipse in April 2019. The author uses sensationalist language to describe the corona and its appearance during this particular eclipse. They also use comparisons between past and future events to make it seem like this one will be better than previous ones, even though they are not providing any evidence for their claims.
The corona — the sun⎗s outermost layer ”
The sudden nightfall will feel more like night.
This time around, we’re reaching solar maximum. That magnetic battle zone results in the formation of many sunspots, or bruiselike discolorations that bubble up from inside the sun to its surface.
The path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse is expected to be between 108 and 122 miles wide
If you are in the path of totality, expect it to last about 4 minutes. If not, there are plenty of other things to observe.
Look for shadow bands (rapidly moving long dark bands separated by white spaces), Baily's Beads (points of light around the moon's edges) and a bright spot at the edge of the moon's shadow that looks like a diamond on a ring during an eclipse.
Accuracy
The path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse is expected to be between 108 and 122 miles wide, stretching from Texas to Maine including a sliver of Michigan
The total solar eclipse on April 8th is expected to last up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds compared to the previous one's maximum duration of only 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
Deception
(50%)
The article contains several examples of deceptive practices. Firstly, the author claims that an eclipse lasts just a few minutes when in fact it can last for up to two and a half hours depending on your location. Secondly, the author states that totality may only last a few minutes but fails to mention that this is dependent on where you are located. Thirdly, the article provides information about what will happen during an eclipse such as shadow bands and Baily's beads without providing any scientific evidence or links to peer-reviewed studies which have not been retracted. Lastly, the author uses sensationalism by stating that it is important to check out people around you in case they have a deep emotional response to the darkening sky.
The author uses sensationalism by stating that it is important to check out people around you in case they have a deep emotional response to the darkening sky.
The article claims that an eclipse lasts just a few minutes when in fact it can last for up to two and a half hours depending on your location. This statement is deceptive as it misleads readers into thinking that they will only need to spend a short amount of time watching the eclipse.
The article provides information about what will happen during an eclipse such as shadow bands and Baily's beads without providing any scientific evidence or links to peer-reviewed studies which have not been retracted. This is deceptive as readers may believe that these phenomena are proven facts when in fact they are based on assumptions.
The author states that totality may only last a few minutes but fails to mention that this is dependent on where you are located. This statement is also deceptive as it implies that totality always lasts for just a few minutes when in fact it can vary depending on your location.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that NASA says not to just look skyward and check out the people around you in case they have a deep emotional response to the darkening sky. This statement is not supported by any evidence or citation from NASA's website.
The solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 is expected to last about two-and-a-half hours, from the moment the moon begins crossing in front of the sun to when it completely moves out of its way. Expect to look skyward from about 2 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
If you're not in the path of totality, don't fret; there are plenty of other things to observe.
. The total solar eclipse will pass over North America on April 8.
. NASA is planning to launch three rockets as part of the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
. The ionosphere is between 55 to 400 miles above the ground and is essentially where Earth's atmosphere meets space. Many Earth-orbiting satellites call this region home, and it is important for radio and GPS signals to bounce off the ionosphere to reach their destinations.
. The use of rockets can be carefully planned out to be in the path instead of relying on satellites, which may not be at the right place at the right time.
Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial for making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly.
Accuracy
NASA is planning to launch three rockets as part of the Atmospheric Perturbations around Eclipse Path (APEP) mission from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.
The APEP sounding rockets and support team successfully assembled for a successful launch.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by quoting Aroh Barjatya as a source for information about the ionosphere and its importance. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the effects of the total solar eclipse on communication systems.
> Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly,<br> > said Aroh Barjatya, a professor of engineering physics at Floridaɹs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus.
> The rockets were previously used to study the effects from Octoberɹs annular solar eclipse. <br> According to the researchers, the use of rockets can be carefully planned out to be in the path instead of relying on satellites, which may not be at the right place at the right time.
Bias
(85%)
The author has a clear bias towards the importance of studying the effects of solar eclipses on Earth's atmosphere. The use of language such as 'crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly' and 'Understanding the ionosphere is between 55 to 400 miles above the ground and is essentially where Earth➗s atmosphere meets space.' reinforces this bias. The author also uses language that dehumanizes people by referring to them as a community, such as in 'In any one specific community, the complete blockage of the Sun by the Moon will not last more than a few minutes.', which is an example of disproportionate number of quotations reflecting a specific position.
crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly
In any one specific community, the complete blockage of the Sun by the Moon will not last more than a few minutes.
Understanding the ionosphere and developing models to help us predict disturbances is crucial to making sure our increasingly communication-dependent world operates smoothly
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of NASA rockets and their impact on the atmosphere. The article mentions that Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University campus is conducting an ionosphere study which could be seen as promoting or supporting research in this area.
