2023 Annular Solar Eclipse

The annular solar eclipse through a pair of glasses

Annular Solar Eclipse

The Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project was gearing up for the October 14th 2023 annular solar eclipse. The goal was to gather atmospheric data, engineer custom payloads for these feats, and prepare for the 2024 total solar eclipse. This was accomplished through the National Eclipse Ballooning Project's innovative NASA-like mission for teams of STEM learners from a wide range of higher education institutions.The project was executed by a collection of 53 teams, comprised of the 75 participating institutions. This nationwide effort boasts the collaboration of over 750 participants.

The National Eclipse Ballooning Project is supported by NASA's Science Mission Directorate Science Activation program and by NASA's Space Grant College and Fellowship program. (Award number 80NSSC22M0003)

The BOREALIS lab's live streamed footage of the moon's shadow moving across the Earth during the eclipse.

Eclipse Footage

See the eclipse from the edge of space. Watch as the moon's shadow crosses over the Earth.

The 2023 annular eclipse helped our engineering teams prepare to livestream the 2024 total eclipse. You can see the results of those efforts in addition to 360° Youtube Videos taken from the balloon payloads.

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See 360° Youtube Videos

A ground station team sitting at a table outside

Engineering Feats

Some of the NEBP teams were engineering focuses. At sites along the eclipse path, student teams in the engineering track used innovative larger balloon systems to live stream video to the NASA eclipse website, observe in situ perturbations in atmospheric phenomena, and conduct individually designed experiments.

The development of these payloads involved implementing parts that are capable of handling the extreme temperatures and low pressure of aerospace.

See Payloads and Data

Atmospheric Science

Some of the teams that were involved had a focus in atmospheric science. These teams would make frequent observations by launching hourly radiosondes on helium-filled weather balloons. Student participants were able to work with atmospheric science experts throughout the project. These research efforts are published in peer-reviewed journals.

This projects aided in the research of gravity waves, the impact of eclipses on the Earth's surface and the planetary boundary layer, weather data, and so much more.

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