Solar Eclipse and Communication

“Since the first days of radio communications more than 100 years ago, eclipses have been known to have large and sometimes unanticipated effects on the ionized part of Earth’s atmosphere and the signals that pass through it,

Yvon Hachey VE1VON

January, 2024

Topic

• What is a solar eclipse?
• How does a solar /solar eclipse impact communications?
• Why are we talking about this?
• List of activities
• Safety

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Solar Eclipse and Communication

What is a solar eclipse?

• A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately every six months, during the eclipse season in its new moon phase, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of the Earth's orbit. In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon.

NASA

Solar Eclipse and Communication

New Brunswick Times

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Partial Eclipse Duration

2h16min

Start 15h25 to End 17h42

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Total Eclipse Duration

3:19 Min/Sec

Start 16h34 to End 16h37

April 08, 2024

Wikipedia

Solar Eclipse and Communication

Last time in NB 1972

Next time in NB 2079

Propagation Effects: 

The altered ionospheric conditions during an eclipse can change how radio waves propagate through the ionosphere. This can cause signal fading, absorption, and refraction, affecting shortwave and satellite communication systems

Predictions showed a 35% reduction in  Total Electron Content (TEC) , but the team was surprised to find a reduction of up to 60%.

The August 2017 eclipse—called the “Great American Eclipse” because it crossed the continental US— gave scientists a chance to test that prediction

skyandtelescope.org

Solar Eclipse and Communication

Absorption is the lessening of the signal strength as it passes through a medium. 

Refraction is the change in direction of a RF wave as it passes through a medium.

Fading is a phenomenon in which the strength and quality of a radio signal fluctuate over time and distance

Solar Eclipse and Communication

A bow wave is the wave that forms at the bow of a ship when it moves through the water. As the bow wave spreads out, it defines the outer limits of a ship's wake.

Eclipse shadows travel at 1,100 miles/1770Km per hour at the equator. The width of the Moon's shadow is at most 170 miles/270Km wide. 

Ionospheric bow wave during the 2017 US eclipse

MIT Haystack Observatory

Solar Eclipse and Communication

Radio Impact

April 2024 Eclipse path and expected communication impact area

17h35 UTC

Totality in NB

19h34UTC

16h34ADT

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100%

98%

New Brunswick path

Activities

Science in the Shadows: NASA Selects Five Experiments for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse - Radio Amateurs of Canada (rac.ca)

1- Chasing the Eclipse with NASA’s High-Altitude Research Planes

2- Airborne Imaging and Spectroscopic Observations of the Corona

3- ‘Listening Party’ for Amateur Radio Operators

4- Solar Radiation’s Effects on Earth’s Upper Atmosphere Layers (QSO Party)

5- Bringing the Sun’s Magnetic ‘Hot Spots’ Into Sharper Focus

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Activities

2024 Balloon Solar Eclipse Project, New Brunswick | Welcome (eclipseplus.ca)

“the only citizen-led project of its kind outside of NASA”

Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick

APRS

VE9QLE-11

Safely viewing the eclipse

Recommend to always wear safety filters

Safely viewing the eclipse

VE9MCD

Thank You

Note: Solar viewing available outside after the talk