Upper row: Observations of the solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, through the Long Wavelength Array at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory.
Bottom row: Conceptual illustration of what concurrent optical images of the eclipse appeared to be.
Credit: Sijie Yu
For the October 14 solar occurrence, the Owens Valley Radio Observatory employed its newly upgraded Long Wavelength Array to produce an exceptional “radio eclipse” image, offering intricate understanding of the solar corona and related events.
Table of Contents
A Novel View of the Solar Eclipse
As a partial solar eclipse was visible to much of California on October 14 (refer to the bottom right image illustrating the solar crescent emerging from behind the lunar body), scientists at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) experienced a divergent perspective. Utilizing the OVRO’s Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA), they recorded radio wavelengths in the range of 20 to 88 megahertz (MHz) to generate a visualization of the “radio eclipse.”
In the ensuing images and footage, dotted lines indicate the moon’s position, while solid lines delineate the boundary of the visible sun. Any aberrations in the footage are a result of the sun’s ionosphere. The radio waves emanating beyond the periphery of the sun originate from its corona, forming a “ring of fire” that is discernible even outside the trajectory of the full annular eclipse.
Observations of the October 14 Solar Eclipse Captured by OVRO-LWA
The observable solar disk and the obscuring lunar edge are circumscribed by unbroken and dotted rings, respectively. It is noteworthy that the radio image of the sun is occasionally warped due to the bending of radio waves by the fluctuating ionosphere, a phenomenon akin to observing the sun through a water surface experiencing ripples. Such distortions are especially noticeable in the early stages as the footage commences at sunrise.
Credit: Sijie Yu
Technical Contributions and Relevance
According to Bin Chen, a solar astrophysicist and associate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, who is also a co-leader of the OVRO-LWA’s solar research, “From a scientific standpoint, this offers an unparalleled occasion to scrutinize the sun’s expansive corona at the highest resolution achievable at these wavelengths, utilizing the moon’s edge as a mobile ‘knife edge’ to enhance the effective angular resolution.”
Upgrades at OVRO-LWA and Their Implications
Earlier this year, the OVRO-LWA underwent a significant upgrade, funded by the National Science Foundation. The telescope is now capable of scanning the sky more rapidly than any other radio telescope operating below 100 MHz frequencies. Overseen by Gregg Hallinan, OVRO director and Caltech professor of astronomy, the OVRO-LWA initiative involves partnerships with various academic entities. The array continuously captures radio waves from the entire sky, keeping track of coronal mass ejections from proximal stars, investigating the magnetic fields of exoplanets, and offering data on the early universe, in addition to executing comprehensive examinations of our sun.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Owens Valley Radio Observatory
What was the unique aspect of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory’s observation of the solar eclipse?
The Owens Valley Radio Observatory (OVRO) used its recently upgraded Long Wavelength Array (OVRO-LWA) to capture a distinct “radio eclipse” image during the solar event on October 14, 2023. This enabled the researchers to gain intricate insights into the solar corona and associated phenomena, differing from typical optical observations.
What frequencies were used to capture the “radio eclipse”?
The Long Wavelength Array at OVRO recorded radio wavelengths between 20 and 88 megahertz (MHz) to create the image of the “radio eclipse.”
What are the technical advancements of the OVRO-LWA mentioned in the article?
The OVRO-LWA recently underwent a significant upgrade funded by the National Science Foundation, making it capable of surveying the sky more quickly than any other radio telescope operating at frequencies under 100 MHz.
What is the significance of these observations from a scientific standpoint?
According to Bin Chen, a solar astrophysicist and associate professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, the event offers a unique opportunity to study the sun’s extended corona at the highest resolution possible at these wavelengths. The moon’s limb serves as a mobile ‘knife edge,’ enhancing the effective angular resolution of the observations.
What kind of distortions are evident in the captured radio images and video?
Distortions in the captured images and video are primarily caused by the sun’s ionosphere. The radio waves are bent due to fluctuations in the ionosphere, making the sun’s image appear as if it is viewed under a rippling water surface.
Who are the collaborators on the OVRO-LWA project?
The OVRO-LWA project is managed by OVRO director and Caltech professor of astronomy Gregg Hallinan and involves collaborations with multiple academic institutions.
What other phenomena does OVRO-LWA study besides the sun?
Besides the sun, the OVRO-LWA array detects radio waves across the entire sky nearly continuously, monitoring for coronal mass ejections from nearby stars, searching for the magnetic fields of exoplanets, and providing insights on the early universe.
More about Owens Valley Radio Observatory
- Owens Valley Radio Observatory Official Website
- National Science Foundation Funding Details
- Research by Bin Chen at New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Introduction to Radio Astronomy
- Solar Corona Studies and Research
- Caltech Astronomy Department
- Coronal Mass Ejections and Solar Studies
- Exoplanet Research and Magnetic Fields
- Insights into the Early Universe
6 comments
This really helps u appreciate the advancements in astronomy. Cant imagine what the next big leap will be. Keep it up OVRO!
Why didn’t I hear about this earlier? A radio eclipse sounds like a big deal! Good to know NSF is funding such important work.
so the moon acts like a “knife edge” to increase resolution… fascinating! Science is just awesome sometimes.
What a great read. OVRO is doing some impressive work. Can’t wait to see what else they’ll discover with the new tech they’ve got.
Bin Chen and his team are on to something here. Would love to read more about their research. The sun’s corona always seemed like a mystery to me.
Wow, this is really groundbreaking stuff! I can’t believe how far we’ve come in radio astronomy. I mean capturing a solar eclipse through radio waves? thats next level!