ECLIPSE INFO
In Philadelphia, the eclipse will occur from 2:08 p.m. until 4:35 p.m., peaking at 3:23 p.m.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the earth and the sun. During a total solar eclipse, the moon blocks the light coming in from the sun and appears to cover up the sun entirely. This will give viewers a glimpse of the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.
NASA WALLOPS LAUNCHES MONDAY
During the Eclipse today you will be able to see 3 rockets launched from Wallops.
Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore will launch 3 rockets during the solar eclipse to study how Earth’s upper atmosphere is affected when sunlight dims for a moment over part of the planet.
Those rockets will launch at three different times — 45 minutes before the total solar eclipse, during it, and then 45 minutes after the peak local eclipse, and they are expected to reach a maximum altitude of 260 miles. The launch window opens at 2:40 p.m. EDT, with targeted launch times for the three rockets being 2:40 p.m., 3:20 p.m. and 4:05 p.m., but those times are subject to change.
NASA said the three launches are important to gather data on how the sun’s disappearance affects the ionosphere, “creating disturbances that have the potential to interfere with our communications.”