A outstanding solar eclipse is coming shortly . While the rest of us suckers will be stare , awestruck , from the land ( except for the winner ofthis competition ) , a small group of distance enthusiast will take a more proactive approaching , charteringjets to fell directly into the route of the moon ’s shadow .
Barring bad weather , the August 21 occultation should bevisiblefrom everywhere in the continental United States . But for some the great unwashed , " visible " is just not good enough . Teams of astronomer are sendingballoon camsup to livestream the spectacle from the sky . Others will use aeroplane - mountedtelescopesto get an extremely rarefied glimpse of the natural event on the surface of the Sun and Mercury . Elsewhere , diehard eclipse lover will room specially chartered flight for the solitary purpose of spend a minuscule more time in the all - consumingdarkness .
" A entire solar occultation is one of nature ’s most awful events,“Sky & Telescopeeditor Kelly Beatty say Business Insider . " Anyone who ’s see one knows that . ” But from the air , Beatty said , “ The sky is that much clearer and that much blacker . And that wee-wee the corona that much brighter and more electric . It ’s really an electric - await phenomenon . "
The honey oil are minor and the requirement is high , which means a undivided seat can well cost $ 10,000 or more . At most , the flight will grease one’s palms passengers afew superfluous minutesin the darkness .
Those who ’ve done it before say the tripper is deserving every penny .
“ I have no aim of ever missing an occultation for the quietus of my life . I do n’t care where it is , even in the distant country of the Earth , " said passenger Craig Small . " I have to be there , I will be there . "
atomic number 27 - rider Joel Moskowitz tally .
" When you see one , you want to see more , ” he said . “ You get strung-out . Seeing the corona during totality is good than sexuality . "
[ h / tBusiness Insider ]
