On Monday, millions of people across Mexico, the United States, and Canada had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the total solar eclipse. Among those who experienced the celestial event were young citizen scientists in Toronto, who took their eclipse observation to new heights – literally.
A team of budding scientists decided to launch a weather balloon to observe the eclipse from the skies above. They traveled to Burlington, Ontario, located in the path of totality, to release the balloon. Little did they know that their experiment would take them on a journey of over 500 miles.
The weather balloon soared through the sky for 552 miles before finally landing in North Conway, New Hampshire. Local residents lent a helping hand in retrieving the balloon and its payload, which included cameras and trackers. The young scientists were thrilled with the data they collected and are eager to analyze it to learn more about the eclipse.
Part of their project, aptly named Project Eclipse, the young scientists hope to determine the altitude the balloon reached during its flight and use this information to improve future launches. This exciting experiment not only allowed them to witness the eclipse from a unique perspective but also provided valuable scientific data that will contribute to their ongoing research.
Readers who experienced the eclipse in person also shared their images and stories with others, adding to the collective awe and wonder of this incredible celestial event. With the success of this innovative project, these young citizen scientists have proven that the sky is not the limit when it comes to exploring the mysteries of the universe.
