Total eclipse sheds light on solar energy phenomena

A perfect total eclipse at Lae, New Guinea, in February, gave information that will help in an understanding of the energies which surge from the sun and create the chromosphere and the sun´s corona. The chromosphere is the 1,000-to 10,000-mile band of energy that lies between the sun´s visible surface and the region called the corona that extends beyond the chromosphere. It can be seen in full and meaningful view only during a total eclipse. Of particular importance was this rare opportunity to view the lower 600-mile region of the chromosphere, which was seen clearly in this brief glimpse of several seconds´ duration.