The ultimate eclipse chase: A Concorde raced against the Moon's shadow
Summary
In June 1973, a team of eight scientists used the Concorde 001 prototype to follow a total solar eclipse across Africa. Flying at more than twice the speed of sound, they managed to observe the eclipse for 74 minutes, far longer than the usual maximum of about 7.5 minutes on the ground.Key Facts
- The Concorde 001 is a prototype of the famous supersonic passenger plane.
- The total solar eclipse occurred on June 30, 1973, and passed over parts of Africa.
- The Moon’s shadow during the eclipse moves very fast, over twice the speed of sound.
- Flying at nearly 17 kilometers above Earth helped reduce atmospheric interference like humidity.
- Pierre Léna, an astronomer, proposed using the Concorde to follow the eclipse for a longer observation.
- The flight set a world record for the longest observation of a total solar eclipse, lasting 74 minutes.
- The usual maximum time to observe a total eclipse from the ground near the equator is about 7.5 minutes.
- The Concorde 001 prototype now resides at the National Air and Space Museum of France with a map showing the eclipse path.
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