Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative
The Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast (DEB) Initiative is a collaborative scientific effort to study the Sun’s inner corona – its lowest atmosphere – which is only visible during a solar eclipse. You can join a volunteer solar observation team and help solar scientists investigate the interactions between the Sun’s surface and its corona–-measuring the velocity of material in polar plumes, coronal streamers, and solar mass ejections.
Volunteer teams will receive training and equipment and conduct coordinated solar observations before and during the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The DEB Initiative will also broadcast images from observing sites in near real-time so people away from the path can share the excitement. Volunteer teams can keep the eclipse observing equipment to make daily solar observations after the eclipse and/or participate in other NASA citizen science projects.
AGES
Teams, age 18 and older
Division
Heliophysics
where
Outside
launched
2023
What you’ll do
- Use a telescope to make and share your own images of the solar eclipse.
- Learn how to use astronomical observation equipment, which you can use for future solar observations or your own research purposes.
- See movies of the solar corona that include your observations.
Requirements
- Time: Complete three half-day practices and commit to a full day of observing on April 8.
- Equipment: Telescope, tracking mount, and computer are required (and provided to selected teams). See the project’s website for details.
- Knowledge: None. Training videos are available online.
Get started!
- Visit the project website to learn more about what’s involved.
- The DEB Initiative is no longer accepting new teams for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. However, if you would like to participate, you may do so by joining an existing team. High school and college students are especially welcome!
- Contact DEB.INITIATIVE@GMAIL.COM with your request.
![Across a true color image of the United States, Mexico, and southern Canada, we see an arcing band of purple icons nearly obscuring two parallel red lines that extend off the image. The red lines indicate the northern and southern edge of totality. The purple icons indicate locations of DEB Initiative Teams who will be making observations on April 8. A dozen orange icons are scattered over the US and Puerto Rico. These mark the locations of off-the-path teams who will also be making observations.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mapoktouse.png?w=4096&format=png)
![Dynamic eclipse broadcast Initiative" appear in all black capitals, circling a central black spot. Across this black spot are three letters: a white capital D, a black lowercase e, and a white capital B. The black "e" is visible against the black circle thanks to a dense splash of white dots that fill the middle of the circle. The "e" resembles the black of the Moon eclipsing the bright white of the Sun and its corona.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/deb-logo-rgb-badge-bw-550px.png?w=4096&format=png)
![The spherical Sun appears in subtle shades of grey, nearly filling the square frame. The upper right third of the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon, which appears in purest black. There are two dark smudges on the Sun, one in the middle and a slightly larger one halfway between the left edge and the middle.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/site042-partial-2023-10-14-160237-1.8ms-pss-gpp2-1.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
Learn More
You’ll find links to recent articles on the project’s website.
Check out the DEB Initiative Facebook Group for the most up to date information and images from practice observations.
The DEB Initiative is part of the Helio Big Year - follow that link to learn more about this yearlong celebration of heliophysics.
Get to know the people of the DEB Initiative!
![Photo of a man standing next to a large camera rig](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bob-baer.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
![Photo of a man standing outdoors next to a large camera rig.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/mike-conley.jpeg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
![Photo of a man sitting on a bench outside next to a camera on a tripod](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/castor-fu.jpeg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
![Photo of a man outside in the evening with a camera and tripod](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bill-kloepping.jpeg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
![Photo of a man next to a river holding a fish.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/jonathan-mangin.jpeg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
![Photo of a man in a yellow tshirt sitting in a chair on a football field next to a tripod and camera.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/chrismidden.jpg?w=4096&format=jpeg)
![Photo of a man outside maneuvering a large telescope](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/claude-plymate.png?w=4096&format=png)
![Photo of a man outside wearing protective eyewear for the eclipse and holding his hands to the camera with his fingers spread out.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/matt-penn.jpeg?w=4096&format=jpeg)