As an amateur astronomer, I intend to perform a few simple experiments during total solar and lunar eclipses. However, I am not aware of all the parameters that can change during these eclipses and hence can't chalk out any experiments. Could anyone suggest some ideas?
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1$\begingroup$ For both citizen and professional scientists, there is much less that can be done during a partial as opposed to a total eclipse. The sun's disc is still visible in a partial eclipse and so you can't investigate solar corona, or gravitational deviation of stars, etc. $\endgroup$– James KCommented Oct 22, 2022 at 17:11
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$\begingroup$ What all can experiments can be performed during a total lunar and solar eclispe? $\endgroup$– Dhruv NayakCommented Oct 23, 2022 at 16:32
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$\begingroup$ Can you check the grammar in your comment. I think you mean "What are all the experiments that can be performed in a total lunar and solar eclipse". But you might mean "What!? All experiments can only be performed in a total eclipse (and not in partial eclipse)" or you might mean something else. $\endgroup$– James KCommented Oct 23, 2022 at 16:42
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$\begingroup$ If you need to change your question, please edit and don't just add comments with new questions. $\endgroup$– James KCommented Oct 23, 2022 at 16:43
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1$\begingroup$ I have already asked about the total lunar eclipse part, though I agree the total solar eclipse was an addition. $\endgroup$– Dhruv NayakCommented Oct 23, 2022 at 17:12
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1 Answer
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Solar eclipses
Since the edge of the Sun's disk as seen from Earth is slightly redder than the center due to limb darkening and this effect is stronger for blue light than red, a partial solar eclipse covering more limb than center will cause the remaining ambient light on the ground to be slightly bluer than normal, until it completely covers the center but not some edge, at which point it will be slightly redder than normal, where "normal" refers to the light of the unobstructed Sun at the same position in the sky (and other atmospheric factors being the same).
- Is the Sun slightly blue in the center? - Wavelength-dependent limb darkening of the Sun
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- What is the intensity distribution of visible light over the solar disk?
Lunar eclipses
The colors within the Earth's shadow seen on the disk of the Moon are different for each eclipse because they originate in Earth's atmosphere. There have been some unusual ones due to recent volcanic eruptions which spewed dust and gases high into the atmosphere where they remained for months or years. You could photograph Earth's shadow on the Moon at regular intervals throughout a lunar eclipse using several narrow-band color filters over your camera to make a coarse spectral analysis, or even make a DIY spectrometer from a DVD or a prism (search for these projects elsewhere) and record a spectrum proper.
