AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Cadets and faculty at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) will be studying the total solar eclipse on April 8.
On Wednesday, cadets and faculty were checking their equipment in preparation for their studies.
The cadets are one of about 40 teams that will be supporting NASA research, and studying the Sun's corona to learn more about its outer layers, which will only be visible during the eclipse.
"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to participate in this," said Tom Young, a USAFA Cadet. "I know not everyone has the opportunity to and I'm looking forward to help collect data that will go to NASA, their peers and the Air Force to help protect our assets and space and ensure everyone here on Earth maintains their communication and weather and everything like that."
The Academy says 19 cadets, members of the U.S. Air Force Academy Physics and Astronomy Club, and three faculty members will be traveling to Fredericksberg, Texas and McCleansboro, Illinois for the eclipse.
Cadets will collect data by using the following:
- digital cameras
- solar telescopes with special filters
- polarization cameras
- event-based cameras
The cadets say their research will help study solar activity and the impact it has on technology, such as satellites and GPS communications.
WATCH: SOUTHERN COLORADO ECLIPSE FORECAST AND VIEWING TIPS
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