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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.

Go to Project Website about Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative

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

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.
Map of North America showing the location of the 80+ DEB Initiative observing teams. Purple telescopes mark location of teams in the path of totality for the April 8 2024 eclipse. Orange telescopes mark the location of teams outside of that path. Teams are still needed to observe from NH and Maine.
Credit: Map was created in GeoCollaborate, a NASA Heliophysics Innovations for Technology and Science (HITS) program-funded project that is using geospatial data to highlight NASA projects for the eclipse. GeoCollaborate is a project of StormCenter Communications.

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.
DEB Initiative image of the October 14, 2023 eclipse as seen from Hobbs, New Mexico. The two small black smears are sunspots. The image has been scaled down and cropped. 
Credit: Matt Penn, DEB Initiative.

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.

<strong>Get to know the people of the DEB Initiative!</strong>

Photo of a man standing next to a large camera rig

Bob Baer

Principal Investigator of DEBI

Visit Project Website
Photo of a man standing outdoors next to a large camera rig.

Mike Conley

Amateur astronomer

Visit Project Website
Photo of a man sitting on a bench outside next to a camera on a tripod

Castor Fu

Amateur astronomer

Visit Project Website
Photo of a man outside in the evening with a camera and tripod

Bill Kloepping

Amateur astronomer

Visit Project Website
Photo of a man next to a river holding a fish.

Jonathan Mangin

Amateur astronomer / Teacher

Visit Project Website
Photo of a man in a yellow tshirt sitting in a chair on a football field next to a tripod and camera.

Chris Midden

Amateur astronomer / Teacher

Visit Project Website
Photo of a man outside maneuvering a large telescope

Claude Plymate

Retired Engineering Physicist

Visit Project Website
Photo of a man outside wearing protective eyewear for the eclipse and holding his hands to the camera with his fingers spread out.

Matt Penn

Solar researcher/ Engineer

Visit Project Website