Italian Scientists Prepare New Solar Instrument for Crucial Eclipse Test

Italian scientists are preparing to put a new solar instrument through a crucial test during the August 12 total solar eclipse in Spain. The Circular Slit Spectrometer (CISS), developed over 2½ years, will be tested at the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory to determine whether it can study the Sun’s corona faster than existing instruments.

Unlike conventional spectrometers that scan the corona line by line, CISS uses a circular slit to capture the spectrum of the entire corona at a specific distance from the Sun in a single photograph. Scientists say this could provide a major advantage because the corona can change significantly within minutes, making slower observations less effective.

If the test succeeds, the technology could eventually be used in a future space mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The team travelled by road from Italy to Spain, carrying the instrument in a van to avoid dismantling it and reduce the risk of delays caused by possible flight disruptions. The researchers now face a brief window of totality where weather, coordination and precise execution will be critical.

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