October 14, 2023, and April 8, 2024, will bring both an annular and then a total solar eclipse. These celestial events will be followed widely by hams because of the sudden and dynamic changes that occur in the ionosphere during an eclipse. While much is known about ionospheric propagation, much is still to be learned. And these will be the last two solar eclipses in North America for nearly 20 years.
ARRL is partnering with HamSCI – the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation to encourage amateurs to get on the air and operate as part of the The HamSCI Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science. Propagation experiments will include the Solar Eclipse QSO Party using CW, FT4/8, SSB and other digital modes and The Gladstone Signal Spotting Challenge (GSSC) using CW, WSPR and FST4W modes.
The October 14th event will run from 1200-2200 UTC and amateurs may operate on any band and any mode from 6-160 meters (except the WARC bands.)
All the details may be found at www.hamsci.org/eclipse. If you have any questions or know of a club that would be interested in having a presentation to learn more about the science around the events, please contact the HamSCI Public Relations Officer, Ed Efchak WX2R at pressrelations@hamsci.org. Ed is also the PIC for the ARRL Northern New Jersey section.
Help your local hams to save the dates…get on the air…and send in a log. Help be a part of science!