Solar eclipses happen when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking the sun's light. This event occurs every 18 months on our planet. NASA's plane is designed to study the sun's corona, which is usually invisible because the sun's light is too bright. During solar eclipses, the corona appears as a shining halo around the sun. The solar eclipse on August 12 in the UK will not be a total eclipse, but the moon will cover about 90% of the sun. It will be more visible in the southwestern regions. When watching solar eclipses, it's very important not to look directly at the sun. You need to use special solar eclipse glasses or a pinhole projector. NASA's plane, the WB-57, is a special research plane that can fly at 50,000 feet high. This height allows the plane to fly above clouds and water vapor, taking clearer pictures of the sun's corona. Scientists will study the huge gas cycles in the corona to understand why the sun is so hot. The plane will take pictures of the sun's corona in different wavelengths, giving scientists more information about the sun. Kelly Korreck, NASA's solar eclipse program manager, said, 'During solar eclipses, we can study the sun's corona in a way that's not possible anywhere else.' The sun affects our daily lives, our satellites, and our astronauts in space. By studying this event, we can better understand the sun's effects. Did you know? The sun's corona is hotter than its surface, but we still don't know why. Did you know? Solar eclipses happen every 18 months, but each one is different.