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Looking back at Earth from a million miles away,

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the Deep Space Climate Observatory will watch the August total solar eclipse

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in real time, giving scientists a unique opportunity to study our

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solar powered planet. NASA’s Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera,

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called EPIC, will capture images of the moon’s shadow

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passing over Earth. A team of scientists will combine data from EPIC

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with measurements taken on the ground to learn more about how the sun’s energy

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is absorbed and reflected in Earth’s atmosphere.

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Clouds affect how much of the sun’s energy reaches Earth, which can be difficult

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to calculate without knowing how each cloud blocks, absorbs or transmits light.

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Like a giant cloud, the moon blocks out the sun’s energy

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during the solar eclipse. Because we already know the exact shape

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and makeup of the moon, scientists can use the natural phenomenon to develop

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new calculations that could improve estimates of Earth’s energy system

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and answer questions about Earth’s climate.

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NASA has studied the sun and Earth relationship for more than 40 years.

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This year, NASA is launching two instruments to further study Earth’s energy system.