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When the Moon
blocks the Sun during a solar eclipse,

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there is a noticeable impact on Earth's
upper atmosphere known as the ionosphere.

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These changes can affect radio
communications,

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including amateur radio,
also known as ham radio.

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Ham radio is a way you can talk to people
all around the world.

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You set up a radio,
and antenna. You talk into the radio.

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The radio sends a signal
up to the antenna.

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The antenna sends a signal up to the sky.

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It bounces off of the electrified layer
of the sky

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back down to Earth, where you can talk
to the person on the other side.

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During the 2024 total solar eclipse,
the HamSCI Citizen Science

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Project is inviting ham
radio operators to transmit radio signals.

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The goal is to have people
make as many radio contacts as they can

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with operators in different locations
during the celestial event.

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By recording how strong their radio
signals are and how far they go,

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ham radio
operators and scientists can learn about

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how the ionosphere changes
during solar eclipses.

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Sometimes you can talk around the world
and sometimes you can’t,

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and that's all based on
what the ionosphere is doing,

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what the Sun is doing.

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When it works and you are able to talk
to these faraway places,

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I find that really magical. 
To learn how you can participate,

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Follow @DoNASAScience on X and Facebook.

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[music]