Electron Temperatures and Flow Speeds of the Low Solar Corona: MACS Results from the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006 in Libya

An experiment was conducted in conjunction with the total solar eclipse on 29 March 2006 in Libya to measure both the electron temperature and its flow speed simultaneously at multiple locations in the low solar corona by measuring the visible K-coronal spectrum. Coronal model spectra incorporating the effects of electron temperature and its flow speed were matched with the measured K-coronal spectra to interpret the observations. Results show electron temperatures of (1. 10±0. 05) MK, (0. 70±0. 08) MK, and (0. 98±0. 12) MK, at 1. 1 R⊙ from Sun center in the solar north, east and west, respectively, and (0. 93±0. 12) MK, at 1. 2 R⊙ from Sun center in the solar west. The corresponding outflow speeds obtained from the spectral fit are (103±92) km s-1, (0+10) km s-1, (0+10) km s-1, and (0+10) km s-1. Since the observations were taken only at 1. 1 R⊙ and 1. 2 R⊙ from Sun center, these speeds, consistent with zero outflow, are in agreement with expectations and provide additional confirmation that the spectral fitting method is working. The electron temperature at 1. 1 R⊙ from Sun center is larger at the north (polar region) than the east and west (equatorial region). © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.