Burke High School students collect data for NASA during solar eclipse

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Burke High School students in Omaha received a real-world science experience during the solar eclipse.

Student Ella Behne said, “You kind of slowly saw the moon crept over the sun.”

Behne is one of dozens of students who acted as a ‘citizen scientist,’ observing and collecting data during the solar eclipse that will be used by NASA for decades.

Behne said, “I’m part of the weather group so we’re taking air temperature, cloud coverage, wind speed, wind direction.”

Burke High is one of only five schools in Nebraska chosen to partner with NASA, and one of about 400 groups of all ages across the country.

With clipboards and measuring instruments in hand, and protective glasses covering their eyes, students scattered across the high school fields and bleachers.

Behne said, “This is a really cool opportunity to kind of apply what we’re learning in class and to take it outside and apply it to the real world and see what’s going on. So, it’s really kind of a big connection moment today.”

Captain Melanie Boudreault with the Civil Air Patrol says the students prepared for weeks to help capture data.

Boudreault said, “There’s a phenomenon called ghosting during the eclipse. Some of the radio waves are supposed to kind of get blocked off and it’s never been officially measured.”

The event was also a rare real-life opportunity to get kids excited about science.

Boudreault said, “It was exciting. You could tell. They’re like ‘woo.’ They can see that it’s unique.”

For Behne, the preparation and hype paid off.

Behne said, “The next eclipse like this won’t be for about 20 years. It’s been really great to have the opportunity to come outside today, notice what’s going on, make observations, and be a part of history.”

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