Solar Eclipse QSO Party 2023 and 2024

Solar Eclipse QSO Party 2023 and 2024

Couple of solar eclipses are coming up, one on 14th October 2023 and another on 8th April 2024. Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI) is planning to probe the effect of solar eclipses on the ionosphere. As you are aware, propagaton of radio waves by refraction from the ionosphere is dependent on the level of ionization, which in turn dependent on solar activity. HamSCI Festivals of Eclipse Ionospheric Science are scheduled for the two eclipse events. Solar Eclipse QSO Party 2023 and 2024 are part of the festivals. Though it is primarily for North America, world wide participation is welcomed by the organizers. Solar Eclipse QSO Party will be using CW, FT4/8, SSB and other digital modes on 6-160 m, excluding the WARC bands as in other contests.

Data submitted by the participants will help researchers answer questions about the variability of the ionosphere. The QSO party will start before the eclipse, continue through the eclipse and after the eclipse, for a period of time. Initial part will be for evaluation of baseline parameters and later part evaluation of the effect of eclipse on the ionosphere. Time schedule is from 1200-2200 UTC on October 14, 2023 and 1400-2400 UTC on April 8, 2024. Those who are able to operate only for a part of the time are requested to schedule operating time when eclipse path is nearest to them. They have also recommended the use of contest logging software on a computer in the station. It will help in submitting the QSO data after the contest. Submitted data will be useful for scientists in their ionospheric research. Solar Eclipse QSO Party Rules for 2023 and 2024 rules are available on the website and there is provision for single-operator and multi-operator participation.