April’s total solar eclipse promises to be a scientific bonanza, thanks to new spacecraft and telescopes — and cosmic chance.

The moon will be extra close to Earth, providing a long and intense period of darkness, and the sun should be more active with the potential for dramatic bursts of plasma.

Then there’s totality’s densely populated corridor stretching from Mexico to the U.S. to Canada.

It’s an opportunity for scientists to carry out experiments to better understand our planet.