News Astronomy What happens in Earth’s atmosphere during an eclipse? Using smartphones and radio kits, researchers will track changes in how radio waves travel through the ionosphere DOWN FROM ABOVE Sunlight strips electrons from atoms in the atmosphere, creating a charged layer called the ionosphere. But that process stops without direct sunlight — like during a solar eclipse. NASA Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Lisa Grossman August 13, 2017 at 7:00 am As the moon’s shadow races across North America on August 21, hundreds of radio enthusiasts will turn on their receivers — rain or shine.