Acceleration of Coronal Mass Ejection Plasma in the Low Corona as Measured by the Citizen CATE Experiment
Authors: Penn Matthew J , Baer Robert , Walter Donald , Pierce Michael , Gelderman Richard , Ursache Andrei , Elmore David , Mitchell Adrianna , Kovac Sarah , Hare Honor , McKay Myles , Jensen Logan , Watson Zachary , Conley Mike , Powers Lynn , Lazarova Marianna , Wright Joseph , Young David , Isberner Fred , Hart C. Alexandra , Sheeley N. R. , Penn Debbie , Allen-Penn Kate , Alder Bruce , Alder Ryan , Hall-Conley Geri , Gerdes David , Weber Katherine , Johnson Jeffrey , Matzek Gerald , Somes Steven , Sobnosky Rob , McGowen Robert , Meo Michael , Proctor Damani , Wessinger Charlie , Schilling Jeannine , Kerr Jay , Beltzer-Sweeney Alexander , Falatoun Alex , Higgins David , Boyce Grady , Hettick Jared , Blanco Philip , Dixon Scott , Ardebilianfard Sepehr , Boyce Pat , Lighthill Richard , Lighthill Denese , Anderson David , Anderson Mine , Schad Thomas , Smith Sonna , Jensen Declan , Allen Anthony , Smith Donavan , Brandon Gage , Earp Joe , Earp Jane , Blair Bob , Claver Chuck F. , Claver Jennifer A. , Claver Ryan H. , Hoops Danielle , Rivera Esteban , Gibson Llanee , Hiner Martin , Lann Rein , Miller Shaedyn , Briggs Burton , Davis Karan , Jackson Brian , Kautzsch Kaleb , Sandidge Wesley , Lucas Russell , Gregg Duane , Kamenetzky Julia , Rivera Tiffany , Shaw Joe , Scherrer Bryan , Sandbak Dylan , McFate Richard , Harris Wilson , Brasier Zachery , McNeil Stephen , Jensen Jack , Jensen Makai , Moore Mason , Temple Alexandria , Vanderhorst Thomas , Kautz Richard , Bellorado Orion , Jenkins LaVor R , Pantuso Corey , Carey Marley , Byrnes Josh , Scholtens Kyle , Web Julian , Baker Brain , Barngrover Katie , Hathaway Drew , Smith Kallen , Chandler Kellyn , Hinkle Lydia , Chandler Ione , Gisler Galen , Benner Jack , Mas Madison , Rogers Maya , Moore Prescott , Pelofske Elijah , Gulley Stephen , Short Beth , Crooker Isabel , Hammock Jennifer , Cardenas Katsina , Cardenas Kateri , Wellman Jennifer , Roy Mark , Meyer Joe , Brough Jalynne , Brough Kameron , Nelson Tim , Nelson Zack , Russell Caleb , Bautz Theresa , Weitzel & Team Eric , Wistisen Michele , Aagard Shae , Whipps Zachary , Neuroth Logan , Poste Dawson , Worthen Connor , Gosain Sanjay , Steward Mark , Gosain Vanshita , Gosain Ruchi , Jorgensen Janet , Doucette Eleanor , Doucette Reba , Iwen Elliott , Cochran Alexus , Stith James , Scribner Doug , Kenney Austen , Pisciotti Kolby , Pease Irene , Cynamon Samuel , Cynamon Charles , Cynamon Dawn , Tolbert Bart , Dupree Jean A. , Weremeichik Jeremy , Pindell Nathan , Stives Kristen , Simacek Thomas K , Simacek Yolanta G , Simacek Anne L. , Boeck Wayne , Boeck Andreea , Ryan Austin , Wierzorec Gabriel , Klebe Dimitri , Costanza Bryan , Cerny Arnie , Schmale Trevor , Hoffman Tessa , Streeter Sam , Erickson Jack , McClellan Michele , Erickson Ella , Brettell Brynn , Shoffner Savannah , McClellan Emilie , VanVoorhis Julie , Bramhall Cole , Stelly Daniel , Bee Bentley , Acevedo Bruno , Kroeger Madison , Trumpenski Ben , Sump Nolan , Brook Liam , Ernzen Jagert , Lewis Jessica , Maderak Ryan , Kennedy Charles , Dembinski David , Wright Rita , Foster Michael , Ahmadbasir Mohammad , Laycox Monty , Foster James , Orr Ethan , Staab Ashley , Speck Angela , Baldridge Sean , Kegley Lucy , Bavlnka Jordan , Ballew Thomas , Callen Bruce , Ojakangas Gregory , Bremer Mark , Angliongto Maryanne , Redecker Mark , Bremer Chris , Hill Peggy , Rodgers Michael , Duncan Jordan , Fincher Sam , Nielsen Ben , Hasler Samantha , Shivelbine Taylor , Howard Tyler , Midden Chris , Patrick Sean , Glenn Kerry , Mandrell Chris , Dawson Kyle , Cortez Margaret , Levsky Alyssa , Gallaba Dinuka , Perrone Mason , Taylor Jasmyn , Yanamandra-Fisher Padma A. , Harper Howard , Adams Lindsay , Springer Michaela , Menard BillyJoe , Boggs Dylan , Lynch Caitlin , Watson Jacob , York Andi , Matthews David , Brown Kiley , Garrison Dylan , Mangin Jonathan , Mangin Isaac , Birriel Jennifer , Birriel Ignacio , Yess Capp , Anderson Jesse , Caudill Ethan , Smith Allyn , Buckner Spencer , Longhurst Russ , Fagan Ben , Nations Christian , DiMatties Jeffrey , Thompson Patricia , Garrison David , Garrison Thomas , Garrison William , Kidd Mary , Baker Maria , Ledford Mary-Beth , Winebarger Amy , Freed Michael , Church Morgyn , Dickens Jim , Anderson Bob , Smith Ned , Dorsey Lynne , Justice Doug , Zavala Daniel , Stockbridge Zach , Brittain Sean , Jensen Stanley , Leiendecker Harrison , Thompson Erin , Deady Michelle , Quinn-Hughes Kelly , Slimmer David , Granger Valerie , LaRoche Michael , LaRoche Serena Hill , Manspeaker Rachel , Nguyen Peter , Smith Daniel , Payne Jim , Zissett Jerry , Roberts Arianna M. , Roberts Gabrielle W. , Roberts Harrison , Riddle Amy , Ursache Corina , Ursache Elena 
Published: December 2019

The citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse (CATE) Experiment was a new type of citizen science experiment designed to capture a time sequence of white-light coronal observations during totality from 17:16 to 18:48 UT on 2017 August 21. Using identical instruments the CATE group imaged the inner corona from 1 to 2.1 RSun with 1.″43 pixels at a cadence of 2.1 s. A slow coronal mass ejection (CME) started on the SW limb of the Sun before the total eclipse began. An analysis of CATE data from 17:22 to 17:39 UT maps the spatial distribution of coronal flow velocities from about 1.2 to 2.1 RSun, and shows the CME material accelerates from about 0 to 200 km s−1 across this part of the corona. This CME is observed by LASCO C2 at 3.1–13 RSun with a constant speed of 254 km s−1. The CATE and LASCO observations are not fit by either constant acceleration nor spatially uniform velocity change, and so the CME acceleration mechanism must produce variable acceleration in this region of the corona.