Totality in Tennessee: Pitt scientists witness, document historic eclipse
By Lexi Kennell / Culture Editor
August 22, 2017
As the Pitt Shadow Bandits gradually filled their weather balloon with helium, a symphony of worried gasps escaped from the crowd of spectators as they heard a loud pop and saw the balloon’s deflated remains spread out on the lush Tennessee grass. “Do they have enough helium for another?” someone in the cro...
An unparalled syzygy: Pitt team launches test balloon to prepare for eclipse
By Lexi Kennell / Culture Editor
July 18, 2017
After an intense downpour the morning of the test launch, the dark clouds parted, uncovering a bright blue sky just in time for the Pitt Shadow Bandits to release their research balloon to float up to the top of the earth’s atmosphere. The Pitt Shadow Bandits — a team of Pitt students, faculty and...