Imaging the structure of the low K-corona

The first 2-D distributions of the polarization angle and of the relative color index for the K-corona of 29 March 2006 are presented. The distributions illustrate the efficiency of the total solar eclipse approach for high-precision measurements of the K-corona continuum in the range <1.4 R circle dot. Natural ground and space total solar eclipses caused by external occulting the bright solar-disk light by the Moon or Earth group planets are discussed. Calculations of the eclipse magnitude m are carried out to show ideal conditions for total solar eclipse observations in space from Lagrange point L2 for Mars (m approximate to 1.025). The illumination in Mars' shadow is estimated to equal 5.6x10(-11) for the wavelength of 550nm. No internal or external occulting coronagraphs are needed. Partial solar eclipses with m>0.91 can be observed from Lagrange points L2 for Mercury, Venus, and Earth.