  Two approaches are suggested for recording the continuum corona in the range
< 1.4 Rsun. They are different from the classical coronagraphic ones. Current
state in the thin film technology allows discussing a new generation
coronagraph with a variable transmission of an entrance aperture. The estimated
coronagraphic factor is 2 orders of magnitude higher compared to a Lyot-type
coronagraph. Another approach is based on the use of total solar eclipses at
near-Mercury orbits. The instrumental background is decreased at least 3 orders
of magnitude. That allows using a more simplified optical sketch.

Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics;Solar and Stellar Astrophysics