Post by Daniel on Sept 15, 2015 21:14:44 GMT -5
NASA’s SDO catches a double eclipse
This past Sunday (September 13, 2015) was a partial eclipse of the sun as seen from parts of South Africa and Antarctica. At the same time, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) – a satellite in geosynchronous orbit around Earth – caught a rare double eclipse of the sun, first by Earth and then by the moon. NASA said that SDO sees dozens of Earth eclipses and several lunar transits each year from its vantage point in space. This is the first time it has seen two happening at once! NASA explained:
Just as the moon came into SDO’s field of view on a path to cross the sun, Earth entered the picture, blocking SDO’s view completely. When SDO’s orbit finally emerged from behind Earth, the moon was just completing its journey across the sun’s face.
The double eclipse began around 06:30 UTC on September 13.
This past Sunday (September 13, 2015) was a partial eclipse of the sun as seen from parts of South Africa and Antarctica. At the same time, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) – a satellite in geosynchronous orbit around Earth – caught a rare double eclipse of the sun, first by Earth and then by the moon. NASA said that SDO sees dozens of Earth eclipses and several lunar transits each year from its vantage point in space. This is the first time it has seen two happening at once! NASA explained:
Just as the moon came into SDO’s field of view on a path to cross the sun, Earth entered the picture, blocking SDO’s view completely. When SDO’s orbit finally emerged from behind Earth, the moon was just completing its journey across the sun’s face.
The double eclipse began around 06:30 UTC on September 13.
!!
