A European satellite launched late last year has returned a new animation of the annular solar eclipse that occurred on Jan. 15.
The images returned by the Proba 2 mission are the first of their kind and part of the first set of data released by the European Space Agency. A similar, more robust sun-observing platform, the Solar and Helisopheric Observatory, is unable to see eclipses.
The images that compose the animation were taken about one minute apart. The eclipse was viewable from Earth for more than 11 minutes.
The new satellite is just beginning its lifespan and was largely conceived as a test of new hardware more than a scientific mission. But the small satellite — a bit smaller than a cubic meter (or about 35 cubic feet) — will also deliver this kind of novel view of the sun.
Via Space.com
See Also:
- Eclipse Shadow on Earth Seen From Space
- Solar Eclipse Images Show Dazzling Corona Detail
- Tonight’s Lunar Eclipse: Last Chance Until 2010
- Eclipse of the Century Live Online Tonight
- Exploratorium Broadcasts Total Solar Eclipse From China
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