Celestial events have fascinated scientists and astronomers for centuries, yielding valuable insights into the operation of our solar system. The most dramatic of these are solar eclipses—brief periods when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the light of the sun partially or fully. Some eclipses can be seen from the Earth, while others can be seen only from space. Thanks to advanced satellites like NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which monitors the sun around the clock in high definition, these otherwise invisible phenomena are captured in stunning detail. These observations enhance our understanding of solar activity and its interactions with nearby stars.
NASA’s SDO captures rare solar eclipse visible only from space
Sunday, April 27th, brought a rare astral event-one that could not be seen on Earth. There was a partial solar eclipse wherein the moon intercepted between the Earth and sun and blocked about 23% of the face of the sun. The eclipse itself, however, was only observable from space. Luckily, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), a satellite orbiting Earth that constantly watches the sun, captured images of the occurrence.
The SDO, which started in 2010, has tools that can view the sun at high definition. It took stunning, unbroken photographs of the event, a “lunar transit.” In this kind of eclipse, the moon appears to be a dark, giant sphere creeping gradually across the sun’s radiating face. Since earthbound observers had no idea that this space event was occurring, the spaceborne location of the SDO allowed it to film the eclipse from beginning to end, giving researchers valuable information and the average observer a glimpse at an event impossible on the surface.
This is just one aspect of a broader NASA initiative to monitor solar activity in real time, allowing us to more precisely witness how the sun acts when it comes into contact with other space objects—even when the interactions cannot be seen from Earth.
What is the Solar Dynamics Observatory
The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a standalone satellite that is responsible for monitoring the sun around the clock. Having been launched by NASA in February 2010, SDO orbits the Earth and is positioned in front of the sun to provide never-before-seen information on solar activity. Its ability to capture high-definition photos has made it an important tool in tracking solar events, including lunar transits, eclipses, and solar flares. During its working lifetime, the spacecraft observed numerous eclipses, several of which human observers on Earth were not able to witness.
NASA eyes more eclipses as SDO builds on historic observations
NASA has already forecasted two more eclipses to take place in the next few months. The first will be on May 25, with the moon only covering 4% of the sun. The second will be a darker eclipse on July 25, with the moon to cover 62% of the sun. Both these upcoming eclipses will also likely be seen and photographed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, increasing our understanding of the sun and how it acts compared to the moon. Historical Background of Solar Eclipses from Space
It is not the first instance where eclipses were witnessed beyond the atmosphere. There have been such instances, as during the Apollo missions, where astronauts during moon missions were fortunate enough to experience solar eclipses in their initial flights. Such observations are still of gargantuan significance in space history and solar phenomenon research.
From blood moons to solar eclipses: What’s next in the sky
Apart from the partial solar eclipse picture captured by SDO, NASA has even witnessed lunar eclipses such as this year’s Blood Moon. A lunar eclipse is when the moon, Earth, and sun are in line with Earth casting a shadow upon the moon. The moon moves completely into the inner shadow of Earth, or umbra, during a total lunar eclipse. The moon turns dark red, and it is this that creates the appearance that we know as a “Blood Moon.”
In the distance are some eclipses worth looking at. Next in line are a set of some eclipses worth watching. The next solar eclipse to watch on Earth is Sept. 21 and observable from Antarctica, South Pacific, and New Zealand. Perhaps the most highly expected one, however, is the Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse. It is visible only once in a year and is visible only on a thin path of totality that goes through eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain. The moon completely covers the path of the sun in a total eclipse, presenting the observers with a view of the corona of the sun—a view that is witnessed only except for a total eclipse.
Also Read | NASA’s oldest astronaut Don Pettit feels decades younger in space, marks his 70th birthday with a rejuvenated return
About The Author
