Video: Solar Eclipse Seen From
Space
By Danielle Venton January
7, 2011
The Earth-orbiting satellite Hinode caught
this stunning video of the annular solar eclipse Jan. 4.
An annular eclipse occurs when the moon is
slightly farther from Earth than usual and appears slightly smaller. When it
moves between the Earth and sun, it covers the center of the sun, leaving a bright,
fiery ring, or annulus, at the edge.
Hinode, a Japanese mission, studies the sun’s
magnetic fields and surface eruptions. The satellite carries three
NASA-developed telescopes that capture different types of light:
·
The
optical telescope sees visible light.
·
The
X-ray telescope, which took the video above, can see deep inside the corona.
·
The
ultraviolet-light telescope reveals the deep, high-temperature processes that
heat the sun’s corona.
This will be a good year for eclipse fans.
With four partial-solar and two total-lunar eclipses upcoming, watch for more
sun shots.
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