The boffins who keep tabs on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) had another of their periodic "wow" moments when the latest transmissions from space turned up a couple of unique images of the sun in eclipse. The first shot, transmitted earlier this morning between 2:15 to 3:45 ET, captured the sun partially blocked from view by the Earth. About five hours later, the SDO snapped a photo of the moon moving in front of the sun.
This is going to be a regular pattern for the next three weeks when Earth blocks the craft's view of the sun for a period of time each day. The SDO, which lifted off in 2010, is on a five-year mission to observe solar activity. Over the years, it has sent back to Earth reams of data, not to mention some mind-blowingly beautiful solar images.
Partially obscured view of the sun as seen by the SDO.
(Credit: NASA/SDO)
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