Solar eclipse from space

NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) has captured for the first time the transit of the Moon in front of the Sun from a probe in space . The image, obtained on October 7 at 36,000 kilometers from Earth, shows a spectacular "partial solar eclipse" in the extreme ultraviolet zone of the electromagnetic spectrum . At these wavelengths, the Sun's brightness can rise and fall a hundredfold in the blink of an eye.

Regardless of its beauty, the image will help to calculate the effects of light diffraction on the optics of this space telescope designed specifically to observe the Sun. "We can use the information to correct the instruments on board and thus obtain images with the highest level of detail, "explained Karel Schrijver of the Lockheed-Martin Solar and Astrophysical Laboratory.

SDO observatory was launched on February 11 from Cape Canaveral and is the first mission of the program "Living with a Star" (Living with a Star) space agency.