Throughout a photo voltaic eclipse, astronomers who examine heliophysics are capable of examine the Solar’s corona – its outer environment – in methods they’re unable to do at every other time.
The brightest a part of the Solar is so vibrant that it blocks the faint mild from the corona, so it’s invisible to a lot of the devices astronomers use. The exception is when the Moon blocks the Solar, casting a shadow on the Earth throughout an eclipse. However as an astronomer, I do know eclipses are uncommon, they final only some minutes, and they’re seen solely on slender paths throughout the Earth. So, researchers should work onerous to get their tools to the suitable place to seize these quick, rare occasions.
Of their quest to study extra in regards to the Solar, scientists on the European House Company have constructed and launched a brand new probe designed particularly to create synthetic eclipses.
Meet Proba-3
This probe, known as Proba-3, works similar to an actual photo voltaic eclipse. One spacecraft, which is roughly round when seen from the entrance, orbits nearer to the Solar, and its job is to dam the brilliant elements of the Solar, appearing because the Moon would in an actual eclipse. It casts a shadow on a second probe that has a digicam able to photographing the ensuing synthetic eclipse.
The 2 spacecraft of Proba-3 fly in exact formation about 492 toes (150 meters) aside.
ESA-P. Carril, CC BY-NC-ND
Having two separate spacecraft flying independently however in such a method that one casts a shadow on the opposite is a difficult activity. However future missions depend upon scientists determining find out how to make this precision choreography know-how work, and so Proba-3 is a take a look at.
This know-how helps to pave the best way for future missions that might embody satellites that dock with and deorbit useless satellites or highly effective telescopes with devices situated removed from their major mirrors.
The aspect profit is that researchers get to follow by taking necessary scientific pictures of the Solar’s corona, permitting them to study extra in regards to the Solar on the identical time.
An immense problem
The 2 satellites launched in 2024 and entered orbits that strategy Earth as shut as 372 miles (600 kilometers) – that’s about 50% farther from Earth than the Worldwide House Station – and attain greater than 37,282 miles (60,000 km) at their most distant level, about one-sixth of the best way to the Moon.
Throughout this orbit, the satellites transfer at speeds between 5,400 miles per hour (8,690 kilometers per hour) and 79,200 mph (127,460 kph). At their slowest, they’re nonetheless shifting quick sufficient to go from New York Metropolis to Philadelphia in a single minute.
Whereas flying at that velocity, they will management themselves robotically, with no human guiding them, and fly 492 toes (150 meters) aside – a separation that’s longer than the size of a typical soccer stadium – whereas nonetheless protecting their areas aligned to about one millimeter.
They wanted to keep up that exact flying sample for hours in an effort to take an image of the Solar’s corona, they usually did it in June 2025.
The Proba-3 mission can also be learning area climate by observing high-energy particles that the Solar ejects out into area, generally within the route of the Earth. House climate causes the aurora, also called the northern lights, on Earth.
Whereas the aurora is gorgeous, photo voltaic storms can even hurt Earth-orbiting satellites. The hope is that Proba-3 will assist scientists proceed studying in regards to the Solar and higher predict harmful area climate occasions in time to guard delicate satellites.
