SDO Sees Spring Eclipse
NASA image captured March 29, 2011
Twice a year, SDO enters an eclipse season where the spacecraft slips behind Earth for up to 72 minutes a day. Unlike the crisp shadow one sees on the sun during a lunar eclipse, Earth's shadow has a variegated edge due to its atmosphere, which blocks the sun light to different degrees depending on its density. Also, light from brighter spots on the sun may make it through, which is why some solar features extend low into Earth's shadow.
Credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Facebook
Comments and faves
andrea.prave, César A.P, anadah, skarpi - www.skarpi.is, and 262 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Francesco Littmann - 42 (26 months ago | reply)
Awesome!
∙ мake it ғuиky ∙ (26 months ago | reply)
Oh my god
0.0
.Chus. (26 months ago | reply)
So beautiful
This photo was invited and added to the ASDD-Engineering.com group.
bsdkong (26 months ago | reply)
Way too cool!!!!!
unclevictorm (26 months ago | reply)
..must go to the light..f/a
thepretenda (26 months ago | reply)
I m m e n s e!!
Alto "Burlap" Cirrus [deleted] (26 months ago | reply)
that is one of the most incredible sights I have ever seen!
Surrounded By Light (26 months ago | reply)
spectacular!
dodagp (26 months ago | reply)
Heavenly !!!
jamieball833 (26 months ago | reply)
Wow, that is incredible!
tigeray666 (26 months ago | reply)
Absolutely amazing!!!
Unstrung Photo (26 months ago | reply)
Favorite x1000
enire photography (26 months ago | reply)
wow
glowingtones (26 months ago | reply)
it took me a while to figure this one out but I managed it... :)
The Sun has truly woken up now !
thankyou - all of your pictures are magnificent
Compound Eye (26 months ago | reply)
This is truly beautiful.
Mohammed Glal (26 months ago | reply)
Awesome
سبحان الله العلى العظيم
_▁▁▂▄▅▆ (26 months ago | reply)
bolita de fuego.
rougecarey (26 months ago | reply)
its an early APril Fools Prank, theres no way other bodies are brighter than the almighty sun
rougecarey (26 months ago | reply)
im kidding
Spencer P. Lane (26 months ago | reply)
Wait, the Earth is casting a shadow on the Sun? What is the light source?
.Chus. (26 months ago | reply)
the camera flash of course
perlwonk (26 months ago | reply)
Some people would call this a sunrise.
finch2012 (26 months ago | reply)
Spencer, good point. What is the light source? I don't get how the Earth casts a shadow on the Sun. Can someone explain how the Earth casts a shadow on the Sun?
finch2012 (26 months ago | reply)
Can someone explain what is meant by: Twice a year, SDO enters an eclipse season where the spacecraft slips behind Earth for up to 72 minutes a day? Is the "shadow" really the edge of the earth?
Thewin Chanyawong (26 months ago | reply)
Hello... Photographer's friends
ملكه بطيبة قلبي_استغفر الله (26 months ago | reply)
Wonderful
angelcastelorivas (26 months ago | reply)
es apocaliptico
tallawah75 (21 months ago | reply)
breathtaking..
nicolas_parizo (21 months ago | reply)
how wonderful