Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) had a front-row seat to a unique view of the total solar eclipse that occurred on Monday. As the Moon’s shadow raced across the planet’s surface at speeds of up to 5,000 mph, the astronauts were able to witness this incredible phenomenon from space.
On the ISS, astronauts experience 16 sunrises and sunsets in a 24-hour period, allowing them to witness up to five eclipses a year. During the recent eclipse, the Moon’s shadow appeared like a floating black hole on Earth from the perspective of the ISS.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk even shared a video of the eclipse taken by one of his Starlink satellites. Additionally, solar and Earth-observing spacecraft captured the eclipse in real-time, providing stunning images of the event from space.
Various satellites, including NOAA’s GOES-East and the European Space Agency’s Proba-2, also captured images of the eclipse as it unfolded. These images offer a unique perspective of the eclipse and showcase the beauty of this celestial event from space.
Overall, the total solar eclipse provided a once-in-a-lifetime viewing experience for astronauts on the ISS and for those observing from Earth. The event serves as a reminder of the incredible sights that can be seen from space and the importance of space exploration in expanding our understanding of the universe.
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