Moon Eats a Chunk Out Of The Sun: Big Pic
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Feb. 21, 2012 -- What a peculiar sight -- there appears to be a chunk missing from the sun! But don't panic, the sun isn't missing any plasma, that's the moon's silhouette as it partially drifted in front of the solar disk from the perspective of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on Tuesday.
BIG PIC: The Sun Does Spectacular Disappearing Act
Orbiting the Earth at a distance of 36,000 kilometers in geosynchronous orbit, the SDO usually has a spectacular, uninterrupted view of our nearest star. The mission has the most sophisticated "eyes" to observe the sun, returning super-high definition images and videos across several different wavelengths 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But occasionally, the moon has to get in on the act, creating an orbital eclipse spectacle.
As described by Spaceweather.com, these lunar eclipse events are important for scientists using the SDO. "The sharp edge of the lunar limb helps researchers measure the in-orbit characteristics of the telescope--e.g., how light diffracts around the telescope's optics and filter support grids," says NASA's Tony Phillips. "Once these are calibrated, it is possible to correct SDO data for instrumental effects and sharpen the images even more than before."
BIG PIC: Solar Unrest Culminates in Violent Eruption
And like the eclipses we see from the ground, this eclipse can bring the lunar landscape into focus -- mountains and valleys on the moon show up as a raggedy edge when viewed at high resolution.
This isn't the only time the sun may become blocked from view. During the SDO's "eclipse season" the Earth can block the sun from view too, creating a blurred silhouette due to our atmosphere.
-- by Ian O'Neill.
Images: Top: The sun viewed with the SDO's 304A filter. Bottom: The sun viewed through the SDO's 171A filter. Credit: NASA/SDO
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