During the solar eclipse, astronomers studying heliumophysics can investigate the sun coron – its outer atmosphere – as they cannot do at any other time.
The brightest part of the sun is so bright that it blocks the light light from the corona, so it is invisible to most astronomers used. The exception is when the moon blocks the sun by throwing a shadow on Earth during the eclipse. But as an astronomer, I know that eclipses are rare, they only last a few minutes and are only visible in narrow roads through the Earth. Thus, researchers have to work hard to get their equipment in the right place to capture these short, uncommon events.
In order to learn more about The Sun, researchers from the European Space Agency have developed and released a new probe for the creation of artificial eclipses.
Meet the proba-3
This probe, called proba-3, works just like a true solar eclipse. One spacecraft, which is approximately circular, is coming from the front to the sun, and its task is to block the bright parts of the sun, acting as the moon in a real eclipse. For the second probe, it puts a shadow that contains a camera that can take a photo of the artificial eclipse.
It is a difficult task to have two separate spacecraft flying independently, but in such a way that the shadow is shaking each other. However, future missions depend on whether scientists understand how to do this exact choreography technology, so the Proba-3 is a test.
This technology helps to prepare the way for future missions that could include satellites that combine Deorbit Dead satellites or powerful telescopes with instruments far from their main mirrors.
The side advantage is that researchers begin to practice by taking important scientific photos of Sun’s Corona, allowing them to learn more about the sun at the same time.
A huge challenge
Two satellites launched in 2024. And entered the orbit approaching the Earth as many as 372 miles (600 kilometers)-it is approximately 50% away from the Earth than at the International Space Station-and reaches more than 37,282 miles (60,000 km) at the next point, about the sixth road to the moon.
During this orbit, satellites move from 5,400 miles per hour (8,690 kilometers per hour) to 79,200 miles per hour (127,460 km / h). They still move the slowest enough to go from New York to Philadelphia in one minute.
By flying at this speed, they can automatically control themselves, without human driving and fly 492 feet (150 meters) at a distance of separation, which is longer than the length of a typical football stadium – while maintaining their locations about one millimeter.
They needed to keep that exact flying pattern in a few hours to take a photo of the sun coron, and they did so in 2025. June
The Proba-3 mission also investigates space air by observing the high-energy particles that the sun stands out in space, sometimes in the direction of Earth. The air in space causes Aurora, also known as northern lights on Earth.
Although Aurora is beautiful, solar storms can also damage the earth’s orbital satellites. Proba-3 is expected to help researchers continue to learn about the sun and better predict dangerous weather events to protect sensitive satellites.
This article has been published from a conversation, non -profit, independent news organizations that provide you with facts and reliable analysis to help you give meaning to our complex world. This was written: Christopher Palma, Penn state
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Christopher Palma is not working, consulting, having any funding for any company or organization, or receiving funds for which this article would benefit, and has not disclosed any related relationships except their academic appointment.