Solar Eclipse Study: Satellites Recreate Corona View
- Scientists are getting an unprecedented look at the sun thanks to a pair of European satellites.
- Launched late last year, the two satellites have been simulating total solar eclipse events since March.
- The cube-shaped spacecraft, each less than 1.5 meters in size, require extreme precision to maintain their formation.
European satellites are staging artificial solar eclipses, providing an unprecedented possibility to study the sun’s corona. The Proba-3 mission, costing $210 million, uses two satellites flying in precise formation to simulate these events, offering extended observation time.These satellites, orbiting thousands of kilometers above Earth, work in tandem to block the sun’s light, allowing scientists to focus on the corona.Andrei Zhukov anticipates the mission will generate nearly 200 solar eclipses over two years, totaling more than 1,000 hours of totality, a remarkable feat. News Directory 3 reports on this innovative approach, which seeks to unlock secrets about the sun’s extreme temperatures and coronal mass ejections. Discover what’s next as scientists delve deeper into solar storms.
European Satellites Stage Artificial Solar Eclipse for sun Study
Updated June 16, 2025
Scientists are getting an unprecedented look at the sun thanks to a pair of European satellites. These satellites are creating artificial solar eclipses, allowing for extended study of the sun’s corona. the European Space Agency (ESA) unveiled images from the mission at the Paris Air Show Monday.
Launched late last year, the two satellites have been simulating total solar eclipse events since March. Orbiting thousands of kilometers above Earth, the satellites fly in tandem, maintaining a distance of only 150 meters. One satellite acts as the moon,blocking the sun’s light.The othre, equipped with a telescope, focuses on the corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere.
The cube-shaped spacecraft, each less than 1.5 meters in size, require extreme precision to maintain their formation. Their accuracy must be within a millimeter,achieved autonomously using GPS,star trackers,lasers,and radio links. This intricate dance allows scientists to observe the corona without the need for special image processing.
the $210 million Proba-3 mission has already produced 10 triumphant solar eclipses during its checkout phase.Andrei Zhukov, lead scientist for the corona-observing telescope at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, saeid the longest eclipse lasted five hours. The team aims for six-hour totality periods onc scientific observations begin in July.
“We almost couldn’t believe our eyes,” Zhukov said. “this was the first try, and it worked.It was so amazing.”
zhukov anticipates the mission will generate about two solar eclipses per week, totaling nearly 200 over two years. This will provide more than 1,000 hours of totality. Natural total solar eclipses, by comparison, offer only a few minutes of totality about every 18 months.
The sun’s corona remains a mystery to scientists, notably its extreme temperature, which exceeds that of the solar surface. Coronal mass ejections can send billions of tons of plasma and magnetic fields into space, causing geomagnetic storms that disrupt power and dialog and create auroras.
While previous missions, including ESA and NASA’s Solar Orbiter and Soho observatory, have created artificial solar eclipses, Proba-3 is unique. Zhukov said the sun-blocking disk and telescope are on separate satellites, providing a better view of the corona closest to the sun.
Damien Galano, ESA’s mission manager, speaking from the Paris Air show, said the agency is extremely satisfied with the image quality, which he attributed to the unprecedented accuracy of the satellite formation.
What’s next
With scientific observations set to begin in July, the Proba-3 mission promises a wealth of data about the sun’s corona. Scientists hope to gain new insights into coronal heating and the origins of solar storms, improving our understanding of space weather and its impact on Earth.