The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched two satellites on a groundbreaking mission to simulate solar eclipses by flying in perfect formation. Launched from India on Thursday, the satellites will maintain a precise distance of just 1 mm apart as they orbit, recreating the effect of a solar eclipse for extended periods.
Enhancing Solar Studies with Artificial Eclipses
These artificial eclipses, lasting up to six hours, will allow scientists to study the Sun’s corona—the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere—with unprecedented detail. By blocking the Sun’s light, the satellites will provide a clearer view of solar phenomena, such as coronal mass ejections, which can impact Earth’s magnetosphere.
With a mission duration of two years, Proba-3 will generate eclipses at least twice a week, offering researchers the chance to observe the Sun’s corona in depth, something only natural eclipses could previously provide. The mission is expected to deliver 1,000 hours of totality for scientific exploration.