Amazing Science: astronomers create the first-ever artificial solar eclipse

How did they do it?

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

Solar eclipses are one of the most remarkable phenomena that can be seen from Earth. But did you know that researchers created an artificial version of these amazing cosmic wonders?

On-demand eclipses

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

The European Space Agency (ESA) released images of the first artificial solar eclipses, which the agency created with two satellites.

Photo: European Space Agency (ESA)/Proba-3/ASPIICS/WOW algorithm

Proba-3 mission

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

The ESA launched the Proba-3 mission satellites late last year. According to AP News, the agency invested $210 million in the program, which aims to give scientists on-demand eclipses.

Photo: ESA - P. Sebirot

A perfectly synchronized dance

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

In order to create an artificial solar eclipse, the Proba-3 satellites must move in a perfectly synchronized position. One covers the sun, like the moon, and the other captures images.

Photo: ESA-P. Carril

Flying together

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

The AP News explained that the satellites are 150 meters (492 feet) apart and need to fly together with the incredible precision of just 1 millimeter, roughly the thickness of a fingernail.

The first eclipse lasted hours

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

The satellites keep their movements perfectly synchronized automatically. The ESA released the images of the first eclipse, which was created back in March, and lasted five hours.

Photo: ESA

Achieving perfect precision

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

To achieve the required high level of accuracy, the mission uses GPS navigation, star trackers, lasers, and radio links between the small satellites, which will fly around the Earth for two years.

Photo: ESA

10 eclipses

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

The project's scientific team told AP News that they have recorded 10 artificial eclipses since the Proba-3 mission's satellites arrived in orbit. The scientific observations start in July 2025.

The solar corona

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

The main goal of the mission is to allow scientists to study the outer layer of the sun, the corona. According to a BBC News report, researchers are increasingly interested in that part of our home star.

Photo: T. Baratashvili, KU Leuven, Belgium

Why the development matters

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

However, before the satellites, astronomers interested in looking at the corona had to rely on heavily processed images or wait for a natural eclipse because the other sun areas are one million times brighter.

Studying the sun

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

The sun's outer ring intrigues scientists for many reasons, but one of the most pressing questions, and the one many want an answer to, is why the sun's corona is much hotter than the star's inner layers.

Coronal Mass Ejections

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

Scientists are also interested in better understanding Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), or solar storms─ explosions in the Sun's corona that send radiation waves to the Earth.

Electronic disruptions

How did they do it?, On-demand eclipses, Proba-3 mission, A perfectly synchronized dance, Flying together, The first eclipse lasted hours, Achieving perfect precision, 10 eclipses, The solar corona, Why the development matters, Studying the sun, Coronal Mass Ejections, Electronic disruptions

Given their negative effect on satellites and other electronic devices, CMEs can cause worldwide communication disruptions. These clear images will help scientists better understand these dangerous cosmic phenomena.

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