Orlando, Florida – Astronauts aboard the International Space Station witnessed an extraordinary sight during the recent total solar eclipse as the Moon’s shadow rapidly traversed the Earth’s surface. While the eclipse’s totality took over an hour to reach terrestrial observers, those in low-Earth orbit had a unique vantage point to observe the Moon’s shadow moving at astonishing speeds.
NASA reports that the eclipse’s shadow travels at an incredible 1,100 mph at the equator and up to 5,000 mph near the poles. The astronauts residing on the ISS experience 16 sunrises and sunsets in a 24-hour period, giving them a remarkable perspective on celestial events like eclipses.
On the day of the eclipse, not only did the astronauts witness the Moon blocking the Sun’s face, but they also saw the Moon’s shadow cast upon Earth, creating a mesmerizing spectacle resembling a floating black hole. This rare view provided valuable insights into the dynamics of solar eclipses from space.
In addition to the ISS, other spacecraft in low-Earth orbit also captured stunning footage of the solar eclipse. SpaceX founder Elon Musk shared a video taken by a Starlink satellite, offering a different perspective of the celestial event.
As the Moon passed in front of the Sun, various solar and Earth-observing spacecraft recorded the eclipse in real-time, contributing to our understanding of these phenomena. NOAA’s GOES-East satellite tracked the Moon’s shadow as it moved across the Pacific Ocean and North America, while the European Space Agency’s Proba-2 satellite observed the eclipse from a different angle.
The images and videos captured from space not only showcase the beauty of a solar eclipse but also serve as valuable scientific data for researchers studying these celestial events. The collaboration between astronauts and spacecraft further enhances our appreciation for the wonders of the cosmos and our place within it.