Science and Exploration

A Lunar Transit of the Sun

By Keith Cowing
January 30, 2014
Filed under , , ,
A Lunar Transit of the Sun
A Lunar Transit of the Sun
NASA

On Jan 30, 2014, beginning at 8:31 a.m EST, the moon moved between SDOor SDO, and the sun, giving a view of a partial solar eclipse from space.
Such a lunar transit happens two to three times each year. 

This one lasted two and one half hours, which is the longest ever recorded.  When the next one will occur is as of yet unknown due to planned adjustments in SDO’s orbit.

Note in the picture how crisp the horizon is on the moon, a reflection of the fact that the moon has no atmosphere around it to distort the light from the sun.

SpaceRef co-founder, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA, Away Teams, Journalist, Space & Astrobiology, Lapsed climber.