IN Mexico, USA and Canada Yesterday, April 8, 2024, they enjoyed a special occasion. A total solar eclipse which plunged their cities into darkness in broad daylight. It was a beautiful spectacle, announced with great fanfare in recent weeks, both because of its enormous astronomical importance and the superstitions it conceals. Obviously, none of these superstitions came true, but the spectacle was worth it, both seen from Earth and from Earth. From space.
And while we might think that the above-mentioned countries were the best places for this, there is another, even better place: space. Some private companies with satellites in orbit like SpaceX, published photographs of the solar eclipse. But above all, those who were captured in International Space Station (ISS) To NASA astronauts.
These premises had been preparing for months for the big event. And to be in a better place and avoid possible risks. Everything went smoothly as they were able to enjoy the solar eclipse longer than anyone here on Earth. We must not forget that they could only enjoy it in those countries where there was daylight at that very moment and which were in the so-called continuity strip. On the other hand, since the time of the ISS they have enjoyed the shadow of the Moon, gradually enveloping a large part of planet Earth in their mantle of darkness. Reading it isn’t the same as seeing it, so here are the NASA images.
Solar eclipse from space
Solar eclipses occur when the Earth, Moon and Sun align in such a way that The Moon hides the Sun visible from our planet. Therefore, its light does not reach us normally and, looking at the sun, you can only see the crown that surrounds it. Like a lunar eclipse, they can be total or partial. This time it was total, so the spectacle was guaranteed.
This is a very special phenomenon that every person has to see very rarely in his life. In fact, those who just witnessed this solar eclipse in America will have to wait. 20 years see another. Our turn will come in Spain in 2026when there will be another total solar eclipse that can be seen in our geographic area.
If all goes well, by then the International Space Station will still workas their retirement is scheduled for 2030. Surely there they will again take pictures as beautiful as those that their amazed astronauts saw last night.
After all, from space there are no clouds or anything that interferes with observation. All you have to do is sit back and watch, and that’s exactly what your astronauts did. No matter how accustomed they are to always seeing the Earth 400 km underfootthese special events will never cease to amaze you and perhaps remind you of the reason you decided to become an astronaut in the first place.
Source: Hiper Textual
