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Total solar eclipse seen from space

Tuesday, 09 April 2024 08:00
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Video: 00:00:07

A total solar eclipse swept across North America yesterday, blocking out the Sun momentarily with parts of the continent plunged into darkness. Geostationary satellites orbiting 36 000 km away captured images of the rare celestial event. 

These images, captured by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16), captured the moon’s shadow moving across North America from approximately 16:00 to 23:00 CEST (15:00 to 22:00 BST.)

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and, for a short period, blocks the face of the Sun, save for a visible ring of light, known as

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The moon eclipses the sun during the total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico
The moon eclipses the sun during the total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico.

The day died and was reborn a few minutes later Monday in the southern United States. There were hugs, tears and gasping as people watched the moon fully eclipse the sun and briefly plunge the world into darkness.

About 2,000 people flocked to Ingram in the southern US state of Texas, a small city in the "path of totality" where the solar eclipse could be observed in its entirety.

Spread on mattresses on the grass, sipping wine comfortably from folding chairs or peering into large telescopes, the viewers, their eyes covered by special protective glasses, celebrated each time the gray clouds parted, letting them enjoy the wonder.

"Three, two, one!" a man shouted.

And there was the moon, a black orb completely covering the sun, with only tiny slivers of light escaping from the edges.

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Can't get enough of the total solar eclipse or got clouded out? Here are the next ones to watch for
The moon covers most of the the sun as it approaches the total solar eclipse, as seen from the summit of Saddleback Mountain, Monday, April 8, 2024, near Rangeley, Maine. Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

Whether you saw the moon completely block the sun, were foiled by cloudy weather or weren't along the path of Monday's total solar eclipse, there are still more chances to catch a glimpse.

Here's what to know about upcoming solar spectacles:

When is the next total solar eclipse?

Total solar eclipses happen about every year or two or three, due to a precise alignment of the sun, moon and Earth.

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Total solar eclipse wows North America. Clouds part just in time for most
The moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, Monday, April 8, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay

After beholding the midday darkness of a total solar eclipse that raced across the continent, thousands of spectators in New England were stuck seeing only brake lights Monday night as highway traffic backed up for hours.

Crowds of motorists leaving remote northern New Hampshire in the late afternoon clogged local roads leading to Interstate 93, which they found also thronged by cars inching southward. By midnight, some drivers had traveled only 50 miles (80 km) in nine hours.

The New Hampshire Department of Transportation urged patience and said there were about 22,000 more vehicles visiting the tiny state compared to the same time last year. Heavy traffic was also reported in Vermont and Massachusetts.

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ESA FIRST! initiative

ESA supports and accelerates disruptive technologies that will best meet ESA’s future space transportation needs for the 2025–2040 period. What comes next for top-ranked proposals?

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Ingram, United States (AFP) April 8, 2024
Shelli Ezell wants to watch the upcoming solar eclipse so she can feel the presence of her late daughter, with whom she observed one in 2017. Grover Swartzlander actually studies these celestial phenomena and Jim Saltigerald just plain enjoys them. Indeed, as crowds gather to watch the Moon block out the Sun for a short while Monday, everybody has a reason for casting an eye at the heavens.
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Washington DC (UPI) Apr 8, 2024
South Korea successfully placed its second military reconnaissance satellite into orbit, Seoul's military said Monday, a move that will heighten surveillance capabilities against North Korea amid a growing space race on the peninsula. The launch took place on Sunday evening at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which was Monday morning in Seoul, South Korea's Defense Ministry said in
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Ingram, United States (AFP) April 8, 2024
Eclipse mania is sweeping across North America as a breathtaking celestial event on Monday promises a rare blend of commerce, science - and celebration. The Moon's shadow will land on Mexico's Pacific coast at 2:07 pm ET (1807 GMT), then speed northeast across a 15-state swath of the United States and on to Canada, exiting the continent over Newfoundland just under an hour and a half later.
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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 08, 2024
Fleet Space Technologies has successfully launched the Centauri-6 satellite as part of SpaceX's Bandwagon-1 mission, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The satellite joins Fleet Space's constellation, enhancing its ExoSphere mineral exploration solution and expanding its advanced SATCOM capabilities utilizing microsatellite technology. Centauri-6 r
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