Proba-3 captures groundbreaking artificial solar eclipse images

In Belgium, the European Space Agency (ESA) accomplished a significant milestone with its Proba-3 mission by capturing the initial images of an artificial solar eclipse on May 23, 2025. This innovative mission features two satellites that orbit in a precision formation, where one satellite acts as an occulter to block the sun while the other captures images of the solar corona using a telescope. This event marks the first successful demonstration of formation flying for the mission, which has been in development for a decade. The corona, which is the outer atmosphere of the sun, has long puzzled scientists due to its complex nature and is critical in understanding solar phenomena such as solar winds. The Proba-3 mission aims to investigate the corona extensively, offering insights that have previously only been possible during natural total solar eclipses. During these rare events, the corona is visible to the naked eye, but such occurrences are infrequent and short-lived. The last total solar eclipse observed in Belgium took place in 1406, and the next is projected for 2090, illustrating the challenge of relying on natural eclipses for ongoing study. Proba-3's design includes a coronagraph, which allows the telescopic observation of the solar corona by blocking the sun's direct light. What sets Proba-3 apart from previous projects is its ability to create an artificial eclipse repeatedly during its 19.6-hour orbit, thereby generating approximately 1,000 hours of detailed images of the corona over the course of its expected two-year mission. With the coronagraph positioned 492 feet (150 meters) behind the occulter satellite, this mission has achieved unprecedented precision in formation flying, which is essential for obtaining clear and accurate observations of the corona. The implications of Proba-3's findings extend beyond simple observation; they open new avenues for understanding plasma physics and the sources of space weather. As stated by Andrei Zhukov, Principal Investigator for the Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona of the Sun (ASPIICS), the artificial eclipse images represent a leap forward in solar research. Unlike past imaging done manually or through limited capabilities, this mission signifies a new era of enhanced observation and data collection that is readily accessible for solar physicists worldwide. The images captured promise to unveil intricate features of the solar corona, transforming our understanding of solar dynamics.