Hinode records the Moon transiting the Sun on May 20
Spectacular images from the Hinode spacecraft show the solar eclipse, which
darkened the sky in parts of the Western United States and Southeast Asia on
May 20, 2012.
The solar eclipse of May 20, observed by Japanese satellite Hinode through
its X-ray telescope. Credit: JAXA / Hinode
Hinode was in a low-Earth (630km altitude - about 400 miles) sun-synchronous
polar orbit that permitted nearly continuous observations of the sun. So, in
effect, Hinode had the same perspective as Earth-bound observers since the
angle subtended is very small between the Earth and Hinode relative to the
moon. However, Hinode's unique orbit had the spacecraft sweeping through the
area occulted by the Sun once per orbit, and did so 4 separate times.
Images
of the eclipse from Hinode enable scientists to develop an improved model of
the telescope performance. This can be used to obtain significantly enhanced
observations in high resolution of faint features of the solar corona. This
will allow scientists to study the extended solar corona and the structure of
the high temperature solar atmosphere.
Hinode was moving at a speed of about 27,000 kilometers per hour. So the
partial eclipse as seen from the satellite lasted only about 17 minutes from
start to finish.
This and the following images were taken by Hinode, during the transit
of the Moon in front of the Sun between 21:33:47 UT and 21:50:04 UT on
May 20, 2012. Credit: JAXA /Hinode
Diagram of the path followed by the Moon during its transit across the
disk of the Sun. Credit: Mitsuru Soma (NAOJ)
