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Mind-blowing NASA image shows what solar eclipse looks like up in space
Home>News>Science
Published 19:59 8 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Mind-blowing NASA image shows what solar eclipse looks like up in space

The view from space isn't what you'd expect

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

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Today (8 April), a solar eclipse is set to take place, with those in continental North America set to benefit.

That's right, if you're in Mexico, the USA or Canada, you will bear witness to this rare cosmic event.

But have you ever seen what a solar eclipse looks like from space itself?

The cosmic event is set to take place today. Getty Stock Photo
The cosmic event is set to take place today. Getty Stock Photo

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Total solar eclipses are extremely rare, and it is when the moon completely covers the Sun, casting a shadow of darkness until the moon continues its rotation away from that position.

The sun is about 400 times further from the Earth than the moon is, but as the Sun is 400 times bigger, they appear to be the same size when they pass each other in a solar eclipse, showcasing the Sun's eye-catching solar flares from the sides.

Partial solar eclipses happen more often, which is where the sun is only partly covered, and can happen up to five times a year.

The UK will unfortunately not be able to see the solar eclipse this time around, but some areas will be able to see a partial solar eclipse.

But people who definitely won't be able to see it are astronauts, who also get to experience the 'overview effect', which is the transcendent sense of seeing our Earth with the background of the vast blackness of space.

When looking at a solar eclipse, they will see the world getting dark suddenly, which will feel unsettling and a bit weird from outer space.

But the sight of a solar eclipse is sure to be a chilling sight from space, as the shadow cast makes its way across the Earth's surface at a speed of about 1,000 mph.

The view of a solar eclipse from space. NASA/JSC
The view of a solar eclipse from space. NASA/JSC

Astronauts will simply see a dark blotch floating across our planet in something that looks like a scene from a dystopian film.

Former space station astronaut Terry Virts revealed to USA Today: "It was unlike anything I've ever seen,

"I joke I'm glad they told us there was an eclipse because it would have been unsettling to look down at Earth and see this black spot moving across."

The unsettling black spot will hit western Mexico, Texas, and towards the north east of America and Canada, with over 31 million people set to witness it.

And with this, there are 10 people in space, seven in the International Space Station and three in China’s Tiangong space station, that are about to discover that the view is something quite creepy from above.

The Sun's white outer atmosphere, only visible during a solar eclipse. Getty Stock Photo
The Sun's white outer atmosphere, only visible during a solar eclipse. Getty Stock Photo

What if you want to watch the partial solar eclipse in the UK?

If you live in the west of the UK or Ireland, the best viewing time will be from 7.52pm to 8.51pm, but we'll be seeing a partial eclipse instead, which is when the sun is only partially covered.

It will be visible in the likes of Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and parts of Cornwall.

Essentially, if you live in the west of the UK, you may get a view of a partial eclipse in the evening.

There will be a very short window to catch a glimpse, and those in Ireland are expected to be more likely to see it due to a later sunset time.

Of course, the weather forecast will impact this, and if it's cloudy or rainy it will be much harder to spot.

If it's not visible where you are, don't forget you can usually catch some live coverage online.

Featured Image Credit: Getty stock images/NASA/JSC

Topics: News, Science, Space, UK News, US News, World News

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

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@joshnair10

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