The four astronauts of the mission Artemis II They will have the opportunity to witness a solar eclipse when they fly over the far side of the Moon this Monday, breaking the historical distance record achieved by humanity.
The crew, composed of Commander Reid Wiseman, the astronauts of the POT Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, They will be able to observe the astronomical spectacle that will last almost an hour towards the end of the six-hour flyby window scheduled for April 6.
NASA explained that during the eclipse, the Sun will be hidden from view as it passes behind the Moon, from the perspective of the Orion capsule, a phenomenon that cannot be seen from Earth.
At that time, the crew will observe the mostly dark Moon, giving them the opportunity to look for flashes of light caused by meteoroids impacting the lunar surface, dust particles rising above the edge of the natural satellite, and deep space targets, including planets.
1/18 | From the silence of space: Artemis II reveals stunning images of Earth. This image provided by NASA shows a view of Earth captured by NASA astronaut and Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman from the window of the Orion spacecraft after completing the translunar injection maneuver. – NASA via AP
As the Sun slides behind the Moon, astronauts will be able to observe the solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere.
Kelsey Young, head of NASA’s Science and Exploration Directorate for the Artemis II mission, described the opportunity to observe the eclipse as “a poetic moment” for both the crew and humanity.
The six-hour observing plan scheduled for Monday afternoon will include recording features that can help scientists understand how the Moon and solar system formed, such as craters, ancient lava flows, and cracks and ridges generated as the Moon’s outer shell slowly shifted over time.
“I know that the data we obtain will inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers; but, in addition, this mission will bring the Moon closer to us and unite us all, giving us a tangible connection point with our satellite”Young pointed out.