New Delhi, Jun 19: A pair of European satellites have created the first artificial solar eclipses by flying in precise and fancy formation, providing hours of on-demand totality for scientists.

In a groundbreaking achievement, two European satellites have successfully created the first artificial solar eclipse in space. The mission, known as Proba-3, was carried out by the European Space Agency (ESA) and involved two spacecraft—Occulter and Coronagraph—flying in precise formation to simulate a total solar eclipse.

The European Space Agency released the eclipse pictures at the Paris Air Show.

Launched late last year, the orbiting duo have churned out simulated solar eclipses since March while zooming tens of thousands of miles (kilometers) above Earth.

The satellites, positioned 150 meters apart, worked together to block the Sun’s bright disk, allowing scientists to capture detailed images of the solar corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere. This innovative approach provides researchers with extended observation time, far beyond the brief moments of natural eclipses.

The mission has already generated 10 successful artificial eclipses, with the longest lasting five hours. Scientists aim to extend this duration to six hours per eclipse, offering unprecedented insights into solar activity and space weather.

Experts believe this breakthrough will help study coronal mass ejections, which can impact Earth’s communication systems and power grids. The ability to create controlled eclipses on demand marks a new era in solar research, allowing scientists to explore the Sun’s mysteries with greater precision.