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Credit & Copyright: Wang Letian
(Eyes at Night)
Explanation:
Typically, the International Space Station is visible only at night.
Slowly drifting across the night sky as it orbits the Earth, the
International Space Station (ISS) can be seen as a
bright spot several times a year from many locations.
The ISS
is then visible only just after sunset or just before
sunrise because it shines by reflected sunlight --
once the ISS enters the Earth's shadow, it will drop out of sight.
The only occasion when the
ISS is visible during the day is when it
passes right in front of the Sun.
Then, it passes so quickly that only cameras
taking short exposures can visually freeze the
ISS's silhouette onto the background
Sun.
The featured picture did exactly that --
it is actually a series of images taken earlier this month from
Beijing,
China with perfect timing.
This image series was later combined with separate images
taken at nearly the same time but highlighting the
texture and activity on the busy
Sun.
The solar activity included numerous gaseous
prominences seen around the edge, highlighted in red,
filaments seen against the Sun's face, and a dark
sunspot.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: ISS - Sun
Publications with words: ISS - Sun
See also:
- APOD: 2024 September 2 Á A Triangular Prominence Hovers Over the Sun
- APOD: 2024 August 18 Á A Solar Prominence Eruption from SDO
- APOD: 2024 August 4 Á Gaia: Here Comes the Sun
- APOD: 2024 July 28 Á Sun Dance
- Prominences and Filaments on the Active Sun
- APOD: 2024 May 28 Á Solar X Flare as Famous Active Region Returns
- APOD: 2024 May 26 Á A Solar Filament Erupts