As millions flock across North America to fill every hotel, motel and AirBnB along a thin strip of land stretching from Mexico to Canada's east coast, a handful of humans have the privilege of viewing the 2024 total eclipse from the best seat. At home – the International Space Station.
Video footage shared by astronauts virtually 400 km (250 mi) The top provides a unique perspective on the day's event, one that had no chance of being interrupted by pesky clouds.
For those on Earth, the darkness caused by the moon in front of the sun lasted almost as long as the average Top 40 rock song.
When viewing from above, those on the orbiting space station can sit a little longer and appreciate the full majesty of the moon's shadow Sweep the planet's surface.
I've seen the most solar power ever #eclipse from space?
Here's the astronauts' point of view @space station pic.twitter.com/2VrZ3Y1Fqz
– NASA (@NASA) April 8, 2024
While the ISS could have avoided the perilous journey below, there was nothing accidental about the station's front row position. NASA has been preparing for this moment for months, slowly adjusting the station's trajectory to put it in place on April 8.
Want a better view? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has Put together Flash animation of the entire event compiled from images taken by a geostationary weather satellite.
Updated 1:53 PM EDT: The Moon is still moving in front of the Sun. #Eclipse2024 https://t.co/C5djEsyYs8 https://t.co/uC8NPkGEVX pic.twitter.com/kXQOnnC6f3
– National Weather Service (@NWS) April 8, 2024
For those who live in the contiguous United States, there is There will never be another scene like it For another 20 years. But anyone who happens to be in Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia, or Portugal in 2026, There is a total eclipse In a pipeline you won't want to miss.
The space station is scheduled to retire around 2030, but with NASA building a permanent base on the moon, it's not out of the question that we'll be presented with footage of the moon's shadow passing over Montana in 2044 taken from the perspective of a lunar explorer.
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