NASA’s PUNCH Mission Captures Striking “double Moon” Illusion
A recent image from NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission has stirred considerable interest. The photo appears to show a partial solar eclipse accompanied by what seems to be a second moon. Though, the Southwest Research Institute clarified that this captivating image, taken during the mission’s commissioning phase, is a result of the spacecraft’s unique instruments and perspective, not an actual undiscovered celestial body.
Decoding the Image: How PUNCH Creates the Illusion
The “double moon” effect was captured by the Narrow Field Imager, one of the instruments aboard the PUNCH constellation. This constellation comprises four small satellites designed to study the solar wind, a constant stream of charged particles emitted by the sun.The dark circle obscuring part of the sun is created by an instrument called the occulter. This device blocks the sun’s intense light, allowing the imager to capture faint structures within the solar corona, the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere.
The bright glow surrounding the sun is sunlight reflecting off the occulter. The “second moon” is, in fact, the Earth’s moon, illuminated by light reflected from Earth. These elements combine to produce the intriguing “double moon” effect.
Did You Know?
The solar corona is millions of degrees hotter than the sun’s surface. Scientists are still working to understand why!
PUNCH’s primary objective is to observe the solar wind, which travels at millions of miles per hour.This solar wind is responsible for space weather events that can disrupt satellites, radio communications, and power grids on Earth. by imaging the sun’s outer atmosphere and the space between Earth and the sun, PUNCH aims to provide scientists with a better understanding of how solar activity influences our space environment.
PUNCH and Parker solar Probe: A Unified Approach to Heliophysics
Craig DeForest, principal investigator of PUNCH, explained how the mission complements NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (PSP). PSP and PUNCH are both working to unite two separate branches of heliophysics into a unified whole,
he said. While PSP takes direct measurements within the solar corona, PUNCH uses imaging techniques to observe how the corona extends and interacts with space near Earth. Together,these missions offer a comprehensive view of solar dynamics,from the sun’s surface to the far reaches of the heliosphere.
Pro Tip
Follow NASA’s social media channels for the latest images and discoveries from the PUNCH and Parker solar Probe missions!
This collaboration is crucial for studying space weather, integrating in situ data with detailed imaging. The resulting insights will improve forecasts of geomagnetic storms, helping to protect Earth’s technological infrastructure. PUNCH’s open data policy allows scientists worldwide to access and use its observations, fostering broad collaboration.
PSP and PUNCH are both working to unite two separate branches of heliophysics into a unified whole.
Craig DeForest, principal investigator of PUNCH
