Astronaut witnessed a solar eclipse from space. It was ‘unnatural.’

Terry Virts peered down from the Worldwide House Station in March 2015. The NASA astronaut noticed a large, uncommon shadow solid upon Earth.

“It was this huge, darkish factor that wasn’t pure,” Virts, a retired astronaut and former Worldwide House Station commander, instructed Mashable.

He watched a shadow created by the cosmic dance of the moon, Earth, and solar — particularly the moon touring between our planet and the sun. It was a total solar eclipse, an occasion that is technically pure, although a spectacle so rare and eerie that it definitely would not really feel so — both on Earth or in space.

Searching of area station home windows, Virts took within the nice shadow with one other astronaut. It traversed the north Atlantic Ocean. Luckily, astronomers can predict eclipses — primarily based on the mechanics and gravities of the solar, moon, and Earth — lots of of years into the longer term, so these occasions aren’t a shock. In that case, that may have made for some actually unsettling observations from area.

“You would be like, ‘What is going on on Earth?’” Virts stated.

Here is what the eclipse shadow appears like from some 250 miles up within the space station. It is a uncommon sight for a small group of individuals: There are usually round seven astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the orbiting habitat directly.

The 2017 complete photo voltaic eclipse as considered from the area station.
Credit score: NASA

The moon casting a shadow throughout southern Turkey, northern Cyprus, and the Mediterranean Sea in March 2006.
Credit score: NASA

For Earthlings within the middle of that shadow, or what’s known as the “path of totality,” the occasion is placing. “In my expertise you possibly can’t overhype it,” Richard Fienberg, an astronomer and senior advisor on the American Astronomical Society, instructed Mashable earlier this 12 months. The moon, by quickly blocking the solar’s blinding floor for some three to over 4 minutes (relying the place you’re), reveals our star’s ghostly environment, or corona. Within the moon’s shadow, the temperature drops, and lightweight fades to deep twilight. Animals start acting strange.

“It was this huge, darkish factor that wasn’t pure.”

On April 8, 2024, the trail of totality is about 115 miles extensive. Virts emphasizes that you just should be on this path to expertise a complete photo voltaic eclipse. Outdoors that path, you may witness a partial eclipse. A partial eclipse is attention-grabbing, however merely pales in comparison with totality.

“On a scale of 1 to 10, a partial eclipse is a seven,” stated Virts, who skilled his first complete eclipse from Earth in 2017. “And a complete eclipse is one million.”

Terry Virts on a spacewalk in 2015.
Credit score: NASA

Following his days as commander of the area station, Virts continues his ardour for area as an aerospace guide, creator, podcast host, and past. To advertise the looming complete photo voltaic eclipse, the ex-astronaut has partnered with Sonic Drive-In — sure, the burger cease — a spot he says has some 400 areas within the path of totality. (This eclipse passes over some main metropolitan areas, together with Indianapolis, Dayton, Dallas, and Cleveland.) For those who nonetheless want safe eclipse-viewing glasses, Virts stated you may get a free pair with Sonic’s Blackout Slush Float.

“Whether it is attainable, take the time and go see this factor,” the previous astronaut stated. In any case, the U.S. will not see one other complete photo voltaic eclipse till 2044.

“Whether it is attainable, take the time and go see this factor.”

(Importantly, the one time you possibly can take a look at the solar with out accredited eclipse viewers is throughout a couple of minutes or so of totality; all different instances you should put on eye safety.)

From the area station, the view of the moon’s shadow was “unnatural,” Virts underscored, however there have been no clear, accessible views of the particular eclipsed solar. But weather-permitting, you and thousands and thousands of others can have the uncommon likelihood to witness a view of our blackened star on April 8. It isn’t only a view — the total solar eclipse is an experience. You may even get to see some radiant planets.

“It blew me away,” stated Virts. “It is an incredible, wonderful expertise.”