Spacecraft captures three solar eclipses in one day

For us here on Earth, getting one solar eclipse is a spectacular event, but three? That’s something extraordinary.

The European Space Agency’s Proba-2 satellite was treated to three solar eclipses on Sept. 13.

READ MORE: Get ready for September’s ‘super moon’ lunar eclipse

Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on Earth. In this case, the moon passed between Earth and the satellite.

View image in full screen

But why three eclipses?

Proba-2 orbits Earth about 14.5 times a day, so it managed to place itself in the moon’s shadow three times.

Meanwhile, here on Earth, a partial eclipse occurred in parts of South Africa, the southern Indian Ocean and Antarctica.

Follow @NebulousNikki