Eclipse Day Transit was not as Exciting as the Total Solar Eclipse

On April 8, 2024, people along a path from Mexico thru the USA and into Canada were treated to a total solar eclipse. SDO waited until much later in the day (actiually the next day in the UT timezone) and saw this glancing lunar transit.

The Moon covered about 5% of the solar disk at 09-Apr-2024, 03:36 UTC (08-Apr-2024, 11:36 ET). It is an interesting problem to understand why the motion of SDO in its geosynchronous orbit above the Mountain timezone against the lunar velocity later in the day allowed the transit many hours after the eclipse on the ground. Perhaps the next post will explore those details.

You should check out the spectacular photos of the total solar eclipse. There was at least one prominence visible to my eyes on the limb.

Spring 2024 Calibration Maneuvers Begin Today

Today SDO will execute the EVE Field of View (at 1315 UTC, 9:15 am ET) and the HMI/AIA Flatfield (at 1630 UTC, 12:30 pm ET) calibration maneuvers. During these maneuvers SDO science data may be missing or blurred.

Momentum Management Maneuver (Delta-H) #49 today

SDO will execute Momentum Management Maneuver (Delta-H) #49 today. Between 1830 UTC (2:30 pm ET) and 1910 UTC (3:10 pm ET) science data may be missing or blurred.

09 April 2024 Lunar Transit (08 April for North America)

On April 8, 2024, a large swath of North America will enjoy a Total Solar Eclipse from Mazatlán up through Texas to Maine and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Although those along the path of totality will enjoy a beautiful view of the solar corona, SDO will only see a short, almost glancing transit of the Moon across the Sun long after the TSE ends. The SDO transit starts at 03:29 UTC on 9 Apr 2024 (10:29 pm EDT on 8 Apr 2024), 7 hours after the TSE ends on the ground.

Here is a movie from the SDO Flight Dynamics Team showing the transit.

The transit will only cover 5% of the solar disk.

If you live in Mexico, USA, or Eastern Canada, please go watch the Total Solar Eclispe. They are a wonderful way to see the Sun in a different light.

Station Keeping maneuver #28 today

SDO will execute Station Keeping maneuver #28 today from 2315-2400 UTC (6:15-7:00 pm ET). During a maneuver SDO science data may be missing or blurred. These maneuvers are needed to maintain SDO's assigned position as it passes through the geostationary orbit belt.