Amazing time-lapse video captures three massive eruptions on the sun using ‘artificial eclipse’
The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently unveiled incredible footage captured by their Proba-3 mission, showing three solar prominences erupting from the sun’s mysteriously hot atmosphere. These eruptions were documented during an “artificial eclipse,” a unique event that allows scientists to study the sun in ways never seen before.
The Proba-3 mission consists of two spacecraft, the coronagraph, and the occulter, positioned in a strategic alignment to create artificial eclipses. By obscuring the sun’s bright center, researchers can observe the sun as if during a solar eclipse, but with enhanced visibility and over extended periods. This groundbreaking method provides insights into the hidden complexities of the sun’s corona, its faint atmosphere, in unprecedented detail.
On September 2, 2025, during a five-hour “eclipse,” Proba-3 captured the rare sight of three major plasma plumes erupting from the sun. These eruptions, known as prominences, are colossal loops of plasma that extend from the sun’s surface and release ionized gas into space. Unlike solar flares, which produce bright flashes, prominences are more subtle but equally valuable for scientific research. The video footage showcases these eruptions in remarkable clarity, offering researchers a unique opportunity to study their behavior.
Andrei Zhukov, the principal investigator of Proba-3’s coronagraph, expressed excitement at the opportunity to witness multiple prominence eruptions within a short timeframe. These eruptions, although cooler than the sun’s corona, appear significantly hotter due to the emitted light. The scorching temperatures of the corona, approximately 200 times hotter than the sun’s surface, remain a perplexing mystery for scientists. This discrepancy in temperature poses a significant challenge in understanding the sun’s dynamics, and footage like this could be instrumental in unraveling this puzzle.
The footage captured by Proba-3 offers a glimpse into the intricate interactions between the sun’s surface and corona, shedding light on the mechanisms behind solar phenomena. By studying these eruptions and their implications, scientists hope to gain valuable insights into the sun’s enigmatic behavior and address longstanding questions about its extreme temperatures. The Proba-3 mission represents a significant leap forward in solar observation, providing a unique perspective on the sun’s complexities and advancing our understanding of this vital celestial body.