Scientists have filmed Mercury’s transit across the solar disk. This was reported by the European Space Agency.
Solar Orbiter is a European robotic solar probe. As it orbits the star at a lower orbit at a distance of 60 solar radii (closer than Mercury), a large orbital inclination allows you to see the Sun’s polar regions inaccessible from Earth.
Now the probe has sent a series of photos combined into a video showing Mercury transiting through the solar disk. In the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Scanner (PHI) image, Mercury appears as a black circle in the lower right quadrant of the image and is distinctly different from static sunspots. The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Device (EUI) captured a video of the planet’s movement against the background of dilute gas structures. Such an observation made it possible to calibrate the instruments of the device, which was released in 2020 and has just started working.
By a similar method, astronomers determine the presence of exoplanets in stars – they correct the temporary darkening of the stellar disk.
Previously at NASA declarationprivate stations do not require a gateway to access the area.