NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captures partial Lunar Transit

Image Credit: NASA/SDO

On July 26, 2014, from 10:57 a.m. to 11:42 a.m. EDT, the moon crossed between NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the sun, a phenomenon called a lunar transit.

A lunar transit happens approximately twice a year, causing a partial solar eclipse that can only be seen from SDO's point of view.

Images of the eclipse show a crisp lunar horizon, because the moon has no atmosphere that would distort light.

This image shows the blended result of two SDO wavelengths, one in 304 wavelength and another in 171 wavelength.

Lunar Eclipse Excites Skygazers

Flowering tree branches delicately frame the partial lunar eclipse of April 25, 2013, in Ohrid, Macedonia. 

CREDIT: Stojan Stojanovski/Amateur Astronomy Association Ohrid Macedonia

The moon toe-dipped through the Earth's shadow in a partial lunar eclipse Thursday (April 25), but stargazers around the world still captured surprisingly spectacular views of what they expected to be a minor celestial event.

Partial lunar eclipses like Thursday's event occasionally receive a bad rap because they aren't nearly as dramatic as the red glow of the moon during a total lunar eclipse, and some times they aren't even noticeable.

The lunar eclipse's entirety was primarily visible from Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Western Europe, so stargazers in other parts of the world had to rely on webcasts such as provided by the Slooh Space Camera site to catch the event.

Slooh Space Camera

Credit: Fred Espenak/NASA