In 2009, these strange spots could be seen on the sun

On Could 13, 2009, newbie astronomer Thierry Legault took a particular photograph of the solar. A small sunspot group seems to be seen on our mother or father star, however appearances might be deceiving.

On this week, the Hubble House Telescope grew to become repaired by astronauts aboard the area shuttle Atlantis. The shuttle and telescope moved in entrance of the solar’s disk, making the duo seen from Earth’s floor as two small sunspots. The massive spot is the area shuttle. Simply look intently on the form of the silhouette. You most likely acknowledge the wings. The little ‘sunspot’ is the Hubble telescope.

Click on on the photograph beneath to get a better take a look at Hubble and Atlantis.

Over in a flash
A whole lot of planning went into this photograph. Atlantis and Hubble have been actually lower than one second (!) seen to the photo voltaic disk. As well as, this transition was solely seen from a strip of only some kilometers vast. Legault was in the appropriate place and prepared on the proper time to take this shot, however he solely had one likelihood to get it proper. He succeeded!

No sunspots
The area photograph of the week might be referred to as particular for much more causes. For instance, no sunspots might be seen on the star. In 2009, there was one photo voltaic minimal: a interval with little photo voltaic exercise. Throughout a photo voltaic minimal, the solar could be very calm and the gasoline sphere generates few sunspots and photo voltaic flares. We’re at the moment heading in direction of a photo voltaic most. This photo voltaic most is predicted to be reached round 2025. Therefore the solar these days rather more stressed than just a few years in the past.

Remaining restore mission
The fourth restore mission in 2009 was the final time the Hubble telescope was repaired. Hubble acquired new gyroscopes, nickel-hydrogen batteries and devices (together with a brand new wide-angle digital camera: the Vast Area Digicam 3). Three of the six gyroscopes now not work – the final one fell out in 2018 – however fortunately Hubble can nonetheless work on the remaining three. If Hubble ever stops functioning, at the least we’ll nonetheless have the James Webb telescope.