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.

18 Jun 2023 Lunar Transit

Between 0557--0612 UTC (01:57--02:12 ET) on 18 Jun 2023, SDO is experience a brief lunar transit. The Moon will cover about 3% of the Sun, but because it will pass over the top diode SDO will leave science mode during the transit.

Here is the Flight Ops Team movie of the transit

I hope everyone is enjoying SDO's view of the Sun as we near the maximum of Solar Cycle 25!

20 May 2023 Lunar Transit and the Long-term Predicts for the 3rd Quarter of 2023

The 2023-094 FDS Quarterly (Long-Set) Predicts have been delivered. They include events through 05 Nov 2023. The highlights are:

• 20 May 2023, 0222--0306 UTC (22:22--23:06 ET) - LunTran_2023140_3dc_82pshdw
• 18 Jun 2023, 0557--0612 UTC (01:57--02:12 ET) - LunTran_2023169_1dc_3pshdw
• 21 Jun 2023, TBD - Tentative date for Momentum Management Maneuver #47
• 04 Jul 2023, 1148 UTC (07:48 ET) - Handover Season Starts with First Handover (-Z HGA Active Prior)
• 20 Jul 2023, 0725 UTC (03:25 ET) - Eclipse Season Starts
• 26 Jul 2023, TBD - Tentative Date for Station Keeping Maneuver #27
• 04 Aug 2023, 1913--1919 UTC (15:13--1519 ET) - Solar RFI
• 05 Aug 2023, 1910--1918 UTC (15:10--1518 ET) - Solar RFI
• 06 Aug 2023, 1909--1916 UTC (15:09--15:19 ET) - Solar RFI
• 15 Aug 2023, 0248 UTC (22:48 ET) - Handover Season Ends with Completion of Last Handover (+Z HGA Active After)
• 16 Aug 2023, 0659 UTC (02:59 ET) - Eclipse Season Ends
• 05 Nov 2023, 0200 ET - Daylight Saving Time Ends, GSFC Local Time now UTC-5:00

(All dates and times in parentheses are GSFC Local time.)

Here is a movie of the predicted 20 May 2023 lunar transit:

And here is what a daily movie shows for that date: