European Satellites Create Artificial Solar Eclipses

Two satellites from Europe worked together. They made solar eclipses that scientists can use. The satellites flew in a special way to block the sun.

The European Space Agency showed pictures of the eclipses. The pictures were shown at an air show in Paris. The satellites started making eclipses in March after launching last year.

One satellite blocked the sun like the moon. The other satellite looked at the sun's corona. The corona is the sun's outer layer and looks like a halo.

The satellites need to be very exact in the sky. They must be within one millimeter of each other. They use GPS, stars, lasers, and radio to stay in the right place.

The mission is called Proba-3 and cost $210 million. It made 10 solar eclipses so far. The longest eclipse was five hours, and scientists want six hours each time.