Looking Back at an Eclipsed Earth

Here is what the Earth looks like during a solar eclipse. The shadow of the Moon can be seen darkening part of Earth. This shadow moved across the Earth at nearly 2000 kilometers per hour.

Only observers near the center of the dark circle see a total solar eclipse – others see a partial eclipse where only part of the Sun appears blocked by the Moon.

This spectacular picture of the 1999 Solar Eclipse was one of the last ever taken from the Mir spacecraft. The two bright spots that appear on the upper left are thought to be Jupiter and Saturn.

Mir was deorbited in a controlled re-entry in 2001. A new solar eclipse will occur over North America in about two weeks.

This awe-inspiring event is a beautiful illustration of the celestial alignment and one of the great astronomical wonders visible from the night sky in our solar system.