A pair of European satellites have successfully produced artificial solar eclipses through precise and intricate formation flying. Launched last year, these satellites have been creating simulated solar eclipses since March, providing valuable data for scientists.

The two cube-shaped spacecraft fly 492 feet apart, mimicking the moon blocking the sun during a natural total solar eclipse. One satellite blocks the sun while the other captures images of the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere.

This mission, known as Proba-3, has generated 10 successful solar eclipses during the testing phase. Scientists are aiming for up to six hours of totality per eclipse once scientific observations begin.

The satellites' flying accuracy is maintained autonomously through GPS navigation, star trackers, lasers, and radio links. This precision positioning is crucial, with the spacecraft needing to be within a millimeter of each other.

Scientists are excited by the initial results, as the corona has been captured without requiring special image processing. The mission is expected to produce nearly 200 solar eclipses over two years, providing over 1,000 hours of totality.

While previous satellites have imitated solar eclipses, Proba-3 is unique in that the sun-blocking disk and corona-observing telescope are on separate satellites. This setup allows for a better view of the corona closest to the sun's limb.

Overall, the mission's precise formation flying has enabled high-quality images of the sun's corona, providing valuable insights for scientists studying the sun's mysteries.