Proba-3’s first artificial solar eclipse

ARKISTOITU SISÄLTÖ 16 KESÄ. 2025 Julkaisupäivä 38233 Katselukerrat

Today, the European Space Agency’s Proba-3 mission unveils its first images of the Sun’s outer atmosphere – the solar corona. The mission’s two satellites, able to fly as a single spacecraft thanks to a suite of onboard positioning technologies, have succeeded in creating their first ‘artificial total solar eclipse’ in orbit. The resulting coronal images demonstrate the potential of formation flying technologies, while delivering invaluable scientific data that will improve our understanding of the Sun and its enigmatic atmosphere.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


“This huge flow of observations will help refine computer models further as we compare and adjust variables to match the real images. Together with the team at KU Leuven, which is behind one such model, we have been able to create a simulation of Proba-3’s first observations.”

KU Leuven’s ‘COCONUT’ software is one of multiple solar coronal models integrated within ESA's Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC). It can be combined with a vast array of computer models describing other physical processes connecting the Sun to Earth. All together, they help to offer a comprehensive image of the solar phenomena impacting our planet and help citizens and industry prepare against them.

About Proba-3

The Proba-3 mission is led by ESA and put together by a consortium managed by Spain’s Sener, with participation of more than 29 companies from 14 countries and with key contributions from GMV and Airbus Defence and Space in Spain and Redwire Space and Spacebel in Belgium. The mission was launched on 5 December 2024 on a PSLV-XL launcher from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

Further information

For more information, see Proba-3's first artificial solar eclipse, Proba-3 Frequently Asked Questions and Proba-3 Media Kit.


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