NASA’s PUNCH mission has captured a striking image of the sun partially eclipsed with what appears to be a second moon. The photo was taken during the mission’s commissioning phase using its unique instruments and vantage point, not an actual extra celestial body. The dark circle in the image is caused by an instrument called the occulter, which blocks sunlight to reveal faint structures in the solar corona.
The PUNCH constellation consists of four small satellites launched to study the solar wind, a constant stream of charged particles emitted by the sun at millions of miles per hour. This solar wind drives space weather events that can disrupt satellites and power grids on Earth.
PUNCH’s primary goal is to observe the solar wind and its effects on our space environment. The mission complements NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (PSP) by using imaging techniques to study how the sun’s outer atmosphere interacts with space near Earth. Together, these missions provide a fuller understanding of solar dynamics from the sun’s surface to the far reaches of the heliosphere.
The partnership between PUNCH and PSP is essential for studying space weather, as it integrates in situ data with detailed imaging. The insights gained will improve forecasts of geomagnetic storms, helping protect Earth’s technological infrastructure. PUNCH’s open data policy allows scientists worldwide to use its observations, encouraging broad collaboration.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/05/nasa-spacecraft-double-moon-near-the-sun