NASA Captures Mysterious Orb Near Sun in New Footage
NASA’s Lunar Transit Video Sparks UFO Speculation, Solar Storm Linked to Power Outage
NASA recently released a striking video of the Moon passing in front of the Sun, captured by its Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The footage, showing the Moon as a dark disk gliding past the Sun’s fiery surface, sparked UFO theories online. Some viewers claimed the object “hovered, moved closer to the Sun, then vanished,” with others linking it to power outages in Spain, France, and Portugal. However, the event was a routine lunar transit—a phenomenon where the Moon blocks part of the Sun from the SDO’s vantage point in space.
The Science Behind the SDO’s Footage
The SDO, which monitors the Sun 24/7, recorded the partial eclipse on April 28. The Moon blocked 23% of the Sun’s light, revealing lunar mountains and valleys in high resolution. Unlike a solar eclipse visible from Earth, a lunar transit is observed from space, with the Moon appearing as a dark silhouette against the Sun. The SDO’s mission, ongoing since 2010, includes tracking solar activity like sunspots and solar flares to study their impact on space weather.
Solar Storm Triggers Puerto Rico Blackout
Separately, a severe geomagnetic storm caused a massive power outage in Puerto Rico on April 16. Triggered by a solar flare, the storm disrupted the island’s power grid, plunging 1.4 million residents into darkness. Geomagnetic storms occur when solar plasma interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, generating currents that overload power systems. Experts noted the storm’s timing coincided with peak energy demand, worsening the grid’s vulnerability.
Upcoming Celestial Events
While the next lunar transits will occur in May and July, the next solar eclipse visible from Earth is on September 21, 2025, observable from New Zealand and Antarctica. The SDO will continue its mission, providing critical data to predict and mitigate solar impacts on technology and infrastructure.
Key takeaway: What some mistook for a UFO was a celestial dance between the Moon and Sun—a reminder of the dynamic universe and the importance of scientific observation.
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