Hubble observes total lunar eclipse from Moon's perspective; sees how Ozone reacts to Sun

NASA’s Hubble made its first-ever observation of a total Lunar eclipse and showed what Earth would look like from an alien’s perspective. Hubble Telescope was launched into Low Earth Orbit in 1990 and it remains in operation. Scientists have been using Hubble Telescope to find life elsewhere in universe, and recently, it made its first observation of a total lunar eclipse.

Hubble observes 1st total lunar eclipse

Credits: Screengrab HubbleESA Youtube

In January 2019, Earth was between Sun and Moon making it perfect for a total Lunar eclipse. n Hubble Telescope did t just see how Earth looks during a total lunar eclipse but also observed how chemicals in Earth’s atmosphere react. It was observed by Hubble how Earth’s atmosphere obstructed certain wavelengths of sunlight from reaching moon.

This observation was set up to be able to see how Earth’s chemicals in atmosphere reacted to certain things. This would furr help researchers who plan to probe atmospheres of planets that could have life or potential to sustain life in universe. “We basically pretend we’re alien observers looking at our planet,” says Giada Arney, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Goddard Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

Hubble’s observations were focused on spotting effects of atmospheric ozone. It is kwn that ozone is both chemical by-product of oxygen produced in photosynsis and a shield that protects life from harmful rays of sun. Researchers believe that atmospheric ozone could be a key indicator that a planet is habitable.

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What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth comes between Sun and Moon hindering sun’s light to reflects off Moon. In total lunar eclipse, Earth’s shadow completely covers moon. Contrary to this, during solar eclipse, moon comes between Earth and sun. Which enables us to see a ring is formed around moon.

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How will this data help?

data that was collected helped scientists to confirm that chemicals in Earth’s atmosphere filter light as expected. Since right w, Earth is only kwn planet to have life, researchers are trying to observe Earth and see if re is any planet with similar features and reactions to or factors in universe. observations made by Hubble regarding total lunar eclipse will help astromers to be able to recognise potentially habitable exoplanets.

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