Look closely: This new snapshot from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows mountains on the moon backlit by the sun's atmosphere.
From its vantage point 22,000 miles above Earth's surface, SDO watched the moon pass almost directly in front of the sun at 3:28 a.m. Eastern time on May 3. The moon's sharp edge helps solar scientists pin down the in-orbit characteristics of the telescope, which helps cancel out errors and jitters and make future images even sharper.
But at the lower left of the above image -- click it to enlarge it -- the moon's shadow doesn't look so smooth. You can actually count the jagged peaks silhouetted against the diffuse light of the solar corona.
The new image also captures loops and filaments of plasma tracing their way across the sun, in SDO's signature style.
Via Spaceweather.com
