When the Sun turns black
The European Space Agency is utilizing the 'Black Sun' effect, where over-saturated pixels appear dark, as a visual reference for satellite navigation. Researchers from the University of Maribor are using data from the Trisat-S nanosatellite to refine visual awareness models for spacecraft.
Why it matters
Repurposing imaging artifacts into functional navigation tools demonstrates innovative problem-solving in aerospace engineering.
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
A satellite image shows the Sun with a black dot at its centre, resembling a glaring eye in the darkness of space. The black spot is not a camera failure, but an expected behaviour of imaging sensors under extreme illumination, known as the Black Sun effect – when the over-saturation of pixels causes very bright areas to appear dark.
Taken by a miniature camera flying onboard the Trisat-S nanosatellite , this image is exactly what the mission team was hoping for.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in