The solar eclipse was spotted from space. The image is from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
The only total solar eclipse of the 21st century was one few could see and this new photo from a spacecraft shows why.
The photo was taken by the Deep Space Climate Observatory and was used to track the solar eclipse as it passed over the south pole. The moon's shadow appears to be a dark blemish at the bottom of our world in the image.
It would have been a long way for most of us to travel to see the total solar eclipse in Antarctica this past weekend, but we would have to travel even further to get this view, according to the Planetary Society space advocacy group.
The view was captured by the Earth Polychromatic Camera built by NASA. NASA officials wrote that the DSCOVR spacecraft captured the eclipse's umbra, the dark, inner shadow of planet Earth. It has a circular cross section that is most easily seen during an eclipse.
The only total solar eclipse in pictures is in 2021.
Even astronauts weren't able to see the full-disc view of Earth. The International Space Station crew spotted an oblong shadow from 250 miles in altitude.
DISCOVR's usual mission is focused on the sun, but at a completely different angle. The constant stream of particles that flow from our sun across the solar system is monitored by DISCOVR. There are charged particles in the solar wind that can have a big impact on everything from satellites to power lines.
It would have been a long way for most of us to travel to see the total solar eclipse in the South Pole, but we would have to travel even further to get this view.
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There will be several future solar eclipses in more accessible regions, including one in the United States in 2024.
Our guide on how to photograph a solar eclipse safely can be used to prepare for future solar eclipses. If you want to prepare for the next solar eclipse, you need the best gear, and we have the best cameras and lens for that.
Space.com's readers would like to see your solar eclipse photo, so send it to spacephotos@space.com with your name and location.
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