Though it may look like a CGI animation, this gif of the Moon transiting Earth is very real.
And what’s even more incredible is the side of the Moon that’s visible in the imagery.
The DSCOVR satellite, which is still operational, orbits 1 million miles from Earth.
Twice a year, EPIC views an event that certainly is epic when the Moon transits Earth.
As the Moon moves across the Earth, a slight green line is visible on the righthand side.
EPIC actually takes 10 images using special filters, including ultraviolet and near-infrared.
For color images, the red, green, and blue channel images are used.
This incredible view of the dark side of the Moon is rare but it isn’t a first.
That honor goes to the Soviet Luna 3 spacecraft, which delivered the first images in 1959.
In this context, dark actually means unknown rather than lacking light.
If you want to see more images incrediblesatellite imagery, NOAA hascollectionsthat are continuously updated.
