NASA captures solar eclipse footage

A NASA satellite orbiting the Earth has captured rare footage of the moon partially eclipsing the sun.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory, which orbits the Earth at a distance of 36,000 km, usually has a direct line of sight to the sun, Discovery magazine reports.

But for 101 minutes yesterday, the moon got in the way.

The astronomical event, which only happens a few times a year, allows NASA to fine tune its instruments and gather valuable data on the sun.

The different colours in the video represent different wavelengths detected by the telescope.

Each wavelength indicates a different temperature and layer of the sun.

The eclipses also highlight the uneven surface of the moon, revealing mountains and valleys usually invisible when its backdrop is the black emptiness of space.

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