An Earth observation satellite turns to see the Moon

September 27 () –

On September 20, the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite captured its first stunning image of the Moon, achieved by turning the satellite on its side in a single maneuver.

Although Sentinel-2C is designed for Earth observation, this image, intended for calibration and comparisons between missions, exceeded expectations.

The image, with a resolution of around 5 kilometers, reveals notable lunar features, including Copernicus Crater, Tycho Crater, and the lunar seas: the Sea of ​​Tranquility, the Sea of ​​Moisture, and the Sea of ​​Clouds. This demonstrates the versatility of Sentinel-2C’s multispectral imager, which typically operates from its 786 km orbit to capture high-resolution data of Earth’s land and coastal waters, as explained by the ESA.

This lunar image is part of a regular “Moon calibration” process. About once a month, the satellite will turn on its side to obtain images of the Moon instead of the Earth. The well-known stable intensity of Moonlight allows us to detect and correct even the smallest changes in instrument performance, which can occur due to aging, such as optical coating degradation or detector drifts.

This process ensures that the “radiometric precision” The data remains accurate throughout the mission, a critical parameter for many applications.

The raw data initially showed an elongated, eclipse-shaped Moon caused by the relative motion between the Moon and the satellite. A correction for this effect was carried out to obtain this image.

Launched on September 5, 2024, Sentinel-2C joins its twin satellites in orbit and continues to provide valuable high-resolution images for the Copernicus program.