A striking new image from NASA’s PUNCH mission captures the moon dramatically floating over a dark, sunlit void — a celestial ballet designed not just for awe but for science. Taken on April 27 during the mission’s commissioning phase, this surreal photograph sets the stage for deeper exploration of the sun’s outermost atmosphere.

PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) comprises four small satellites launched on March 11 to study the solar wind — the high-speed stream of charged particles that triggers space weather events like geomagnetic storms on Earth.

The haunting photo was made possible by an occulter, a device that blocks the sun’s bright disc, much like during a total solar eclipse. This allows researchers to view the otherwise hidden streamers and plasma filaments erupting from the sun into its corona.

During commissioning, this image reveals both the moon lit by Earthshine and the shimmering halo created by sunlight bouncing off the occulter. The dark upper edge marks the limit of the camera’s view. When fully operational after June 9, PUNCH will process out these visual artifacts, delivering ultra-clear corona images.

Though it won’t directly show the sun’s magnetic field, PUNCH will capture plasma shaped by it. These observations will work in tandem with data from the Parker Solar Probe, offering a powerful synergy between in-situ and remote solar observations.

NASA promises open access to all PUNCH data — a true win for global science.