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agate_ t1_jdl7rpf wrote

Yes, the STEREO mission (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) was a pair of satellites launched into solar orbit in 2006, one going slightly faster than the Earth, one slightly slower, so that over years they move to the opposite side of the Earth's orbit from us and are able to see the "back side" of the Sun. STEREO-B (Behind) died in 2014, STEREO-A (Ahead) is still operational.

By a funny coincidence, as you're asking this question now, STEREO-A has almost completed its first "lap", and is coming back past the Earth this summer. So it can't currently see what's going on on the other side of the Sun because it's got almost the same view we do.

https://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/ https://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/where.shtml

There's also the Parker Solar Probe and the ESA Solar Orbiter, which are currently making tight elliptical orbits close to the sun, which bring them to the "back side" once every few months. Right now the Parker probe is pretty close to the far side of the Sun from us, and the Solar Orbiter is between us and the Sun.

http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/The-Mission/index.php#Where-Is-PSP https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter/Where_is_Solar_Orbiter_Track_ESA_s_Sun_explorer

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Dave-C OP t1_jdm0vjx wrote

Thank you. I get that it was a stupid question but thanks for answering something that intrigued me :)

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