Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Красные сумеречные лучи от затмения http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1834848/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Fefo Bouvier
Explanation:
What's happening behind that island?
Things both expected and unexpected.
Expected, perhaps, the pictured rays of light -- called
crepuscular rays
-- originate from
the Sun.
Unexpected, though,
the Sun was being
partially eclipsed by
the Moon
at the time -- late last month.
Expected, perhaps, the
Sun's rays are quite bright as they shine through gaps
in
below-horizon clouds.
Unexpected, though, the
crepuscular rays are quite red, likely the
result
an abundance of
aerosols in
Earth's atmosphere
scattering away much of the blue light.
Expected, with hope, a
memorable scene featuring both the
Moon and the Sun, superposed.
Unfortunately, from
this location -- in
Uruguay looking toward
Argentina --
clouds obscured the eclipse -- which wasn't completely unexpected.
However, after packing up to go home,
the beauty of bright red crepuscular rays emerged --
quite unexpectedly.
Oh -- and that island on the horizon -- it's
really
two islands.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.