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Credit & Copyright: Mikael Svalgaard  
  
  
Explanation:
The Moon's shadow raced across  
planet Earth on  
January 15.  
  
Observers within the central shadow track were able to witness  
an annular  
solar eclipse  
as the Moon's apparent size was too small to  
completely cover the Sun.  
  
A visually dramatic  
ring of fire, the annular phase  
lasted up to 11 minutes and 8 seconds depending on location,  
the longest annular solar eclipse for the next  
1,000 years.  
  
This picture of the Moon's silhouette just before mid-eclipse was taken  
within the eclipse path from the city of Kanyakumari at the  
southern tip  
of India.  
  
The telescopic image was made through a filter that blocks most visible  
light, but still transmits light from  
hydrogen atoms.  
  
As a result, detailed mottling, or granulation, caused by heat  
convection in Sun's  
atmosphere can be seen around the dark lunar disk.  
  
   
  
  
  
  
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: annular solar eclipse
Publications with words: annular solar eclipse
See also:
