|
Credit & Copyright: Theo Boris, Christian A. Lockwood, David Zimmerman
(JM
Pasachoff Antarctic Expedition)
Compositing: Zev Hoover and Ronald Dantowitz (MARS Scientific)
Explanation:
Few were able to stand in the
Moon's
shadow
and watch the
December 4 total eclipse
of the Sun.
Determined by
celestial mechanics and not geographical boundaries, the
narrow path of totality tracked
across planet Earth's relatively inaccessible southernmost continent.
Still, some enthusiastic and well-insulated eclipse chasers were
rewarded with the dazzling
spectacle in Antarctica's cold
but clear skies.
Taken just before the brief totality began, this image from a ground-based
telescope inside the edge of the shadow path
at Union Glacier
catches a glimmer of sunlight near the top of the silhouetted lunar disk.
Look closely for the pinkish solar prominences arcing above the Sun's
limb.
During totality, the
magnificent solar corona,
the Sun's outer atmosphere,
made its much anticipated appearance, seen in the composite
view streaming far from the Sun's edge.
Compositing: Zev Hoover and Ronald Dantowitz (MARS Scientific)
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: total solar eclipse
Publications with words: total solar eclipse
See also: