Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
written by a professional astronomer.
2024 April 2
The Sun is shown during a total solar eclipse. Accentuated is the
expansive corona of the Sun, which is shown streaming out in all
directions. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
Detailed View of a Solar Eclipse Corona
Image Credit & Copyright: Phil Hart
Explanation: Only in the fleeting darkness of a total solar eclipse is
the light of the solar corona easily visible. Normally overwhelmed by
the bright solar disk, the expansive corona, the sun's outer
atmosphere, is an alluring sight. But the subtle details and extreme
ranges in the corona's brightness, although discernible to the eye, are
notoriously difficult to photograph. Pictured here, however, using
multiple images and digital processing, is a detailed image of the
Sun's corona taken during the April 20, 2023 total solar eclipse from
Exmouth, Australia. Clearly visible are intricate layers and glowing
caustics of an ever changing mixture of hot gas and magnetic fields.
Bright looping prominences appear pink just around the Sun's limb. A
similar solar corona might be visible through clear skies in a narrow
swath across the North America during the total solar eclipse that
occurs just six days from today
NASA Coverage: Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 April 8
Tomorrow's picture: celestial fireworks
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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
NASA Science Activation
& Michigan Tech. U.
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* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)
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