Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Like a Diamond in the Sky

NASA ^ | November 17, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: A dark Sun hung over Queensland, Australia on Wednesday morning during a much anticipated total solar eclipse. Storm clouds threatened to spoil the view along the northern coast, but minutes before totality the clouds parted. Streaming past the Moon's edge, the last direct rays of sunlight produced a gorgeous diamond ring effect in this scene from Ellis Beach between Cairns and Port Douglas. Winking out in a moment, the diamond didn't last forever though. The area was plunged into darkness for nearly 2 minutes as the Moon's shadow swept off shore toward Australia's Great Barrier Reef and out into the southern Pacific. Ranging from 1/4000 to 1/15 seconds long, five separate exposures were blended in the image to create a presentation similar to the breathtaking visual experience of the eclipse.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Alex Cherney (Terrastro, TWAN)]

[SunkenCiv]

Not bad! And the larger shot on the APoD website is NICE. Y'know, for a terrestrial shot. I found an old folder with some favorites from Mike Bonnell, looks like they're still on his vintage website.

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[fieldmarshaldj]

"Like a Diamond in the Sky"

"LDS ?"

[onyx]

BEAUTIFUL!

[goat granny]

Lucy in the sky with diamonds.=LSD

[left that other site]

An appropriate comment , especially when we are about to lose our Twinkie, Twinkie, little cakes.

[sauropod]

mark

[dirtboy]

Here's another cool eclipse pic from the waters of the Great Barrier Reef:

[SunkenCiv]

Nice!

[SunkenCiv]

;’) One of my all-time favorite scenes.

[freebird5850]

Thanks, it’s now my desktop background!

[TheOldLady]

Now, there’s the diamond ring. Gorgeous!