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Atronomy Picture of the Day 06-05-03
NASA ^ | 06-05-03 | NASA

Posted on 06/05/2003 6:44:54 AM PDT by Michael Barnes

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.

2003 June 5
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download
 the highest resolution version available.

Ring of Fire from Cape Wrath
Credit & Copyright:

Hans Coeckelberghs

Explanation:

If the Moon's apparent diameter is not quite large enough to cover the Sun during a solar eclipse, an annular eclipse can be the result -- a spectacle of silhouetted Moon surrounded by a solar "ring of fire".

Just such a view was possible for observers in the far northern hemisphere as the new Moon slid across the solar disk on May 31st.

Still, for astronomical adventurers at Cape Wrath on the northwestern coast of Scotland, the eastern sky was cloudy on eclipse day.

But fortunately the Sun became visible a few minutes prior to the annular phase and determined astronomer Hans Coeckelberghs was able to capture this dramatic telescopic image of the eclipsed Sun's ring of fire looming through a reddened, cloud-streaked sky.

Not to be outdone by the north, the far southern hemisphere will host the next solar eclipse, with the path of totality racing across Antarctica on November 23rd.

Tomorrow's picture: well-fed punctuation




TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Education; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: apod; asronomy
Posted for petuniasevan
1 posted on 06/05/2003 6:44:54 AM PDT by Michael Barnes
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To: sit-rep; MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; ...
APOD Ping
2 posted on 06/05/2003 6:45:24 AM PDT by Michael Barnes
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To: unix
Great pic - thanks for the ping.
3 posted on 06/05/2003 7:15:05 AM PDT by GodBlessRonaldReagan (where is Count Petofi when we need him most?)
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To: GodBlessRonaldReagan
you bet
4 posted on 06/05/2003 7:21:44 AM PDT by Michael Barnes
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To: unix
Good job. Thanks.
5 posted on 06/05/2003 7:50:48 AM PDT by foolish-one
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To: foolish-one
gracias..
6 posted on 06/05/2003 8:01:05 AM PDT by Michael Barnes
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To: unix
Thank you
7 posted on 06/05/2003 9:18:27 AM PDT by firewalk
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To: unix
Thanks for the ping.
8 posted on 06/05/2003 12:42:46 PM PDT by sistergoldenhair (Don't be a sheep. People hate sheep. They eat sheep.)
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