APOD: Ecstatic Solar Eclipse (2022 Jan 07)

[APOD Robot]

Ecstatic Solar Eclipse

Explanation: A male Adelie penguin performed this Ecstatic Vocalization in silhouette during the December 4 solar eclipse, the final eclipse of 2021. Of course his Ecstatic Vocalization is a special display that male penguins use to claim their territory and advertise their condition. This penguin's territory, at Cape Crozier Antarctica, is located in one of the largest Adelie penguin colonies. The colony has been studied by researchers for over 25 years. From there, last December's eclipse was about 80 percent total when seen at its maximum phase as the Moon's shadow crossed planet Earth's southernmost continent.

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[Ann]

That's a lovely image! Thank you, Annie Schmidt!

Ann

[orin stepanek]

Beautiful silhouette; nice catch Annie! Judy; are you related?

[neufer]

<<Stories about the unusual behavior of birds during eclipses have been told for centuries, but bird reactions were recorded and studied systematically by citizen scientists participating in an eBird project during the total solar eclipse that crossed the USA in 2017 August. Although some unusual behaviors were observed, many observers noted birds acting like it was dusk and either landing or flying low to the ground. Radar confirmed a significant decrease in high-flying birds and insects during and just after totality. Conversely, several sightings of normally nocturnal birds were reported.>>

[Fred the Cat]

Ecstatic penguins! Only eclipsed by a hoard of happy astronomers.

Noisy but enjoying each other’s company curiously.

[orin stepanek]

Ecstatic penguins! Only eclipsed by a hoard of happy astronomers.

Noisy but enjoying each other’s company curiously.

Super nice penguin video "Fred the Cat"