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Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia

Explanation: Sometimes, during a total eclipse of the Sun, a strange shadow of darkness can be seen stretching off into the distance. Called shadow cones, they are visible because the Earth's atmosphere is not completely transparent, scattering sunlight and hence appearing blue during the day. Shadow cones are particularly dramatic for eclipses near the horizon, as geometry creates a long corridor of sun-blocked air. Visible above is a shadow cone caught during a sunset total solar eclipse visible last month from Patagonia, Argentina. The eclipsed Sun itself still appears bright around the edges of the Moon because of light from the surrounding corona. A few minutes later, the Moon began to move away from the Sun as both set behind distant Andes mountains.

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ooooh, how nice. You'd really have to have been there.

What a phenominal view. That really is an incredible effect.

It has been interesting to see the different effects that a total eclipse creates as it moves along its path over time - the several photos that have been displayed here on APOD since the July eclipse have been a great lesson in what can be seen at the different places at different times. I'm glad so many people are out there to record the views!

The shadow cone is amazing - the Earth's atmosphere really causes some fine effects.

The link (see "strange shadow of darkness" above) to the Mir27 crew's photo of the shadow on the Earth is like icing on the cake!

orin stepanek wrote: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap030106.html

Dang, got the wrong quote (which is still to a neat image).

I meant this one: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap990830.html

That's a great image, but what is the lighter area in the top left? It looks like it's pointing straight at the moon shadow on the earth, but I assume it isn't the beam from some secret USSR weather control satellite! Is it the case that the shadow is allowing a clearer view of the background stars? And I take it the two dots are actually planets (Venus and ...?)

Hi to all:
The effect is surprising and very interesting, thanks to the explanation it is entirely logical, because it is near the horizon.
The picture gives us a nice view of the environment and the event.
I found a similar record in 2003.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030106.html

Regards
Cesar

Does anyone know what star or planet is near the upper left corner of the picture? I can only see it in the big jpg on my monitor.

Venus, I suspect.

It just goes to show you don't need a super-telephoto lens to take an excellent eclipse photograph. Just wondering what focal length lens was used though, in case I have the opportunity. I'd guess 35mm judging by the size of the eclipsed sun in the frame.

George wrote:Does anyone know what star or planet is near the upper left corner of the picture?
I can only see it in the big jpg on my monitor.

It is in the right direction to be Sirius.

The ecliptic with the planets lying on it runs perpendicular to that direction (off to the right/north).

George wrote:Does anyone know what star or planet is near the upper left corner of the picture? I can only see it in the big jpg on my monitor.

owlice wrote:Venus, I suspect.

The bright star in the upper left is Sirius. Mercury is also just barely visible up and to the right of the Sun+Moon. (Remember in Patagonia the ecliptic runs from the western horizon to the north)

http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/Yoursky ... &elements=

Amazing pictures

Thank you, gentlemen! And wow, some goooood eyes if you can pick out Mercury. I had to *really* look for it, with glasses on and my nose practically to the screen, and am still not certain whether what I found is the planet or a speck of dust on my laptop!

The cone is skewed to our left. Does that prove the sun's corona actually is, as it seems ever so slightly to be, stronger to the right of the moon?

PhilS wrote:The cone is skewed to our left. Does that prove the sun's corona actually is, as it seems ever so slightly to be, stronger to the right of the moon?

No, it just means that the center of the Moon's shadow is somewhere off to the photographer's left.

Here's a video of the eclipse, where you can watch the cone sweep from left to right. Awesome sight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR6wVyBLhdE

Very nice video! And some very enthusiastic observers! I've been wanting to go to Patagonia. Seems so remote and beautiful.