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APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:05 am
by APOD Robot
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.
[/b]
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:18 am
by moonstruck
ooooh, how nice. You'd really have to have been there.
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:51 am
by Krignus
What a phenominal view. That really is an incredible effect.
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:41 pm
by biddie67
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!
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:53 pm
by orin stepanek
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 1:20 pm
by DCStone
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 ...?)
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:31 pm
by mexhunter
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
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:57 pm
by George
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.
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:58 pm
by owlice
Venus, I suspect.
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:38 pm
by Eclectic Man
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.
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:57 pm
by neufer
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).
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:03 pm
by rudy0010
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
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:35 pm
by owlice
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!
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 8:18 pm
by PhilS
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?
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:44 pm
by Henning Makholm
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.
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:37 pm
by Tim M
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
Re: APOD: Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia (2010 Aug 04)
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:05 pm
by geckzilla
Very nice video! And some very enthusiastic observers! I've been wanting to go to Patagonia. Seems so remote and beautiful.