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A Solar Eclipse with a Beaded Ring of Fire

Explanation: What kind of eclipse is this? On Sunday, visible in parts of Earth's southern hemisphere, the Moon blocked part of the Sun during a partial solar eclipse. In some locations, though, the effect was a rare type of partial eclipse called an annular eclipse. There, since the Moon is too far from the Earth to block the entire Sun, sunlight streamed around the edges of the Moon creating a "ring of fire". At some times, though, the effect was a rare type of annular eclipse. Then, an edge of the Moon nearly aligned with an edge of the Sun, allowing sunlight to stream through only low areas on the Moon. Called a "Baily's bead" or a "diamond ring", this doubly rare effect was captured Sunday in the feature photograph from Chubut, Argentina, in South America. This summer a total solar eclipse will swoop across North America.

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Why is this "a rare type of annular eclipse"? Surely an edge of the Moon must align with an edge of the Sun twice during every annular eclipse?

I think the photo shows a hybrid between an annular eclipse and a "beaded" eclipse. That is the name I would give to a solar eclipse, where sunlight would be visible at many positions around the solar limb, sifting through low-lying areas on the Moon. Such an eclipse would be neither annular nor total, its phases would go from partial through beaded and back to partial. I don't recall to have seen such a photograph, perhaps because the photographer would only experience the beaded ohase for a few seconds.

Aug 21 is a must drive to Oregon date.

Peter Smith wrote:
Why is this "a rare type of annular eclipse"?

I think what it states is that an annular eclipse is a rare type of partial eclipse.

Peter Smith wrote:Why is this "a rare type of annular eclipse"? Surely an edge of the Moon must align with an edge of the Sun twice during every annular eclipse?

What you say is true, but it would have to be a very fleeting thing, the timing making it rare to capture as well as it is in today's Apod.

Bruce

ta152h0 wrote:Aug 21 is a must drive to Oregon date.

Isn't Oregon notoriously cloudy? Or are there parts of it you can find that aren't?
On the bright side, I think in the northwest U.S. August is one of the best months for fewer clouds.

MarkBour wrote:

ta152h0 wrote:Aug 21 is a must drive to Oregon date.

Isn't Oregon notoriously cloudy? Or are there parts of it you can find that aren't?
On the bright side, I think in the northwest U.S. August is one of the best months for fewer clouds.

Clouds rIght on the left coast, but much of the interior is high and dry.

it is going to be hard to eclipse the event

Great shot... I hope to do as well this summer....

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BDanielMayfield wrote:

MarkBour wrote:

ta152h0 wrote:Aug 21 is a must drive to Oregon date.

Isn't Oregon notoriously cloudy? Or are there parts of it you can find that aren't?
On the bright side, I think in the northwest U.S. August is one of the best months for fewer clouds.

Clouds rIght on the left coast, but much of the interior is high and dry.

August, HERE IN OREGON... can be very HOT and CLEAR... in the 90's - 107 F.... it can be cloudy and rain, rain, rain, rain from Late Sept...early OCT... through May and even June, with a "smattering" of breaks between wet weather systems, depending on Solar Cycle... Last August was VERY HOT... mid to high 90's... May and June can be either rain and cloudy, or VERY NICE to VERY HOT...depending on the Solar Cycle too... But Oregon's SONG...is really..."RAIN, RAIN, RAIN"....

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