Diamond in the Sky
Image Credit &
Copyright:
Mariano Ribas
(Planetario de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires)
When the shadow of the Moon raced across planet Earth's
southern hemisphere on December 14,
sky watchers along the shadow's dark
central path
were treated to the only total solar eclipse of 2020.
During the
New Moon's shadow play
this glistening diamond ring was seen
for a moment, even in cloudy skies.
Known as the
diamond ring effect,
the transient spectacle actually happens twice.
Just before and immediately after totality,
a thin sliver of solar disk visible behind the Moon's edge
creates the appearance of a shiny jewel set in a dark ring.
This dramatic snapshot from the path of totality in northern Patagonia,
Argentina captures this eclipse's second diamond ring,
along with striking solar prominences lofted beyond
the edge of the Moon's silhouette.