                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2023 November 1
   A sequence of Sun and Moon images are shown behind a scenic foreground
   that features the large Factory Butte. The foreground was taken during
    the maximum part of the annular eclipse and seems somehow oddly lit.
          Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                       Annular Solar Eclipse over Utah
                Image Credit & Copyright: MaryBeth Kiczenski

   Explanation: Part of the Sun disappeared earlier this month, but few
   people were worried. The missing part, which included the center from
   some locations, just went behind the Moon in what is known as an
   annular solar eclipse. Featured here is an eclipse sequence taken as
   the Moon was overtaking the rising Sun in the sky. The foreground hill
   is Factory Butte in Utah, USA. The rays flaring out from the Sun are
   not real -- they result from camera aperture diffraction and are known
   as sunstar. The Moon is real, but it is artificially brightened to
   enhance its outline -- which helps the viewer better visualize the
   Moon's changing position during this ring-of-fire eclipse. As stunning
   as this eclipse sequence is, it was considered just practice by the
   astrophotographer. The reason? She hopes to use this experience to
   better photograph the total solar eclipse that will occur over North
   America on April 8, 2024.

         Apply today (USA): Become a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador
               Eclipse Album: Selected images sent in to APOD
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

