                        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.

                                2024 March 31
   A totally eclipsed Sun is seen in the distance. Around the eclipse is a
    dark region dipping down from above. Below that are clouds and below
   that is the wing and engine of an airplane. Please see the explanation
                       for more detailed information.

              Total Solar Eclipse Below the Bottom of the World
   Image Credit & Copyright: Petr Horálek (ESO Photo Ambassador, Inst. of
             Physics in Opava) ; Acknowledgement: Xavier Jubier

   Explanation: In late 2021 there was a total solar eclipse visible only
   at the end of the Earth. To capture the unusual phenomenon, airplanes
   took flight below the clouded seascape of Southern Ocean. The featured
   image shows one relatively spectacular capture where the bright spot is
   the outer corona of the Sun and the eclipsing Moon is seen as the dark
   spot in the center. A wing and engine of the airplane are visible
   across the left and bottom of the image, while another airplane
   observing the eclipse is visible on the far left. The dark area of the
   sky surrounding the eclipsed Sun is called a shadow cone. It is dark
   because you are looking down a long corridor of air shadowed by the
   Moon. A careful inspection of the eclipsed Sun will reveal the planet
   Mercury just to the right. You won't have to travel to the end of the
   Earth to see the next total solar eclipse. The total eclipse path will
   cross North America on 2024 April 8, just over one week from today.

             NASA Coverage: Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 April 8
                   Tomorrow's picture: black hole twister
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

