The Diamond Ring

At the end of totality,  the moon starts to uncover the sun’s incredibly brilliant photosphere and creates a visual effect called the “diamond ring”.  It lasts only a moment, but leaves an remarkably strong emotional impression that may be responsible for why those that witness it, seek it again, at the next total eclipse of the sun.

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Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6


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Corona

Only when the moon covers the sun in a total eclipse can its halo be seen.  This is the corona, a mystery to astronomers, who only get a glimpse of it for a few minutes during totality.  The dot to the lower left is the star Regulus, in the constellation Leo, suddenly visible while the sun is eclipsed.

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Heise Hot Springs, Idaho
21 August 2017
EOS 6D on Televue-85, 480 mm f/5.6
HDR composite of 8 exposures


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