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Illustration of the city lights on a dark Earth during a solar eclipse
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Illustration of the city lights on a dark Earth during a solar eclipse
The perspective in this image is looking down on the Indian Ocean from an altitude of 25, 000 miles. On the Earths night side artificial lights clearly define the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and almost the entire African continent, while clouds obscure some of Europe and India. The alignment with the Moon and Sun is such that at this moment a total eclipse of the Sun is visible revealing the Suns brilliant corona. However the area of totality, i.e. the darkest part of the Moons shadow, is so small, less than 200 miles wide, that observers on the Earth would not be able to see this total eclipse. The only portion of the eclipse visible from the Earth is in the eastern Indian Ocean where the Moons penumbra (partial shadow) falls, as can be seen in this image.
The fact that total solar eclipses are visible at all is due in part to one of the most amazing coincidences in the Solar System: the Sun and the Moon appear from Earth to be about the same size in the sky. This is because the Suns diameter is both 400 times that of the Moons and is about 400 times as far away from the Earth. The result is that from the Earth, the Moon appears to just barely cover the Sun. If the Moons diameter were reduced by just 6%, or if it were a little further away, it would never be large enough to ever completely cover the Sun
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Media ID 13062205
© Walter Myers/Stocktrek Images
Africa Astronomical Astronomical Objects City Lights Continent Corona Dark Earth Eclipse Full Earth Globe Light Lunar Moon Obscure Orbit Planet Round Shadow Solar Eclipse Solar System Space Art Sphere Totality World Penumbra
EDITORS COMMENTS
This photo print, titled "Illustration of the city lights on a dark Earth during a solar eclipse" offers a mesmerizing perspective from an altitude of 25,000 miles above the Indian Ocean. As darkness blankets our planet's night side, artificial lights illuminate the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and vast stretches of Africa. However, Europe and India remain partially obscured by clouds. In this extraordinary moment captured by Walter Myers from Stocktrek Images, we witness an alignment between the Moon and Sun that unveils a breathtaking total eclipse. The Sun's brilliant corona shines through as its light is momentarily blocked by the Moon. Yet, due to the small size of totality - less than 200 miles wide - observers on Earth would not be able to witness this awe-inspiring event. The only visible portion of this celestial spectacle occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean where the Moons' penumbra casts its partial shadow upon our planet's surface. This image beautifully showcases that region. Total solar eclipses are made possible thanks to one of nature's most remarkable coincidences: both the Sun and Moon appear almost identical in size when viewed from Earth. Their apparent similarity arises because while the Sun is about 400 times larger than our lunar companion in diameter, it also happens to be approximately 400 times farther away from us. If either factor were slightly altered – if the Moon were just 6% smaller or further away – we would never experience these magnificent moments where day turns into night under nature's grand cosmic showmanship.
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