Stargazing Stunning 2017 Eclipse Photos of the Corona Chromosphere

[Stavros Kiri]

That occurs ... its called Bailey's Beads ...

(etc.) All your replies helped. Thanks Dave. We are sorting things out. I tend to conclude that it was a combination of the two effects. Otherwise how can photos from the 1999 eclipse can have the same fire spots, if they were all prominences? That would have been a heck of a coincidence! ...
But in identifying the two effects (prominences and Bailey's Beads) and telling them appart, the instruments' resolution, focussing and exposure time etc. play a role, I think, as you also implied, etc.

Finally, regarding

but not between different eclipses

I think major crates of the moon remain unchanged.

 

[davenn]

Otherwise how can photos from the 1999 eclipse can have the same fire spots, if they were all prominences? That would have been a heck of a coincidence! ...

indeed ... and it would also be a heck of a coincidence if they were the same gaps between mountain ridges as well hahaha

the moon is not fixed in its view from Earth ... google lunar libration which describes how the moon oscillates back and forward
and continually gives us more or less views of what is "over the horizon" of the moon
'

Dave

 

[davenn]

I can't find the NASA video link you were referring to
can you please repost

I would be surprised if they were referring to craters causing baileys beads rather than valleys between mountains

 

[Stavros Kiri]

indeed ... and it would also be a heck of a coincidence if they were the same gaps between mountain ridges as well hahaha

the moon is not fixed in its view from Earth ... google lunar libration which describes how the moon oscillates back and forward
and continually gives us more or less views of what is "over the horizon" of the moon
'

Dave

I know about lunar libration. But they were both annular eclipses and they always happen on the first day new moon phase. That limits down the phenomenon. That was probably the case (between 1999 and now) which is not a big coincidence (for the fire glow spots).
Also

I think major crates of the moon remain unchanged.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

I can't find the NASA video link you were referring to
can you please repost

I would be surprised if they were referring to craters causing baileys beads rather than valleys between mountains

It was NASA's live stream (long) for the eclipse from NASA TV. I haven't looked for it in youtube etc. yet. For the original links see:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-17#post-5825887

She said ~"imperfections to the surface of the moon, such as craters etc." (covers what you say too) + ... "the moon's surface is not a perfect sphere" ... so she was being kind of general.
But you're right.

 

[davenn]

It was NASA's live stream (long) for the eclipse from NASA TV. I haven't looked for it in youtube etc. yet. For the original links see:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-17#post-5825887

She said ~"imperfections to the surface of the moon, such as craters etc." (covers what you say too) + ... "the moon's surface is not a perfect sphere" ... so she was being kind of general.

coolios, thanks :)

 

[Borg]

Best/worst pun of the eclipse I've seen so far:

View attachment 209605

Spoiler: Wait for it...

Totalitea. (It took me a minute. I'm old. And my brain doesn't think that fast anymore.)

I've been waiting for someone to say this pun.

Spoiler

It totally eclipsed my expectations.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

another misunderstanding ... Flares and Prominences are two different animals

As I said in a previous reply to Janus, I am aware of that. The whole quote that you extracted from said:

But what is definitely true is that big flares are kind of rare (not a common everyday thing). Are small eruptions visible during the eclipse, e.g. with your instrument set up? I am not sure, but I kind of doubt that.

But I know the distinctions and definitions are not clear there either, leaving it kind of vague, so your posts were very worthwhile in helping to sort things out.

Now we have more chances in understanding those eclipse photos! ...

Thanks Dave

 

[bobby3]

I wasn't anywhere near totality, but I would like to see photos of the shadow banding - if anyone has some of those.

It is my understanding that shadow banding cannot be photographed. Apparently it is like an optical illusion that cameras do not detect. If I am wrong, someone let me know, I would love to see pictures or video of it also.

 

[Janus]

(etc.) All your replies helped. Thanks Dave. We are sorting things out. I tend to conclude that it was a combination of the two effects. Otherwise how can photos from the 1999 eclipse can have the same fire spots, if they were all prominences? That would have been a heck of a coincidence! ...

Reread my last post. The image I linked to was not the photo my wife found yesterday on facebook. The photo she found was of Monday's eclipse. That was the photo showing prominences in matching positions to the spots on my photo. The only reason I didn't link to the one she found was that she couldn't remember which page she saw it on and she had been looking at a lot of different pictures taken of Monday's eclipse, and I didn't pay any attention as what page it was on when she pointed it out to me.
Rather than spend a lot of time trying to find that particular photo, I just gave a link to the first photo I could find of an eclipse showing prominences that was of comparable quality to the one took of Monday's eclipse to show how they can be seen during an eclipse. It was not intended to show ones in the same positions as in my photo.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

Reread my last post. The image I linked to was not the photo my wife found yesterday on facebook. The photo she found was of Monday's eclipse. That was the photo showing prominences in matching positions to the spots on my photo. ...
... I just gave a link to the first photo I could find of an eclipse showing prominences that was of comparable quality to the one took of Monday's eclipse to show how they can be seen during an eclipse. It was not intended to show ones in the same positions as in my photo.

Ok it makes sense then.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

It is my understanding that shadow banding cannot be photographed. Apparently it is like an optical illusion that cameras do not detect. If I am wrong, someone let me know, I would love to see pictures or video of it also.

May be you'll find some information there:

https://www.physicsforums.com/posts/5769728/

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/u-s-solar-eclipse-of-aug-21-2017.866521/page-8#post-5804262

(especially on the second [video and link])

 

[.Scott]

It is my understanding that shadow banding cannot be photographed. Apparently it is like an optical illusion that cameras do not detect. If I am wrong, someone let me know, I would love to see pictures or video of it also.

It's not that it can't be photographed, only that it is difficult. The contrast is low, the brightness is changing, the bands are moving, and the bands are variable length and thickness.

But with the video cameras that have become common place, it should be no problem. Video cameras will now dynamically adjust for brightness, contrast can be handled in post-processing, and the area photographed should be fairly large - on the order of 20 or 30 feet square - not the 8 feet square you often see on the web. Also, the "screen" does not have to be white. I spotted it on parking lot pavement without a problem.

The only real problem is that it may be affected by wind and thermal conditions on the ground and perhaps aloft.

I live in NH, so I'll get my shot at it in 2024.

 

[OmCheeto]

...But with the video cameras that have become common place, it should be no problem.
...

Still waiting for a video...

 

[OmCheeto]

I subscribe to several local(state) photographers on Facebook, as, OMG, they have the best friends.

My favorite, which, I can only describe as; "This guy groks his camera's optics..."

[edit: Oops. He makes his living doing this. Ergo, his website: https://stuartnafey.smugmug.com/]

 

[OmCheeto]

I loved this one also:

(same photographer)


[edit: Oops. He makes his living doing this. Ergo, his website: https://stuartnafey.smugmug.com/]

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I've created an Insight for some of the best photos!
https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/15-best-pf-2017-eclipse-photos/

 

[.Scott]

May be you'll find some information there:
https://www.physicsforums.com/posts/5769728/

Thanks for the link.

Still waiting for a video...

If you look down at the sand in your first Stavros Kiri's first video between 4:50 and 5:00 you will see blotches going slightly darker and lighter. But the camera is not handling the low contrast conditions well - and the effects can be taken as mpeg compression issues.

At a minimum, this gives me a better idea of what challenges I can expect if I attempt to video the bands in 2024.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

If you look down at the sand in your first Stavros Kiri's first video between 4:50 and 5:00 you will see blotches going slightly darker and lighter.

The original posts in the links that I quoted were done by @OmCheeto .

 

[OmCheeto]

If you look down at the sand in your first Stavros Kiri's first video between 4:50 and 5:00

The original posts in the links that I quoted were actually done by @OmCheeto .

I have no idea what video is being discussed.
But anyways, that "Smarter Every Day" guy posted an update on "shadow bands" just two days before the eclipse, and hence, I didn't see it until this morning.



As far as I can tell, I accidentally did everything correctly. Within the limitations of the equipment on hand, of course. My camera is full auto everything in movie mode.

But this is going to take some serious studying on my part[1], and some serious $$$ tucking under the mattress[2], if I want to do this experiment again, before I die of old age.

[1] This looks like a good candidate for study: High-contrast Imaging with Differential Imaging
I have no idea how to do such things.
[2] Next total eclipse is in 2019, down in Argentina/Chile. And wouldn't you know it, the first town I checked out: Primary industry: Cattle Ranching...

This is going to give me a "reputation"...

Another of my Facebook posts; "I've never slept with cows before, and it was kind of fun. Wait, that sounds kind of weird. Let me rephrase that. The cows going to bed in the fenced off pasture next to the camping grounds were somewhat entertaining. I've never heard a herd going to bed before. They talk to each other! And they all have different voices. And once in awhile, one will start doing a weird noise, that sounds like a cow version of a cat coughing up a fur ball. Which made me laugh, as I wondered then, if cows make that noise, because they're coughing up grass balls?"

 

[Stavros Kiri]

I have no idea what video is being discussed.

Here you go:

I just found this 360° video. It looks exactly as you've described it.

I'm still reviewing the whole issue myself here (+haven't checked out fully your new post yet either).

 

[Janus]

And once in awhile, one will start doing a weird noise, that sounds like a cow version of a cat coughing up a fur ball. Which made me laugh, as I wondered then, if cows make that noise, because they're coughing up grass balls?"

In a way, they are. They are regurgitating their "cud". But unlike cats which expel the regurgitated hair ball, after chewing the cud, the cows re-swallow it. This is a normal part of the digestive process for ruminants like cows. Quite a familiar sound and sight to this farm-raised boy.

 

[OmCheeto]

In a way, they are. They are regurgitating their "cud". But unlike cats which expel the regurgitated hair ball, after chewing the cud, the cows re-swallow it. This is a normal part of the digestive process for ruminants like cows. Quite a familiar sound and sight to this farm-raised boy.

Ummmm...
And on that note, I have decided NOT to fly off to Buenos Aires.

I guess I'm still too "city slickerish".

[not sure which one of those emotis best emotes a 'barf' feeling, but I'm sure you get the picture.]

 

[Janus]

Ummmm...
And on that note, I have decided NOT to fly off to Buenos Aires.

I guess I'm still too "city slickerish".

[not sure which one of those emotis best emotes a 'barf' feeling, but I'm sure you get the picture.]

Don't give on the idea so quickly, you might want to ruminate on it for a while.

 

[1oldman2]

Ummmm...
And on that note, I have decided NOT to fly off to Buenos Aires.

What would it take to get you to reconsider... maybe?
http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2020Dec14Tprime.html
The cattle aren't that bad if you stay upwind.

 

[Janus]

What would it take to get you to reconsider... maybe?
http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2020Dec14Tprime.html
The cattle aren't that bad if you stay upwind.

I think he just needs to take the time to digest all the facts, then chew it over in his mind a bit, and not be bull-headed about it.

 

[OmCheeto]

What would it take to get you to reconsider... maybe?
http://eclipsewise.com/solar/SEprime/2001-2100/SE2020Dec14Tprime.html
The cattle aren't that bad if you stay upwind.

Actually, cow poop probably smells better than I do.
And come to think of it, the cows probably think I sound kind of funny too.

[edit: no need to listen beyond 10 seconds...]


I've got that "old person" thing going on.

 

[OmCheeto]

Love the final view of the shadow.

 

[anorlunda]

How about this one from today's APOD? https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170828.html

 

[OmCheeto]

How about this one from today's APOD? https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170828.html

View attachment 209906

That was one of the things I discovered while researching the eclipse. Though I was mostly wondering if any satellites would be flying by during the eclipse. I saw that the ISS was about an hour late in crossing paths with totality.

Aug 21, 2017, 11:18:34 am PDT
Eclipse here was around 10:20 am.
Image courtesy of NASA's Eyes software.

I didn't bother thinking about capturing it during the partial phase. I'm glad someone did.