December 27, 2009
During a total solar eclipse, the sun’s faint outer atmosphere, or corona, becomes visible, as seen in this photo of a total eclipse in Mexico on July 10, 1991. This year’s total solar eclipse will be visible only from the South Pacific. The next total solar eclipse for the continental USA won’t occur until Aug. 21, 2017.
Stories this photo appears in:
Jimmy Westlake: Celestial highlights for 2010
If I had to astronomically characterize year 2010, I would call it “The Year of Eclipses.” We open the year with an eclipse, and we close out the year with an eclipse, with two other eclipses in between. But that’s not the only excitement brewing in the stars in 2010. There’s a big dipper full of beautiful and exciting celestial events to keep you looking up all year long.
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