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These images show the solar eclipse during the total phase which lasted
just over two minutes. The exposures were bracketed between 1/30 and /125
second at f/8. Click for DETAILS of how
the images on this site were created.
During the totality it is safe to view the eclipse without the aid of filters and even use binoculars, as long as plenty of safety margin is allowed before the sun re-appears. At this time the sun's corona can be seen as well as prominences or solar flares. At this time it is possible to see the planets and the brighter stars. |
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On this occasion the corona was quite bright and the sky did not get
very dark. The bright planet Venus was unmistakable to the west of
the sun and it was possible to make out the planet Mercury to the East.
Mercury though bright is normally difficult to see because of its
proximity to the sun so normally only be seen near the horizon at
sunrise or sunset, so seeing Mercury well away from the haze of the
horizon was an unusual event in itself.
One thing very noticeable about this eclipse was the presence of several bright prominences. These are flares bursting out from the sun's surface. During the first minute these were viewed in binoculars and were very impressive indeed, after the first minute had passed it was wise to discontinue using any binoculars, to give a large safety margin. |
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These images only differ in the exposure time and show varying degrees of the corona.
Unfortunately no pictures were exposed low enough to capture the prominences. This is where the eye is a far better instrument than film. The eye has a far greater range and can also slightly adapt when looking further out. The human eye could see the corona far further out than shown in the most exposed photograph and also at the same time see the prominences which even in the most underexposed image are bleached out. |
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There are inklings of where the flares are. The small indentations at the right hand side of the images are the light spillage from the over exposed flares. These indentations can be better seen in a false colour image. |