Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2020 December 18
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                             Diamond in the Sky
   Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Mariano Ribas (Planetario de la Ciudad
                              de Buenos Aires)

   Explanation: When the shadow of the Moon raced across planet Earth's
   southern hemisphere on December 14, [5]sky watchers along the shadow's
   dark [6]central path were treated to the only total solar eclipse of
   2020. During the [7]New Moon's shadow play this glistening diamond ring
   was seen for a moment, even in cloudy skies. Known as the [8]diamond
   ring effect, the transient spectacle actually happens twice. Just
   before and immediately after totality, a thin sliver of solar disk
   visible behind the Moon's edge creates the appearance of a shiny jewel
   set in a dark ring. This dramatic snapshot from the path of totality in
   northern Patagonia, Argentina captures this eclipse's second diamond
   ring, along with striking solar prominences lofted beyond the edge of
   the Moon's silhoutte.

                        Tomorrow's picture: returner
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    Authors & editors: [20]Robert Nemiroff ([21]MTU) & [22]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([23]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [24]Specific rights apply.
              [25]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [26]ASD at [27]NASA / [28]GSFC
                           & [29]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2012/2020Dec14TSE_Ribas_IMG_9291c.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.instagram.com/mariano_ribas/?hl=en
   5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190704.html
   6. https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEplot/SEplot2001/SE2020Dec14T.GIF
   7. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/south-american-total-solar-eclipse-december-14
   8. http://www.alpo-astronomy.org/eclipse/observeeclipses/chapter9.htm
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201217.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  13. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  18. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=201218
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201219.html
  20. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  21. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  22. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  23. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  25. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  26. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  27. https://www.nasa.gov/
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  29. http://www.mtu.edu/