Diamond ring effect (solar eclipse)
Encyclopedia
The diamond ring effect is a feature of total solar eclipse
s. Just before the sun
disappears or just after it emerges from behind the moon
, the rugged lunar limb
topography allows beads of sunlight to shine through. This effect is called Baily's beads
, in honor of Francis Baily
who first noted the phenomenon in 1836.
The smoothness of the lunar topography is interrupted by mountains, craters, valleys, etc., and the lunar limb profile is known accurately from grazing occultations of stars, so it is possible to make fairly good advance determinations of which mountains and valleys will cause the beads to appear. While Baily's beads are seen for a few seconds at the central path of the eclipse, they are visible longer near the margins of the path of totality.
The diamond ring effect is seen when only one bead is left; a shining diamond set in a bright ring around the lunar silhouette
.
Cosmas Damian Asam
was probably the earliest realistic painter to depict a total solar eclipse and diamond ring. His painting was finished in 1735.
It is not entirely safe to view Baily's beads
or the diamond ring effect without proper eye protection because in both cases the photosphere
is still visible.
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
s. Just before the sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
disappears or just after it emerges from behind the moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, the rugged lunar limb
Lunar limb
The lunar limb is the edge of the visible surface of the Moon as viewed from Earth. Libration of the Moon, with its irregular surface, leads to small changes in its profile, and this complicates the task of precisely calculating eclipse times and durations...
topography allows beads of sunlight to shine through. This effect is called Baily's beads
Baily's beads
As the moon "grazes" by the Sun during a solar eclipse, the rugged lunar limb topography allows beads of sunlight to shine through in some places, and not in others. This effect is called Baily's beads in honor of Francis Baily who first provided an exact explanation of the phenomenon in 1836...
, in honor of Francis Baily
Francis Baily
Francis Baily was an English astronomer, most famous for his observations of 'Baily's beads' during an eclipse of the Sun.-Life:Baily was born at Newbury in Berkshire in 1774...
who first noted the phenomenon in 1836.
The smoothness of the lunar topography is interrupted by mountains, craters, valleys, etc., and the lunar limb profile is known accurately from grazing occultations of stars, so it is possible to make fairly good advance determinations of which mountains and valleys will cause the beads to appear. While Baily's beads are seen for a few seconds at the central path of the eclipse, they are visible longer near the margins of the path of totality.
The diamond ring effect is seen when only one bead is left; a shining diamond set in a bright ring around the lunar silhouette
Silhouette
A silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene consisting of the outline and a basically featureless interior, with the silhouetted object usually being black. Although the art form has been popular since the mid-18th century, the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades...
.
Cosmas Damian Asam
Cosmas Damian Asam
Cosmas Damian Asam was a German painter and architect during the late Baroque period. Born in Benediktbeuern, he moved to Rome in 1711 to study at the Accademia di San Luca with Carlo Maratta. There, he could see the fresco Ascensione di Cristo by Melozzo da Forlì in Santi Apostoli Church...
was probably the earliest realistic painter to depict a total solar eclipse and diamond ring. His painting was finished in 1735.
It is not entirely safe to view Baily's beads
Baily's beads
As the moon "grazes" by the Sun during a solar eclipse, the rugged lunar limb topography allows beads of sunlight to shine through in some places, and not in others. This effect is called Baily's beads in honor of Francis Baily who first provided an exact explanation of the phenomenon in 1836...
or the diamond ring effect without proper eye protection because in both cases the photosphere
Photosphere
The photosphere of an astronomical object is the region from which externally received light originates. The term itself is derived from Ancient Greek roots, φῶς, φωτός/phos, photos meaning "light" and σφαῖρα/sphaira meaning "sphere", in reference to the fact that it is a spheric surface perceived...
is still visible.