26 August 2007

Picture of the Month - August 2007

Realize what it is? Well, here is what the Earth looks like during a solar eclipse. This photograph was taken from the Mir Space Station during August 11th, 1999 solar eclipse. The shadow of the Moon (dark part) moves across the Earth at nearly 2000 km per hour. Only observers near the center of the dark circle see a total solar eclipse. Others see a partial eclipse where only part of the Sun appears blocked by the Moon. There are two bright spots on the upper left which are possibly Jupiter and Saturn (which is not proved yet).