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Credit & Copyright: Thomas Collin
Explanation:
Normally, the Moon shows phases, but the Sun does not.
The reason is founded in the fact that the
Moon shines only by reflected sunlight.
When the
Moon is closer to the Sun than the Earth,
only part of it appears to be lit - resulting in a familiar crescent-shaped phase.
Last Wednesday, however, many
viewers in eastern North America
were treated to an unusual sunrise where the Sun
appeared to itself rise in a crescent phase.
Nothing was wrong with Sun - viewers
were witnessing the end of a
solar eclipse.
This unusual sight was caught
above during a cloudy morning in
Quebec.
A similar sunrise eclipse recorded almost 3000 years ago
has allowed historians to attempt to match
ancient and modern calendars.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: sunrise - Total eclipse
Publications with words: sunrise - Total eclipse
See also: