Top Eclipse Photos
This NASA image obtained on January 7, 2011 shows that while the Moon was busy passing between the Sun and Earth on January 4 for the first eclipse of 2011, the International Space Station (upper top) made its own pass between them. Powered by the Sun, orbiting the Earth, a satellite like the Moon-the ISS is an expression of how humanity is connected to and keeping an eye on all three bodies. This photo was taken by astrophotographer Thierry Legault, who set up near Muscat, Oman, to capture this view at 1:09 p.m. local time (9:09 UTC) on January 4, 2011. He had to shoot quickly, as the transit of the space station through the field of view lasted just 0.86 seconds. The ISS was moving at 7.8 kilometers per second (17,000 mph). The disk of the Sun is partly obscured on the lower left, as the Moon is 20 minutes past the maximum eclipse. The edges of the image are black because the light filters are strong, like a welder's mask, to prevent sunlight from damaging the camera. The image also includes sunspots 1140 (bottom) and 1142 (center), part of solar cycle 24, which should reach maximum in the next two years. AFP PHOTO/NASA/THIERRY LEGAULT/HANDOUT/RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read Thierry Legault/AFP/Getty Images)
-- EDITORS NOTE - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NASA / THIERRY LEGAULT - HO" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS This photo released by the NASA Earth Observatory was taken by astrophotographer Thierry Legault, who set up near Muscat, Oman, to capture this view at 1:09 p.m. local time (9:09 UTC) on January 4, 2011. The ISS was moving at 7.8 kilometers per second (17,000 mph). While the Moon was busy passing between the Sun and Earth on January 4 for the first eclipse of 2011, the International Space Station (ISS) (C, L on the Sun) made its own pass between them. Powered by the Sun, orbiting the Earth, a satellite like the Moon-the ISS is an expression of how humanity is connected to and keeping an eye on all three bodies. The disk of the Sun is partly obscured on the lower left, as the Moon is 20 minutes past the maximum eclipse. The partial solar eclipse was the first of four in 2011, with others coming on June 1, July 1, and November 25. Eclipses occur when the new Moon passes in the line between Sun and Earth. Because the Moon's orbit is inclined about 5 degrees to Earth's, the Moon and its shadow often pass above or below the plane of the Earth. Because both orbits are elliptical, the size and shape of eclipses changes slightly with each event. (Photo credit should read Thierry Legault/AFP/Getty Images)
GIVATAYIM, ISRAEL - JANUARY 04: (ISRAEL OUT) People use eye protection to look at a partial solar eclipse in the sky on January 4, 2011 in the town of Givatayim, Israel. Over parts of Europe it could be seen as much as two-thirds of the sun slipped from view behind the moon. An event like this hasn't occurred in the area since August 1999, and the next eclipse won't be until March 2015. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) *** BESTPIX ***
An unidentified employee of the Stefanik Observatory in Prague uses a projection shield to show the partial solar eclipse visible in the Czech capital during the morning on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. The partial Sun eclipse started over the Czech Republic at about 08:00 CET and it will last until 10:50. In the culminating phase, up to 80 percent of the solar disc was obscured by the silhouette of the Moon passing between it and the Earth. (AP Photo/CTK, Michal Kamaryt) Slovakia Out
A partial solar eclipse is seen through clouds over a church statue of the Virgin Mary, at the southern village of Maghdouche, Lebanon, on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. A partial solar eclipse began Tuesday in the skies over the Mideast and will extend across much of Europe. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
A Pakistani child, partially buried in mud, is seen during the solar eclipse in Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. Superstitious people hope that burying ailing persons during a solar eclipse will assist in curing them. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
Pakistani familes bury their children during the partial solar eclipse in Hyderabad, Pakistan on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. Superstitious people hope that burying ailing person during solar eclipse will cure them. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih)
A Pakistani mother buries her child in mud during the solar eclipse in Karachi, Pakistan on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. Superstitious people hope that burying ailing person during solar eclipse will cure them. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)
GIVATAYIM, ISRAEL - JANUARY 04: (ISRAEL OUT) The view of a partial solar eclipse in the sky on January 4, 2011 in the town of Givatayim, Israel. Over parts of Europe it could be seen as much as two-thirds of the sun slipped from view behind the moon. An event like this hasn't occurred in the area since August 1999, and the next eclipse won't be until March 2015. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)
GIVATAYIM, ISRAEL - JANUARY 04: (ISRAEL OUT) A woman uses eye protection to look at a partial solar eclipse in the sky on January 4, 2011 in the town of Givatayim, Israel. Over parts of Europe it could be seen as much as two-thirds of the sun slipped from view behind the moon. An event like this hasn't occurred in the area since August 1999, and the next eclipse won't be until March 2015. (Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)




